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Car: Engine

 Alternative steam engine
 
(+3, -3) 		  [vote for,
against]

I propose using steam engines to help propel a car, but using a different liquid than water. (Many liquids need a lot less heat to get them to their boiling point, but apparently most liquids turn into approx the same amount of vapour, so it seems to follow that there are other liquids that would produce much more power for the amount of heat put in). I have discovered that this idea was/is already in use for engines where Freon (often used in refrigerators) is the liquid in question, and where 'low grade heat' is made use of. But I think such an engine, incorporated in a car or van's set-up that is already using an internal combustion engine and generating a lot of wasted heat, could improve efficiency a great deal... (I imagine the 'secondary' engine could send electricity via a generator to a battery - (even better if the first does this as well) - it would indeed be strange/unworkable to have two engines both developing mechanical power in different ways.)
—RobertT, Dec 30 2004

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       catchy title.
—benfrost, Dec 30 2004
   

       Sounds plausible (ish). I would go for a whole new engine - combining the power from the two different systems which would produce different levels of power at different times would be a nightmare. I wonder if freon boiling would have the same time-lag problems that eventually did for the steam engine?
—wagster, Dec 30 2004
   

       DaS Luna Engine. The addition of water creates flash steam at time of combustion using any fuel.   

       The enourmity of this being 1300c with Diesel. Or lesser temperature with other fuels.   

       However this steam cleans the "piston engine" cylinder walls of lubricant.   

       To overcome this a new technique of four-stroke combustion was realised using a turbine pump.   

       This becoming an engine with two moving parts.   

       Confined water is more solid than metal itself, and replaces the common metal piston.   

       Self acting valve replaces mechanical valving of the piston engine.   

       A Turbine replaces the piston engine crankshaft.   

       Self setting throughout it cares not what fuel, or fuel mix is in use.   

       No tune up or other maintainence is required.   

       The valving in a water casing alone, when external heated, using its self generated high pressure draft. Is super heated steam turbine requiring no further for operation. Or a cold water positive action pump with volume confined to fuel in use.   

       The efficiency of turbine apply throughout.   

       The combustion technique is stand alone pump without a turbine. Exploited as a positive action pumpof turbine speed with venturi action.
—DaS Energy, Aug 15 2005
   

       I've seen this mantra elsewhere... on this user's personal page, in fact.
—david_scothern, Aug 15 2005
   

       David. DaS is not computer literate, can you help with further please. My Sons and I have it going. Bit like a dog who catches a car, what now. Cheers. Peter
—DaS Energy, Aug 18 2005
   

       WTF? DAS, dude, chill. take a deep breath. think. What is it you are trying to say?   

       Rob-T, think about how effectively the radiator and cooling system (coolant galleries, etc) is coupled to the engine; enormous heat transfer potential. This might be a starting point, or even useful as a retrofit option.   

       bun for efficient thinking
—Custardguts, Oct 09 2006
   


 

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