Power Systems

The Angeles Crest Engineering Inc (ACEI) staff has contributed extensively to advanced power systems and automotive technology and to the development of automotive systems that incorporate advanced technology. This experience includes direction of the development of an automotive Stirling engine at Mechanical Technology Incorporated and technical contributions to development of several low-emissions, lean-burn engine concepts.

The ACEI staff has performed detailed technical analyses and evaluations of alternative energy conversion and mobile power systems. This work includes the Automobile Power Systems Evaluation Study that the California Institute of Technology performed for the Ford Motor Company, and projects in which analyses and characterizations of alternative technologies for automotive propulsion were carried out for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It also includes a systems definition of alternative mobile power and environmental control systems performed for the US Army, and a systems analysis of alternative fuel cell power systems for railroad locomotives performed for the South Coast Air Quality Management District. These analyses included emissions, performance, design, and cost evaluations of conventional Otto cycle engines, Diesel engines, Rankine cycle engines, Stirling cycle engines, Brayton cycle (gas turbine) engines, and fuel cells.

“Everything that can be invented has been invented and we can close this office” - Charles Duell, Commissioner, United States Office of Patents, 1899