Ford to develop a 'steamer'
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by Tony Wilding • Steam-powered engines are again in the news in America, although it is reported that many engineers believe existing internal combustion engines will be capable of modification to meet regulations for exhaust emissions proposed in the USA for 1975. Ford has reached agreement with the Thermo Electron Corporation to develop a Rankinecycle steam engine with a closed cycle and Sundstrand Aviation has been awarded a contract by Vought Aeronautics to supply an "organic Rankine-cycle bus engine".
It is expected that £1.5m will be spent on the Ford/Thermo Electron project over the next five years, although work will stop after two years if progress is unsatisfactory. Car applications will be developed, it being envisaged that a V4 3-litre power unit will give 103 bhp. With the closed Rankinecycle steam engine operating on an organic working fluid, it is hoped to obtain an efficient, compact power unit. Thiophene is the working fluid and accessories with the steam engine include a condenser and regenerator as well as a tubular-construction boiler.
The Sundstrand contract will cover the supply of an 80 bhp engine to power a 25passenger bus to be used as a demonstration vehicle by the Dallas Transit System. The engine is a closed-cycle "steam" turbine system—the organic working fluid, instead of water, is not named. Fabrication and testing of the turbine engine is expected to be completed "during 1971".