Scam Detector's validator tool gives www.liquidpiston.com the authoritative medium-high rating of 76.90. But the implications of LiquidPiston's X-Engine reach farther than just any new widget: it could set off another industrial revolution, the company says. Instead of the money going to the startup, a campaign designated a percentage of the funds to go straight to insiders. Liquid piston is (I believe) much lighter. Van de Ven et al. They had a minor gain in revenue in 2021 and 2022, yet they suffered losses. This technology-related article is a stub. This will help them finance the industrialization of their engines and the road to commercialization. Because a liquid can conform to an irregular chamber volume, the surface area to volume ratio in the gas chamber can be maximized using a liquid piston. engines' efficiency ranges from 3-6%. When used for regeneration, the captured energy can be stored in thermal batteries, such as a molten salt. Answer (1 of 2): Liquid Piston's X Engine is a non-Wankel rotary engine that is a further enhancement to a High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC). Two prototype X rotary engines are discussed. This paper demonstrates the sealing performance that can be achieved by this new type of seal configuration for a rotary engine based on dynamics models and experiments. Today we are taking a look at a really weird Rotary engine. If the oxidizer is air, running a lean mixture gives you LOTS of NOx emissions. They have lost $26 million in investor money in less than 20 years. Battery-powered electric vehicles have challenges on the path to a renewable future. Efficiency Analysis of an Arrayed Liquid Piston Isothermal Air Compression System for Compressed Air Energy Storage. LiquidPiston 30kW Generator concept (11 on left) vs. 30kW AMMPS genset (2 on right) means more generators per pallet - a game changer for the military. The X4 is designed for 750 cc, 40 HP, while the X Mini is designed for 70 cc, 5 HP. The air is then isolated in a constant volume chamber. This is based on the advanced rotary platform architecture and unique High-Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC) thermodynamic cycle. Contracts signed totaling over $30M (4 commercial R&D contracts and 14 DoD contracts), First major disruption in engines in 100+ years, Addressable market size for engines and hybrid power systems. The engine exhausts at near one atmosphere and its efficiency is enhanced by reason of its operation in response to various engine parameter sensors. compressors for hydrogen refueling stations DTU Orbit (06/12/2018) Design and prototyping of an ionic liquid piston compressor as a new generation of compressors for hydrogen refueling stations The thesis presents design, modeling, and fabrication of a new compressor technology that involves an ionic liquid piston as a replacement for the solid piston in the conventional reciprocating . But in the case of LiquidPiston, the advancements are more nuanced. The popularity of hybrid vehicles is low. LiquidPiston was featured on How Its Made, a documentary series from the Science Channel that offers viewers a look behind the scenes at how everyday things are manufactured. The result is an engine lighter and smaller than conventional ICEs with pistons. A natural gas X Mini would still be a spark-ignited (SI) engine. Historically, rotary engines consume large volumes of oil and are prone to reliability issues. Methods for scaling include: 1) changing the diameter of the rotor; 2) changing the width of the rotor; or 3) adding more rotors. We love seeing plucky inventors like these to completely rethinking the gasoline engine. Over time, people will be buying more EVs, taking the sheen off combustion-engine investments. Here, the rotary engine will power the battery pack, doing away with the current bulky and pricey configuration. LiquidPistons HEHC is a patented thermodynamic cycle that combines the advantages of Diesel, Otto and Atkinson thermodynamic cycles, resulting in up to 30% improved efficiency. First engine innovation in a century. Were actively solving these problems for the military. All papers are available for download below. Because a liquid can conform to an irregular chamber volume, the surface area to volume ratio in the gas chamber can be maximized using a liquid piston. But we dont yet have the technology to have a fantastic alternative. The primary emission of an Engine running on hydrogen fuel is water, making it a potentially zero carbon-emission, green engine. Oops! For smaller engines, the RPM range is from 1,000 to 14,000. LiquidPiston has patented the High-Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC), which includes: 1) High Compression Ratio (i.e. With EVs, youre talking about basically zero emissions on the road. If the color of the paint matters this much, imagine how important the