With Ricardo and a cluster of Universities, the company is now currently working on sub-system optimisation and a fully characterized demonstration engine is scheduled to go into testing during mid 2013 to provide the ground-work for field trials.
The engine uses traditional reciprocating engine processes which are highly mature industries and well-understood. The Dearman Engine will therefore be fast to market with lower investment requirement than other clean technologies.
Validation
The engine has been the subject of a 4 year PhD at Queen Mary University of London as well as independent analysis at University of Leeds.
A proof-of-concept model has been lab tested proving to be more efficient than any previously built design for a liquid air engine, while the inventor has driven a car with an early prototype liquid air engine at more than 30mph with only cold air from the exhaust.
Most recently, a rigorous independent technology review and engine feasibility study and broad evaluation of the market potential was undertaken by Ricardo, a highly respected global engineering consultancy.
The engineering team from Ricardo concluded that “the technology is likely to compete with hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric systems in zero emission applications.” They have also confirmed that they have not identified any technical showstoppers to a commercial engine.