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ompact design, as well as the capability for continuous combustion. (Harris)

Unlike the conventional piston engine, which utilizes one chamber to accomplish all four cycles, the QT has four separate chambers designated for each cycle. Having four chambers allows thermodynamic efficiency as the intake charge is always in a cool region and the combustion cycle occurs in a continuous hot region. This is unable to happen in a piston engine, where the cylinder is hot at the intake charge and cool during the combustion process. These factors result in a lowered efficiency. To maximize efficiency, the Quasiturbine has eight mini chambers which are derived from the four main chambers. The presence of the carriages allows this possibility. Eight chambers create a shorter cycle duration in which a higher RPM can occur. Unfortunately in piston engines, a higher RPM results in a lower efficiency as the flame front limits velocity. The advent of eight chambers also results in eight times the power output when compared to conventional engines. The sparkplug fires once during one revolution in a conventional engine, whereas combustion occurs eight times during one cycle in the QT engine. During this process, one combustion stroke is ending as another is ready to fire. 'A small channel in the housing allows some hot gas into the combustion chamber, which heats the incoming charge to further accomplish photo-detonation.' (Harris) The result is a continuous combustion process much like a jet turbine engine. (QT Theory Piston Differences)

Like the jet engine, the Quasiturbine has a high efficiency. Unlike the jet, the QT is economical for automobile use as it has a varying RPM range. Conventional engines have a varying RPM range, but it is too high for the wheels, which turn on average four to five times slower than the engine. To harvest the engine's power, a gearbox or transmission is required. This reduces the overall efficiency of the vehicle because the gearbox requires energy to operate and creates power surges. The Quasiturbine operates in the 700-1200 RPM range, which is the equivalent of the wheel RPM in an average car. This configuration would be optimal for efficiency because a gearbox is not required to transfer power to the wheels. Furthermore, the QT produces a high torque at low RPM, which is what most driving conditions require. Conventional engines do not operate efficiently at low RPM, which is why a heavy flywheel is required to maintain proper harmonic motion. There is possibility of even eliminating the clutch when the QT is used. This is because the engine can be stopped when the wheels are stopped, but quickly fired up when power is needed. The QT can also operate at a continuously low RPM as the heat from one combustion cycle is used to ignite the next. Rotational mass is greatly reduced with this configuration. (QT Theory Piston Differences)

Weight is a major factor affecting fuel mileage. The engine in most cars makes up 25% of the total weight of the vehicle. This not only reduces the engine efficiency, but the overall performance suffers. The heavy engine must power itself and power the car, which absorbs most of the chemical energy in the fuel. Electric cars, while they can achieve low RPM's as stated earlier, are heavy due to their batteries. This is also one of the reasons why fuel cells are not on the market yet, as they are too bulky. Diesel and gasoline engines are also heavy w