weight of the engine is. Each of the three housing chambers in the Rotary X is comparable to a piston. Visit our investor page to learn more. But this engine also opens a path toward using greener fuels both in the military and in consumer markets by burning green hydrogen, which is completely carbon-free. The road to success is not very clear. @misc{etde_21177773, title = {Liquid piston gas compression} author = {Van de Ven, James D, and Li, Perry Y} abstractNote = {A liquid piston concept is proposed to improve the efficiency of gas compression and expansion. Particularly in its use with airplanes and portable generators. LiquidPiston is also working to develop lightweight and efficient engines for electric scooters, drones, robots, generators, portable power tools, and more. LiquidPiston's engines are 10x smaller and lighter than traditional diesel engines and increase efficiency by 30 percent. In this study, an interrupted plate porous media is used to enhance the heat dissipation during compression and improve the compression efficiency in ionic liquid piston compressors. Now They're, Warren Buffett and Partner Charlie Munger, The Viral Brand Behind Soaring Searches for 'Female Body Hair', Not Only Thriving, But Working to End the Cycle of Poverty in South Africa, Reveal Their Best Business Advice for 2023, Still Gets Up Close and Personal After Its $310 Million Sale, 8 Tips Introverts Need to Network Effectively, Find Out Which Brands Have Ranked on the Franchise 500 for Longest, Carnival Cruise Wants Passengers to Have Fun in the Sun But Do This, and You'll Get Burned With a New $500 Fee, Everything to Know About the Murdaugh Family Murders: From Their Legal Legacy to Multiple Unexplained Deaths, This Is the Worst City in the World for Work-Life Balance and No, It's Not NYC. By getting the same power with up to a 10X smaller engine, were opening up possibilities for air taxis. The patented high-efficiency cycle is the biggest leap forward in combustion engine technology over the last 85 years, and holds great promise as the preferred future propulsion solution for both military and heavy commercial drones. Compared to older piston engines, it also operates with far less vibration. We cannot give tax advice, and we encourage you to talk with your accountant or tax advisor before making an investment. And for a limited time, they're open for investment to Entrepreneur readers. Mar 3, 2023. Thank you! The pump power is supplied by an electric motor. One of the main reasons people invest in technology firms is that they often forward radical new innovations. This concept replaces the traditional solid piston with a liquid column resting over the piston surface to directly compress gas in a fixed-volume vertically-oriented compression chamber. If you go with an EV, youre still buying relatively early in the technological S-curve. Insiders observed the businesss status and believed they deserved yet another $7.5 million payoff. So, combustion engine cars will be with us for a while. With research grants and consulting services, they generated around $10 million in revenue (according to SEC filings from 20162021). They're generating revenue, and their brand recognition is soaring. These are all great signs for investing in a startup. Shaft Power Input. It is a much smaller and lighter engine than piston engines powered by gasoline and diesel. REFER AN OUTSTANDING ENGINEER AND RECEIVE $5,000. Interested in becoming an investor in LiquidPiston? Oops! They build their Wankel engine, but it produces three instead of one combustion every spin. DOWNLOAD NOW. 1. Startup investing can be a great opportunity on its own. Thanks to LiquidPiston's proprietary technology, though, the company claims it can improve efficiency by 30%. The rotor has passages to supply air and remove exhaust gas, thereby eliminating the need for valves. LiquidPiston has created the modeling tools required to optimize its engine development process, which reduces the time taken to go from concept-to-prototype. While it is a rotary engine, LiquidPistons X Engine is NOT a Wankel engine. For example, let's take a look at Liquid Piston. Finally, the combustion products are expanded to atmospheric pressure, utilizing the Atkinson cycle. LiquidPiston is a manufacturer of cutting-edge rotary combustion engines with offices in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Altogether, they've developed diesel engines and small gasoline engines alike, in addition to fuel injection and engine control systems. No wonder the Department of Defense has awarded us over $30M to date. Is Liquid Piston a good investment? It is compared to $2.6 million in revenue and a $1.8 million loss in 2021. With more than $17 million in venture capital raised so far, LiquidPiston is taking on another round of investors. . After several successful fundraisers, including