External Combustion Engine Technology (Vapor and Liquid Cycles) for Individual Soldier Power Systems

Soldiers of the future will be equipped with electronic and electro- mechanical hardware to enhance their capabilities that will require individual power. There are several potential methods of supplying these power requirements. This report is an initial study of advanced vapor-cycle and liquid-cycle engine systems directed at this application. Results of the study indicated that miniature external combustion vapor-cycle engines in the 1- to 10-horsepower class, employing modem materials and design practices, have the potential to provide a compact, high-efficiency, quiet, and multi-fuel especially military diesel fuel power source to meet individual soldier and special operations requirements. A major appendix presents a thermodynamic analysis of the performance of a high-compression uniflow steam engine and the associated Rankine vapor cycle. Soldier power, Vapor cycle, Engine, External combustion, Steam, Liquid, Thermodynamics.