Grants and Contributions:

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Title:

External heat engine for sustainable and reliable power

Agreement Number:

I2IPJ

Agreement Value:

$124,500.00

Agreement Date:

Jan 10, 2018 -

Organization:

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Location:

Ontario, CA

Reference Number:

GC-2017-Q4-01129

Agreement Type:

Grant

Report Type:

Grants and Contributions

Additional Information:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Recipient's Legal Name:

MacDonald, Brendan (University of Ontario Institute of Technology)

Program:

Idea to Innovation

Program Purpose:

The goal of the proposed project is to harness two new technological enhancements to develop a commercially viable external heat engine. The first is to implement a cam with a pin groove, to enable the heat engine to follow the optimal thermodynamic cycles and substantially increase the efficiency. The second is an embedded piston design, that facilitates a more compact design and a shorter regenerator pathway. External heat engines can be fuelled by a wide range of heat sources, including solar thermal and biomass, making them both sustainable and robust power sources, for which there is currently a high market demand. We have built a working prototype of our external heat engine with one of the enhancements incorporated; however, there are technical challenges remaining as well as proof-of-concept validation testing required before we have a commercially viable product. The targeted research and proof-of-concept testing proposed here will lead to the development of a competitive and proven engine, which is necessary to engage investors, in keeping with the I2I Phase I program.