# Cyclone Power Technology Developments in China

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/cyclone-power-technology-developments-in-china/
- Published: 2011-05-04T03:59:17-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## Cyclone Power Technology Moves Toward Biomass Power Prototypes in China

In 2011, Cyclone Power Technologies took another step toward bringing its alternative
engine technology to the Chinese market.

The company announced that its China licensee, Great Wall Alternative Power Systems
Ltd., had completed several early milestones required to begin prototype development.

Those milestones included engineering preparation, intellectual-property transfer
work and the formation of a technical team capable of developing Cyclone engines
for China.

![Cyclone Engine infographic showing the Rankine Cycle heat-regenerative external
combustion process, including combustion, superheated steam, six radial cylinders,
condensation, heat recovery, and closed-loop water recirculation.](https://i0.wp.
com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/29DE0D77-97A7-4828-8E47-55152E1CAB0F.
png?resize=400%2C267&quality=50&ssl=1)

### Building an Engineering Base in China

Great Wall focused first on establishing the engineering foundation behind the project.

The company assembled a team responsible for design, product development and protection
of Cyclone’s intellectual property.

Keith McDade, Great Wall’s vice president of technology and engineering at the time,
described the effort as an attempt to build an engineering center capable of maintaining
high [standards](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/06/californias-building-code-energy-efficiency-measures/)
for quality and performance.

That work mattered because Cyclone was not simply exporting finished equipment. 
Instead, the companies planned to adapt and eventually [manufacture the technology](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/02/micro-supercapacitors-in-electrical-battery-manufacturing/)
for specific applications in China.

### Cyclone WHE-25 Targets Biomass Power

Great Wall planned to begin with the Cyclone WHE-25 engine.

The company envisioned using the engine in biomass-powered generator systems. In
particular, the [technology could support distributed electricity](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/04/trends-in-cleaning-4-new-technologies-that-will-blow-your-mind/)
generation and combined heat and power systems.

### **How It Works

The Cyclone Engine is a Rankine Cycle heat regenerative external combustion engine,
otherwise known as a “Schoell Cycle” engine.   It creates mechanical energy by heating
and cooling water in a closed-loop, piston-based engine system.  The process looks
like this:

### ** HEAT PROCESS **

 1. Fuel is atomized and injected into the patented centrifugal combustion chamber (
    shown as lifted off the engine block for better viewing), where a spark ignites
    the fuel-air mixture into a flame that spins around the heat coils. Thermocouples(
    not pictured) control the duration of combustion to keep the heat in the combustion
    chamber at a constant temperature.
 2. Water contained in the coils becomes super-heated steam (up to 1200°F) in as little
    as 5 seconds from start up which is (a) piped to the cylinders, (b) where it enters
    through a patent-pending valve system (not pictured). Note, valve timing mechanisms
    regulate how much steam enters the cylinders – the longer the cut-off the greater
    the torque and acceleration.

### **MECHANICAL PROCESS **

 1. Steam enters the six radial-configured cylinders under pressures up to 3200 psi
    to push the pistons down in sequence. Note, no motor oil is used – [water is both the working](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/04/why-use-fracked-gas-when-renewables-work-great/)
    fluid and engine lubricant. Also, because of the valve design, the engine starts
    without the need of a starter motor.

 * The rotating action of the pistons connected through a patent-pending spider 
   bearing (not pictured) turns the crank shaft. Note, because the greatest amount
   of torque occurs at the first rotation, the shaft can be [directly connected to a drive](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/10/lexus-rx-500h-direct-drive-2026-test-drive-results/)
   train without a transmission.

### **COOLING PROCESS **

 1. Steam escapes the cylinders through exhaust ports and (a) enters the patent-pending
    condensing unit where it turns back into water, and (b) collects in a sealed pan
    at the bottom of the condenser. Note, this is a closed-loop system – the water 
    does not need to be replaced or topped-off.

 * Blowers spin fresh air around the condenser to speed the cooling process.

### ** REGENERATIVE PROCESS **

 1. (a) Air which has been [pre-heated](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/02/impecca-announces-single-multi-zone-split-unit/)
    from the condensing unit, (b) continues up to a second heat exchanger located in
    the exhaust port of the combustion chamber, further pre-heating the air used for
    combustion while also cooling the exhaust fumes (to about 320°F).
 2. A high pressure pump (not pictured) pipes water from the collecting pan to the 
    heat coils (a) via heat exchangers surrounding each of the cylinders (only one 
    pictured), and then (b) to the center of the coils to start the heat cycle again.

