Thu, Jul 30, 2009
Deliveries Could Begin In 8 Months
By: Chris Batcheller
Powerplant Develpoments recently completed mapping the fuel up
to 100 hp on the Gemeni 100 engine. “We’ve put 26 hours
running the final design in the last two months” said
Poweplant Development’s Tim Archer. He noted that the next
step is to run the engine with the programed ECU (Engine Control
Unit). He expects that will happen in the next 2-4 weeks. He noted
that the company has received production cases and will assemble
the engines soon.
Tim Archer
The company along with Westlake Engineering has worked through a
few issues in the last year. These included designing a new
supercharger driveshaft and reducing the size of the injector
nozzles. Tim Archer noted that the testing has gone well and
they have run the engine to 105 hp.
The Gemini 100 engine is a unique opposed-piston design. This
three cylinder, six piston engine has two crankshafts that are
located under two large black covers on the engine. The
engine is unique because the pistons push in toward each
other. There is no traditional valve train in this engine,
eliminating many moving parts. The engine has an integral
supercharger and mechanical high pressure fuel injection
pump. It is controlled by an ECU with electronic
injectors.
Further simplifying the design is the backup mode in the event
of an electrical failure. The engine does not require a backup
battery, but one can be installed. Power is required
for the ECU and the fuel injectors.
Because there are fewer moving parts, maintenance is reduced and
the engine is light weight. The engine is expected to weigh 191 lbs
installed with all operating fluids, which is less than a
Continental 0-200.
Tim Archer noted that they will begin to deliver engines to
deposit holders in the next 8 months. He also said that some
OEM’s will also receive engines to begin installations on
airframes. He expects to begin delivery to all other
customers in the next 12 months.
This is one engine to watch. It’s lightweight and simple
in operation. Hopefully next year at Oshkosh, we will see the
Gemini 100 on the flight line. The company also has several
bigger engines planned.
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