earning over $17 million on StartEngine, Liquid Piston has reportedly become a favorite among crowd funders. If a breakthrough is made, that means EV drivers can have much lighter cars and zero emissions. The paper will also provide an overview of a second smaller X engine, the X Mini Diesel (XMD), a small (70cc) spark-ignited (SI) multi-fueled engine that is heavy fuel compatible. . Hence, despite increasing losses, they increased their valuation to $184 million, more than doubling it. Investing through equity and real estate crowdfunding or asset tokenization requires a high degree of risk tolerance. Both engines only have two major moving parts the rotor and the shaft. Liquid Piston has been around since 2003 and was incorporated in 2004, so it's coming up on 20 years old, and they still don't have a . As automakers augment the reciprocating piston engine with hybrid systems and improved accessories, independent inventors are busily working to make huge improvements to the basic efficiency of the internal combustion engine. This paper investigates the . Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for LiquidPiston's Regulation A+ Offering. However, the combustion engine is still remarkably inefficient, with average power units generating around 20% thermal efficiency. I guess one difference looks to be that it is likely to be slightly better in terms of thermal efficiency, as the whole combustion process takes place . A liquid piston concept is proposed to improve the efficiency of gas compression and expansion. Their 79 awarded and pending patents will be added to their present Their 79 awarded and pending patents will be added to their current portfolio. Traditional Wankels have a triangular rotor in a "peanut" shaped (trochoidal) housing. Thats creating a problem. Answer (1 of 5): In practice it is very similar to the Wankel engine in the way that it operates, so has many of the same benefits and downsides. Onward! Not only that, it can make engines ten-times smaller and lighter promoting . But it has already taken them 20 years to reach the market. Liquid Piston recently deployed a new Test the Waters page at StartEngine which is an option firms can use prior to initiating a formal raise. Otto cycle): A dwell near top-dead-center (TDC) allows more time for fuel-air mixing and forces combustion to occur at nearly constant-volume conditions.3) Over-expansion (i.e. Thus, they are becoming less profitable and are sitting at 70 times revenue. This cycle has the potential to be up to 30% more fuel efficient than traditional Otto or Diesel cycles. Hydrogen may be generated by renewable sources such as solar energy, making it overall a cleaner alternative than batteries on a well to wheel basis, Custom design and development of engines for clients, Industrialize, manufacture, and sell core engines, PhD in Computer Science / Artificial Intelligence from MIT, Technical focus on leading teams in modeling dynamic systems, optimization and controls, 70+ patents; 30 conference and journal papers, PhD in Physics from University of Connecticut (UConn), Former Clean Energy Program Director, GEN3, 80+ patents: engines, fuel cells, super capacitors, and other fields, SVP of Corporate Development and Board Director, MBA, Harvard; BASc Electrical Engineering, U. British Columbia, Former Venture Capital Executive in Residence. LPI's technology could be critical in addressing a possible lithium shortage. Ratcheting down prices to get more sales can often do more harm than good: Try these approaches instead. The X Engine has few parts and thr. Diesel cycle): For maximum efficiency, air is compressed to a high compression ratio, fuel is injected and compression is ignited (CI-HEHC). Hungry Jack Mashed potatoes discontinued 2023 Do they still make it. These challenges are due to a number of inherent issues: 1) a narrow combustion chamber prevents adequate flame propagation, while also having high surface to volume ratio which cools the charge and reduces efficiency; 2) the engine is poorly sealed, leading to significant blowby, thereby decreasing efficiency; 3) the Wankel engine operates on . We are always interested in exceptional people. Novel designs are popping up at engineering expos everywhere, and the newest comes from Bloomfield, Conn.