Reality of Fuel Consumption

[Clare Snyder]

>To: DIY     --INTERNET DIY
>
>From: Wayne Strasser (CED Polymer Development)
>*** Resending note of 08/13/97 10:45
>_______________________________________________________________________
>Subject: Re: Reality of Fuel Consumption
>=========================================================================
>IF you could capture ALL of the heat energy known to exist in a gallon of
>gasoline, and get it ALL to the wheels, 100MPG would not be such a stretch.
>A low-tech Austin Mini 850 from the very early 60's was capable of in excess
>of 50 MPG. That engine is only about 30% efficient, by common knowlege. With
>heat rejection coatings, fuel injection, full engine management, and
>turbocharging, possibly a bit of ceramic componentry to allow higher
>temperatures, it should be do-able. 100 MPG from a behemoth like a 61
>Cadilac IS a stretch.>
>
>YOU CAN NEVER CAPTURE ALL OF THE ENERGY IN THE COVALENT PI AND SIGMA BONDS
>IN GASOLINE...EVER HEARD OF A"CARNOT"ENGINE (ISENTROPIC, REVERSIBLE PROCESS)?
>
>
We are not talking the theoretical heat value of gasoline, just the actual,
available, proven heat value available from burning gasoline in proper
concentrations with atmospheric oxygen under controlled pressure. I do not
have the figures for gasoline handy, but for #2 fuel oil it is .135 million
btu/us gallon.or 11.5 us gallons per million btus.
In an atmospheric burner in a furnace, 65% of this heat is recoverable. With
a flame retention head in the same furnace, close to 80% is recoverable.
This is the difference in technology, and if a heat engine could attain 80
to 85% heat utilization, we could go 100 Miles per gallon, even with the
itty bitty US gallon.