Scientists from the NRC "Kurchatov Institute" have created the world's first micro internal combustion engine, as thin as a human hair. This device is capable of driving objects that can be 1000 times heavier than the engine itself. The engine's operating principle is based on the combustion reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, obtained from salt water through electrolysis. During electrolysis, water decomposes into gases, which are then ignited, creating an explosion that drives a membrane, acting as a piston.
The innovation lies in the fact that scientists have overcome a fundamental problem associated with the miniaturization of engines — with a decrease in the volume of the combustion chamber, where the combustion reaction lost efficiency due to heat losses. To do this, they used a method of rapid gas removal, which allows the combustion reaction to be repeated many times, ensuring the engine's operation.
The microengine has potential applications in various fields, including medicine. One of the most obvious uses is to replace bulky insulin pumps, allowing for more accurate and compact drug delivery. This microengine can also be used in other miniature devices, such as micro- and nano-sized mechanisms.
The device uses a unique control signal delivery system, which causes the formation of a bubble from a mixture of hydrogen, oxygen, and water nanodroplets under high pressure. When the bubble burns, its volume increases 500 times in 10 microseconds, leading to an explosion that pushes the membrane.
In addition, such technologies can influence the miniaturization and development of robotics and microtechnology. The operating principle of the microengine resembles a traditional internal combustion engine, but on a micro level, which opens up new opportunities for the development of efficient and powerful micro- and nano-engines.
However, before entering the market, the development must demonstrate its reliability and stability, as well as competitiveness compared to other technologies. Nevertheless, if this technology is successful and economically accessible, it could find wide application in medical technology, biology, and robotics.
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