-based .css-3wjtm9{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#1c6a65;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-3wjtm9:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}LiquidPiston. In about 20 years, we wont have a significant need for engines. Liquid piston with water spray based cooling to augment heat transfer has shown a 89% three-stage compression efficiency, substantially higher than the 27% associated with a conventional . However, these pumps can sometimes cavitate, which can lead to damage and decreased efficiency. And the team as a whole has achieved numerous industry accolades and awards, with a long track record of successful engine designs that have been used in a variety of applications. Hydrogen is the sixth fuel variation that has been proven to power the X-Engine along with gasoline, propane, kerosene, diesel, and jet A fuel. When fully complete, Shkolnik says, the X Mini could churn out . The output shaft revolved at three times the speed of the rotor. Unlike the Wankel however, there are several key differentiators which address the bulk of the older Wankels design deficiencies:The combustion chamber in the X engine is located in the stationary housing, with most of the gas displaced during compression into this stationary combustion chamber. Over the upcoming months, they will make more public product-related announcements. LiquidPiston, Inc., of Bloomfield, CT, recently signed an agreement with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, better known as DARPA, to use the hyper-efficient rotary engine . Alec Shkolnik and his team at LiquidPiston are giving Entrepreneur readers the exclusive opportunity to get in on the ground floor as investors in the next major inflection point for engine technology. Were looking to expand our team.Please check our open positions. Not only do these military contracts provide non-dilutive funding for LiquidPiston, they're also prime testing grounds as the company expands to other markets. The X-Engine is spartan and quieter since it only has two main moving elements. "We stretched the performance curves in every direction to get much higher efficiency," said Alec Shkolnik, President and CEO of LiquidPiston, "We took the best parts of many different thermal cycles and combined them." A liquid piston concept is proposed to improve the efficiency of gas compression and expansion. Daniele Littera, et al., SAE Technical Paper 2015-32-0719, 2015This paper describes development progress of LiquidPistons small rotary engine, the XMv3, which operates on a Spark-Ignited (SI) variant of its patented High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC). When it comes to engines, bigger doesnt mean better. Business Lessons From the Family That's the 'Cake Boss' Empire. Only two primary moving parts, optimally balanced. Jeep Gladiator discontinued: Will there be a 2023 Gladiator? They do have tested and functional products. They are the rotor and the shaft, which are perfectly balanced. LiquidPiston has been the subject of numerous technical papers. Watch our episode from Season 31 below for an in-depth look at the makings of LiquidPiston rotary engines. Not only that, it can make engines ten-times smaller and lighter promoting . Please read the offering circular at invest.liquidpiston.com, Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor. This, once more, comes "mostly from government contracts.". Just check out this . The Company's X-Engine is based on a patented optimized thermodynamic cycle and a novel rotary architecture, promising greater fuel efficiency and power density, and has successfully tested with multiple types of liquid as well as gaseous fuels supporting a greener future for hybrid electric propulsion and mobile generation. Thus, they give clients access to small, effective combustion engines that can run on various fuels. They can use fuel more efficiently than a standard diesel engine by 30%. Yes, like any rotary engine. Its simple - having only two moving parts, has practically zero vibration, is extremely compact and lightweight, and can run on heavy fuel, gasoline, and even gaseous fuels like propane and hydrogen. And I am not convinced of the efficacy of H2 as a fuel. Leboeuf, M., Dufault, J., Nickerson, M., Becker, K. et al., Performance of a Low-Blowby Sealing System for a High Efficiency Rotary Engine, SAE Technical Paper 2018-01-0372, 2018, https://doi.org/10.4271/2018-01-0372.The X-Engine overcomes the gas leakage issue of the Wankel engine by using two axially-loaded face seals that directly interface with three stationary radially-loaded apex seals per rotor. Finally, if Im reading this correctly, Mazda has a similar idea to LiquidPistion: use a rotary engine as a range extender for EVs. Heat transfer enhancement techniques used in liquid piston gas compression can contribute to improving the efficiency of compressed air energy storage systems by achieving a near-isothermal. The post Invest in LiquidPiston Stock for Credible Green Solutions appeared first on InvestorPlace. Because a liquid can conform to an irregular chamber volume, the surface area to volume ratio in the gas chamber can be maximized using a liquid piston. This 10:1 stock split means that effectively the share price is reduced by 10x (while the number of shares is increased by 10x). Research contracts and consulting make up the majority of their income. Also, they are open to investment. A liquid piston Stirling engine electrical generator, the generator being a linearly reciprocating electrical generator that is powered by a Stirling engine having a liquid piston that is displaced by the cyclic contraction and expansion of a gas resulting from increases and decreases in temperature. 