Small engine packs a punch
Noise, excessive vibration, and relative inefficiency are drawbacks of the piston-based internal combustion engines (ICE) that power today’s lawn and garden equipment, such as leaf blowers and lawn trimmers. But now MIT startup LiquidPiston has developed a rotary ICE that it says is significantly smaller, lighter, and quieter, as well as 20 percent more fuel-efficient than the ICEs used in many such small-engine devices. “If you think of handheld tools — for example, a chain saw or hedge trimmer — after about a half hour you don’t want to use it anymore because your hand feels like it’s going to fall off,” says Alexander Shkolnik PhD ’10, president of LiquidPiston and co-inventor of the engine. “Our engine has no vibration at all and it’s a lot quieter. It should be a much nicer user experience all around.” LiquidPiston’s 70-cubic-centimeter engine, the X Mini, produces about 3.5 horsepower at 10,000 RPM; at 4 pounds, it’s also...