A Pilot Compressed Air Engine

Afzal Ahmed
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Afzal Ahmed: COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Sahiwal, Pakistan

Energy & Environment, 2011, vol. 22, issue 8, 1105-1113

Abstract: The air car has a history of development - with proponents and critics - since 1687. As the conventional internal combustion car engine is only 20% efficient, it wastes a considerable amount of energy and will not be feasible, if - for whatever reasons - fossil fuel fall short in supply and therefore, extremely expensive. The drawback of an air engine is that, it is light, requires frequent refilling of the compressed air-tank even for short distances, and the temperature and pressure reduce during expansion in the cylinder. Current research is concerned with alleviating these drawbacks. The good news is that, Motor Development International (MDI) Luxembourg has developed an air engine for a car using a specially designed connecting rod. MDI is now building an air car of 75hp costing US $ 17,800.00 for US roads and can travel up to 1000 miles at 96 mph. In the present study, the concept of double acting steam engine is used by replacing steam with compressed air and the reciprocating motion of piston is governed through flywheel using a solenoid valve. The efficiency of the engine based on input energy of compressed air is about 80%.

Keywords: Air car; air engine; compressed air application; zero pollution automobile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:engenv:v:22:y:2011:i:8:p:1105-1113

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