Australian Team Working On Engines Without Piston Rings

JabrTheHut writes "An Australian team is seeking funding for bringing an interesting idea to market: cylinder engines without piston rings. The idea is to use small grooves that create a pressure wave that acts as a seal for the piston, eliminating the piston ring and the associated friction. Engines would then run cooler, could be more energy efficient, and might even burn fuel more efficiently, at least according to the article. Mind you, they haven't even built a working prototype yet. If it works I'd love to fit this into an older car."

Re:Nice idea but...

[megabeck42]

I'm sorry but the energy density of hopes and dreams is nowhere close to that of gasoline.

Re:Nice idea but...

[Anonymous Coward]

But hopes and dreams are of endless supply. Gasoline not so much.

Re:It won't work

[Cryacin]

So... in other words, you're saying that the whole thing is blowing a bunch of hot air?

Re:Fuel efficiency is nice, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

Nothing changes the fact that it's getting to be an old car.

Yes, yes this is exactly what we want you to think.

Thanks,

The Auto Industry

Re:Nice idea but...

[ApplePy]

That's how the Prius works. It's partly powered by smug.

Hang Ten big Kahuna

[VortexCortex]

Why not eliminate the engine completely? Just aim in the direction of the destination, detonate, and surf the pressure wave.
With the engine-less car you can't take it with you, but if you don't make it on the first shot you won't be around to care.

Re:Nice idea but...

[The Mighty Buzzard]

I'm not switching from gasoline until someone makes an engine that will run on distilled suffering of hippies.