LiquidPiston
LiquidPiston develops advanced, compact, and efficient rotary combustion engines that are scalable from 1HP to over 1000HP, utilizing their patented High-Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC). Their engines, including the X Engine and X Mini, offer improvements in efficiency, weight, size, vibration, and noise, and are designed for a range of applications from handheld equipment to military use.
Company Overview
LiquidPiston develops compact, powerful, quiet, efficient, low-vibration, multi-fuel capable combustion engines. These engines are scalable from 1HP to over 1000 HP. Unlike traditional engines, LiquidPiston's rotary engines represent a significant disruption in engine technology. The company's X Engine offers improvements in several key areas, including efficiency, weight, size, vibration, and noise.
Patented HEHC Cycle
LiquidPiston’s High-Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC) is a patented thermodynamic cycle that integrates the benefits of Diesel, Otto, and Atkinson cycles. This innovative approach results in up to 30% improved efficiency. The HEHC is a cornerstone technology for LiquidPiston, enabling the development of compact and efficient engines like the X Engine and X Mini.
X Engine Technology
LiquidPiston's X Engine is fundamentally different from traditional Wankel engines. It features a unique architecture and operation that sets it apart. The X Engine has been designed to improve upon traditional engines in several ways, including improved efficiency, reduced weight, smaller size, less vibration, and lower noise levels. Test kits for the X Engine are available for development and manufacturing partners.
X Mini Engine Applications
The X Mini engine is a smaller variant powered by HEHC. It weighs approximately 3 pounds and produces over 5 horsepower at up to 15,000 RPM. The X Mini stands out for being over 30% smaller and lighter than comparable four-stroke piston engines. It is suitable for a variety of small engine applications, such as handheld power equipment, lawn and garden tools, portable generators, mopeds, UAVs, robotics, marine power, and auxiliary power units for boats and aviation.
Development and Testing Facilities
LiquidPiston maintains state-of-the-art laboratory facilities devoted to the development and testing of their engine technologies. The company has built two fully equipped dynamometer/test cells and laboratory test setups with advanced instrumentation. They also operate a machine shop with CNC machining and assembly capabilities. These facilities support the rigorous testing and refinement of LiquidPiston’s engine prototypes, ranging from 3 to 40HP.
Funding and Partnerships
LiquidPiston has successfully raised over $20M through Reg CF and Reg A equity offerings. Notably, the company closed a $1.07M Reg CF round in 2020, achieving its funding goal in just 9 hours. Additionally, LiquidPiston has secured multiple government contracts from entities such as the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The company licenses its engine technology to partners and offers technical engineering consulting services for custom design and application-specific engine development.
XTS-210 Engine Development
The XTS-210 is a 25 horsepower, two-stroke, supercharged, liquid-cooled 210cc variant of LiquidPiston's X Engine. This engine is currently under development and aims to potentially reduce size and weight by nearly 80% compared to diesel engines with similar power outputs. The XTS-210 is intended for demanding commercial and military applications, including mobile electric power generation, primary or hybrid-electric propulsive power for vehicles, and auxiliary power units.