patprimmer
I agree that much can be done to improve the piston engine.
The question I'm posing is: on a weight & total engine size
basis is the wankel not inherently and insurmountable
superior to a 4 stroke piston? Likewise isn't the piston
inherently and insurmountable superior to a wankel...
Am I ill informed, or is there no talk about a hybrid wankel?
I would think that the wankel is the ideal engine for an electric hybrid.
I'm told the wankel will never match a piston because the
lobes don't capture enough of the expanding gas.
Add a big turbo to get back the efficiency, and add...
ryanw01 (Mechanical) Oct 20, 2004
I am looking for similar help. We are building a remote control car w/ a ducted
You may want to check out the Coanda Effect
http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/bp/16/coanda.html
Don't mix up the total bullshit about the "Hydrogen Economy"
with the meer hype about fuel-cell. Maybe in 2030, fuel-cells
will be practical. I can say with 100% confidence they won't
be using hydrogen. For stationary apps. they'll run on methane,
for portable & transport, it'll be ethanol...
"Warpspeed (Automotive) Dec 12, 2003
Another engine that uses a crank coupled exhaust turbine is the Napier Deltic. These amazing engines are hard at work all over the world in all sorts of applications."
Check out the Napier Nomad, 0.345 lb/ehp/hr.
http://www.home.aone.net.au/shack_one/nomad.htm
Why not connect the turbine to an alternator?
You can draw off excess power, and when you need a boost,
cut the field current to the alternator. That will sudden
drop the load on the turbo
I'm rather skeptical of the "hydrogen economy" hype.
As an EE, I'm out of my area of expertise. I've be told
that because hydrogen is smaller and more viscose
than NG, it's impractical to send thru the NG infrastructure.
Similar to Tbuelna's #2, is compressed air assist.
There's an accumulator and small compressor that's
clutched to the drivetrain when braking. The air
is directed into the compressor fan. Has the additional
benefit that the air is cold.
Evelrod wrote:
"To believe such a MAJOR change in automotive propulsion technology will come about in 25 years is, IMO, a bit of a stretch"
Have you noticed that the converion to 42V has stalled, but
GM sez they'll have commercial Fool-Cell cars by 2010!!