Teflon-fuel compatibility report

A two and one-half year program to develop a low-emission, organic turbine Rankine cycle automotive engine is described. The project was conducted under the direction of the Environmental Protection Agency, Advanced Automotive Systems Development Division. Program management was transferred to the Energy Research and Development Administration, Division of Transportation Energy Conservation upon its formation. The automotive power plant uses a turbine expander and a proprietary organic working fluid. A Chevrolet Impala was used as the reference vehicle for configuration control and performance evaluation. A preprototype engine was designed, fabricated, and tested 50 hours. Testing based on simulation of the federal driving cycle demonstrated exhaust pollutants less than one-half 1975-76 Federal Standards can be expected in vehicle application of this engine. Fuel economy was one-half the Federal Standards. Component performance was assessed and recommended areas of improvement defined. The program achieved its goal to demonstrate feasibility of the organic Rankine cycle engine. No engine characteristics were found which would preclude adapting the Rankine cycle engine to automotive use. Projections based on test results indicate performance and fuel economy may be improved further.