Comparison of IC motors   

This article compares the IC engines, primarily on their power/weight ratio; this being a key issue to assess the usability of an engine for a particular task (ie transport, local power transformation, ...). Primarily the difficulty of repair/convertion and durability is important, since most engines will probably be scavenged and repaired, rather than built. Only 4-stroke engines are mentioned, since 2-stroke engines can't be converted to a emissionless IC-engine.

Type	Difficulty of repair	Difficulty of convertion to emissionless ICE	Power-to-weight	Durability	Production cost	Fabrication requirements	Difficulty of production
Engines using liquid matter cooling
ICE straight engine	?	?	?	medium	??	?
ICE V-engine	?	?	?		? ??	?
ICE W-engine	?	?	?	??	?	?
Opposed piston engine	?	?	?	??	?	?
ICE X-engine	?	?	?	??	?	?
Engines using solid matter cooling
ICE straight engine [1]	?	?	?	good-medium	?	?
ICE radial engine	?	?	better then solid matter cooled ICE straight engine	good	?	?
ICE rotary engine	?	?	better then solid matter cooled ICE straight engine	good	?	?

Common sources:

• lawn mower engine --> ICE straight engine, solid matter cooled. Power rating: around 12 HP. Can appearantly be modified upto 35 HP ^[2]
• weed wacker engine --> ?

Note: is there a method to calculate power rating from cilinder contents x amount of cylinders x fuel burned ? Would be useful if power rating is not mentioned on engine.

Note 2: Not sure whether there is a difference in difficulty of repair between older and newer ICE straight engines; appearantly spark ignition was timed only using the timing belt in the past whereas now, sensors are used ^[3]; sensor doesn't seem too diffult to make though

Note 3: Finally, not sure whether ICE (straight) engines can have their starter system removed (this normally happens using a starter engine connected to the flywheel). This is quite important as it requires not only the extra starter engine, but also a lead-acid battery for the starting. Both add weight, additional difficulty in repair, and extra requirements (ie lead-acid SLI batteries need to have certain level of starting power, actually require temperature regulation, ...) A hand or leg-based starter system, as seen in the AT e-velomobile would simplify things greatly.

Note 4: Not sure whether lawn mower engines actually have a starter engine, this is probably simply swapped with the starter cord. Also, lawn mower engines do not have a spark ignition system using a battery, rather they use simple magneto's (which is a magnet generating power directly from the rotation of the flywheel

Applications:

• lawn mower motor --> use in flexwing microlights, if improved to 35 HP
• weed wacker --> use on motorised bicycles, light ground vehicles (ie AT e-velomobile) ^[4]
• car engine --> 100 HP - 200 HP, use in transport aircraft, if several are used per single aircraft
• ...

[edit] See also

• AT_CAD_Team_IC_motors

[edit] External links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_configuration

[edit] References