Zvarinograd
13-01-2004, 14:55
Yet again, the United Communist States of Zvarinograd has begun research on cleaner, more efficient alternatives for today’s energy needs. This began when some of the researchers proposed a radically new solution to air economy engines. A cryogenic engine powered by liquid nitrogen.
The liquid nitrogen, stored at -320 degrees Fahrenheit (-196 degrees Celsius), is vaporized by the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is the heart of the cryogenic engine, which gets its name from the extremely cold temperature at which the liquid nitrogen is stored. Air moving around the vehicle is used to heat the liquid nitrogen to a boil. Once the liquid nitrogen boils, it turns to gas in the same way that heated water forms steam in a steam engine.
Nitrogen gas formed in the heat exchanger expands to about 700 times the volume of its liquid form. This highly pressurized gas is then fed to the expander, where the force of the nitrogen gas is converted into mechanical power by pushing on the engine's pistons. The only exhaust is nitrogen, and since nitrogen is a major part of the atmosphere, the car gives off little pollution. However, the cars may not reduce pollution as much as you think. While no pollution exits the car, the pollution may be shifted to another location. As with two cylinder air-compression engines, the cryogenic engine requires electricity to compress the air. That use of electricity means there is some amount of pollution produced somewhere else.
Some of the leftover heat in the engine's exhaust is cycled back through the engine to the economizer, which preheats the nitrogen before it enters the heat exchanger, increasing efficiency. Two fans at the rear of the vehicle draw in air through the heat exchanger to enhance the transfer of heat to the liquid nitrogen.
The project is due to be started after the earlier plant oils fuel alternative project.
OOC:
So many ideas, so little time. Sometimes, I'm too much a visionary, when I can actually do none of the ideas I think of, either by lack of time or lack of practicality.
The liquid nitrogen, stored at -320 degrees Fahrenheit (-196 degrees Celsius), is vaporized by the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is the heart of the cryogenic engine, which gets its name from the extremely cold temperature at which the liquid nitrogen is stored. Air moving around the vehicle is used to heat the liquid nitrogen to a boil. Once the liquid nitrogen boils, it turns to gas in the same way that heated water forms steam in a steam engine.
Nitrogen gas formed in the heat exchanger expands to about 700 times the volume of its liquid form. This highly pressurized gas is then fed to the expander, where the force of the nitrogen gas is converted into mechanical power by pushing on the engine's pistons. The only exhaust is nitrogen, and since nitrogen is a major part of the atmosphere, the car gives off little pollution. However, the cars may not reduce pollution as much as you think. While no pollution exits the car, the pollution may be shifted to another location. As with two cylinder air-compression engines, the cryogenic engine requires electricity to compress the air. That use of electricity means there is some amount of pollution produced somewhere else.
Some of the leftover heat in the engine's exhaust is cycled back through the engine to the economizer, which preheats the nitrogen before it enters the heat exchanger, increasing efficiency. Two fans at the rear of the vehicle draw in air through the heat exchanger to enhance the transfer of heat to the liquid nitrogen.
The project is due to be started after the earlier plant oils fuel alternative project.
OOC:
So many ideas, so little time. Sometimes, I'm too much a visionary, when I can actually do none of the ideas I think of, either by lack of time or lack of practicality.