6-bottom, which is representative of a high-efficiency adjustment linkage variable displacement pump/motor designed for this application . Not only that, it can make engines ten-times smaller and lighter promoting paradigm-shattering cost efficiencies for automakers. I understand that the data I am submitting will be used to provide me with the above-described products and/or services and communications in connection therewith. It requires a lot of coolant inside the . [3] This would generally rule out the use of low octane fuels like gasoline, so there is also a lower compression spark ignited version called the X-Mini. The three operating chambers of the Wankel formed by the triangular rotor are separated by seals installed on the three apexes of the rotor. . The result is a more complete combustion ending in low emissions and very high chamber pressures. It should be a much nicer user experience all around.". Ideal partners are current engine developers and manufacturers that are looking to expand their product lines.While we appreciate all of the interest we have received from folks that volunteer to test engine prototypes in various applications, we are not currently looking for help in this area. Also, EV sales are growing while those of combustion engines are falling. Even then, $25,000 is a lot of money for many people, especially considering the present economic climate. Aside from ancillary parts such as injectors, fuel pumps and oil pumps, there are no other additional moving parts. As a proof of principle of the integrated design, a two-cylinder engine is produced and characterized and liquid pumping is demonstrated. Compressed air energy storage systems (CAES) have demonstrated the potential for the energy storage of power plants. However, from a practical point of view, nothing could be further from the truth. Demand for electric vehicles is off the charts, with an expected growth of 380% more EVs on the road by 2030. Or powering an unmanned aircraft where weight comes at a premium. 36lbs of fuel can displace 1,000 pounds of battery. But they still had a $26 million loss as of 2022. Where the rotor holds the seals in a normal Wankel, the housing does that job in the X1 engine. This creates near-isothermal operation, which minimizes energy lost to heat generation. Hence, despite increasing losses, they increased their valuation to $184 million, more than doubling it. The fact that they entered the market at a bad time was the leading cause for concern. Liquid Piston promised to focus on their Army and Air Force commitments in 2023. These engines are not Wankel engines; they are uniquely configured to adopt the companys patented thermodynamic cycle and its associated efficiency and low-noise benefits. A new study broke down the best and worst places in the world for work-life balance and this Asian city came in last. LiquidPiston's 70-cubic-centimeter engine, the X Mini, produces about 3.5 horsepower at 10,000 RPM; at 4 pounds, it's also about 30 percent smaller than the four-stroke, 50-cubic-centimeter piston ICEs it aims to replace. Read our privacy policy for more information. They will increase the amount of internally supported R&D and technology demonstration they do. No matter how efficient this platform is, it will always require fossil fuels. A liquid piston gas compressor facilitates high-pressure compression, and efficient convective heat transfer can significantly reduce the compression energy consumption during air compression. By turning the rotary "inside out", the X-Engine has stationary apex (tip) seals that can be directly lubricated. And while the company doesnt face direct competition Mazda (OTCMKTS:MZDAY) abandoned its rotary-powered RX-8 it faces irrelevancy from other innovations. The ability to optimize the engine for different fuels is one of the main reasons why LiquidPiston has gained so much traction within the industry. This allows significant reduction in oil consumption over a regular rotary motor. They stated that they were enhancing their functional and managerial teams. Everyone refers to the thousands of investors they have attracted through Facebook advertisements. By wasting much less energy during the course of an combustion cycle. The X engine captures the main advantages of the Wankel, including 1) high power-to-weight ratio [a one rotor X engine behaves like a 3-cylinder 4-stroke]; 2) simplicity having only 2 moving parts a rotor, and a shaft; and 3) like the Wankel - the X engine is inherently balanced with no oscillating components, therefore having minimal vibration. In