These applications were particularly relevant for rural communities.

Rather than relying entirely on large centralized power plants, distributed [generation can produce electricity](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/02/solarwindow-announces-raynergy-tek-collaboration-pursuing-high-volume-production-of-electricity-generating-windows/)
closer to where people actually use it.

Great Wall also explored using the [technology alongside biochar production](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/07/technological-advances-to-increase-sustainable-food-production/)
and environmental remediation equipment.

As a result, one system potentially could create useful energy while also supporting
projects designed to address [contaminated soil or water](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/04/heavy-metals-in-your-drinking-water-should-you-be-worried/).

### Why Biomass Power Mattered

Biomass offered another potential advantage.

Agricultural waste, plant material and other [organic resources can become](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/01/costa-rica-to-become-the-worlds-first-zero-carbon-country-reports-climateaction/)
energy feedstocks instead of simply becoming waste.

Therefore, rural areas with access to biomass resources could potentially produce
some of their own electricity.

Great Wall believed China represented a significant opportunity for these types 
of distributed power systems.

The company expected environmental cleanup projects and rural energy development
to help create demand.

### How the Cyclone Engine Works

Cyclone developed what it described as a heat-regenerative external combustion engine
based on the Rankine cycle.

Unlike a conventional gasoline or diesel engine, combustion does not occur directly
inside the cylinders.

Instead, an outside heat source heats [water in a closed-loop system](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/02/rain-water-system-passive-integrated/).

That heat converts the water into high-pressure steam.

The steam then drives pistons, [creating mechanical power](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/06/creating-power-from-municipal-solid-waste-best-use-of-waste/).

Afterward, the system cools the steam and converts it back into water. The water
then circulates through the system again.

This closed-loop [design formed one of the central concepts](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/01/lexus-design-concept-beauty-meets-performance/)
behind Cyclone’s technology.

### External Combustion Creates Fuel Flexibility

Because the heat source sits outside the engine’s primary mechanical components,
an external-combustion design can potentially use several types of heat or fuel.

That flexibility made the technology especially interesting for biomass and waste-
energy applications.

Rather than designing an engine around only gasoline or diesel, developers could
potentially generate heat from [renewable or waste-derived fuels](https://greenlivingguy.com/2013/02/epa-proposes-2013-increased-renewable-fuel-standards/).

The WHE-25 was one of Cyclone’s smaller engines. Great Wall also planned to explore
larger Cyclone engines, including the Mark V, after completing the early prototype
work.

### A Larger Push Toward Distributed Energy

Cyclone’s China project reflected a much broader clean-energy trend.

Countries were beginning to look beyond massive centralized generating stations 
and explore smaller energy systems capable of operating closer to [homes](https://greenlivingguy.com/2013/10/solarcity-viridian-team-clean-energy-day-night/),
farms and businesses.

Biomass, combined heat and power, waste heat recovery and distributed [generation all fit within that emerging](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/04/3-reasons-your-home-needs-an-emergency-generator/)
model.

Cyclone’s regulatory filings from the period also confirmed that Great Wall held
rights to develop a production version of the company’s biomass-to-power generator
system in China. The agreement also covered development of the larger Mark V engine
for electricity generation. ([SEC](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1442711/000139843211000571/i11442.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

### The Green Living Guy Take

The most interesting part of this project was not simply the engine.

It was the idea behind it.

Energy systems do not always need to depend on one massive [power](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/01/how-data-centers-are-using-renewable-energy-to-lessen-their-carbon-footprint/)
plant and one fuel source. Smaller systems can turn [locally available resources into useful electricity](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/09/get-excited-about-local-electric-vehicles/)
and heat.

Biomass power can also create opportunities to use [agricultural and organic](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/03/how-can-herbs-help-the-planet-to-go-green/)
waste more productively.

However, prototype development is only one stage of commercialization. Engineers
still need to demonstrate reliability, efficiency, cost effectiveness and long-term
performance before any emerging [energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/03/how-to-make-your-home-greener-and-save-cost-with-home-automation/)
technology can compete at scale.

Still, the Great Wall and Cyclone partnership represented an ambitious attempt to
combine distributed power, biomass [energy and external-combustion engine technology](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/02/advantages-of-sulfur-based-battery-energy-technology/).

In 2011, that made it an interesting experiment in what a more decentralized energy
future could look like.

 

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
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