The Steam Engine is back

Saab's old steam engine technology has been awoken again. The technology is today owned by Ranotor and it is that company that will develop the new BC-hybrid (bottoming cylce) technology together with Saab and Volvo.

Basically the engine means that gasoline consumption will be lowered to 20% of what is used today in large lorries. Not only will this save money of course but also more specifically the environment, since the engine uses the heat energy that is lost through the exhaust pipe and pretty much recycle that energy back in to the engine.

The largest problem the new engine faces is that it needs three new components. An HRSG (Heat Recovery Steam Generator), Air cooled Condenser and an oil-free reciprocating piston engine operating at high pressure and with high-pressure ratios. It is paramount that the HRSG and the air-cooled condenser is very compact and perform extraordinary well from a thermal and hydraulic point of view. These things means that we won't see the engine in the stores until 2013 at the earliest.

To be quite honest, steam engine was the last thought I had when it comes to solving the gasoline problem of the future.