addition, CH 4 and O 2 are evaluated. The U.S. Army needs a modular system that is ultraportable and reduces the logistical footprint of its power source. Piston ring for reduction of crevice volume: Inactive: 10-Mar-2016: 00000000: US-20210108722-A1: Combination piston and piston ring for reducing crevice volume . High-efficiency heat-driven acoustic . LPI Hybrid Power System eliminates up to 80% of the battery pack. September 13, 2022 09:00 ET | Source: LiquidPiston. LiquidPiston has transformed the combustion engine. In the application of an air compressor, with a pressure ratio of 9.5:1 and a cycle fre- Liquid piston Gas compression quency of 20 Hz, the liquid piston decreased the energy consumption by 19% over the reciprocating pis- Air compressor ton. We are focusing on small package because there is strong demand for a very small compression ignition engine. For the X Mini 70 cc spark-ignited prototype, the compression ratio is 9:1. This makes the X engine uniquely suitable for high compression ratio operation with Direct Injection and Compression Ignition (which is not possible in the Wankel without boosting or a second compression rotor). . The number of mirror segments, mirror geometry and orientation are essential parameters when assessing the beam-shaping capabilities of deformable mirrors. Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin. That is rarely how it is utilized, like anything that can be misused. Also, they made considerable advancements in creating their small rotary X-engine. By Ben Wojdyla Published: Oct 17, 2012 Media Platforms Design Team Engineers have been trying to make engines smaller, lighter, and more efficient for decades, but LiquidPiston was the first in a century to go back to square-one to figure out the thermodynamics and engine design that would make this possible. While a Wankel engine has a 3-sided triangular rotor, within a 2-lobed oval housing, the X engine has a 2-lobed oval rotor in a 3-sided housing. Can an engineer change the world? Again, this is different than a normal internal combustion engine, which releases very energetic, high-pressure exhaust gas. Something went wrong while submitting the form. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. This high pressure is allowed to act on the rotor until it reaches nearly atmospheric pressures, so almost all the available energy is extracted before the exhaust is physically pushed out. . Many of the team members have more than 20 years of experience in their respective fields. Very well. In comparison the biggest problem of the LiquidPiston engine seems to be that the one lobe of the rotor is dedicated to compression-combustion-expansion (which means serious problems with its cooling) while the other lobe of the rotor (which comprises ports) is dedicated to the intake and the exhaust. LiquidPiston's Small Tactical Power Generators provide more than an 80% . This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. LiquidPiston created the X-Engine. Typical piston diesel engines use between 15:1 and 24:1. Due to declining profits and the 19-year-old companys failure to provide a product that is ready for the market in two decades, insiders are leaving the organization. We arent stopping there. REFER AN OUTSTANDING ENGINEER AND RECEIVE $5,000. We fully expect the X-Engine will be able to burn low-carbon fuels, such as bio-fuels and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The exhaust from hydrogen combustion is primarily water. Interestingly, that efficiency and power-weight ratio makes these engines . LiquidPistons engines are in development and are not currently available for purchase. Imagine moving 1,000 pound generators (and the fuel to power them) to a desert base. LiquidPistons rotary engines are the first disruption to engine technology in over a century. Its because the profits drop, and it has yet to create a product ready for the market in nearly two decades. The guys at Liquid Piston Mounted The Liquid Piston Rotary Engine on the Go-Kart and ran it on Hydrogen for the 1st Time, proving that the Liquid Piston Rota. .css-v1xtj3{display:block;font-family:FreightSansW01,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:100;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-v1xtj3:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.1387rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-v1xtj3{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}Whats New With F1 Tires for the 2023 Season, How F1s Red Bull Racing Makes Mid-Race Decisions, Why Ford and GM Truck Production Has Stopped, The 7 Most Outrageous Pickup Trucks Out There, Amazon Now Has an OEM Store for Your DIY Car Needs, Romain Grosjeans Burnt F1 Car Will Go on Display, Tesla: Self-Driving Software May Cause Crash, Save Time Scraping Your Windshield With a De-Icer, The Best Tools to Keep in Your Cars Emergency Kit.