High MPG

[Danny Barrett]

Yes, I agree. In fact, I think that if as much time, effort, and money was
put into the development of a turbine engine (like the Chrysler one) as has
been put into the engines we currently run, the "200 MPG carb" type idea
would be a case of "so what!" In the case of the Chrysler turbine, it had a
very ingeneous heat transfer drvice that recycled otherwise wasted heat from
the exhaust to the intake, thereby making the engine more efficient (this is
a bit more difficult with the IC engine to say the least - basically, it has
to be stored as chemical potential energy within the fuel, and this can only
be done by chemically altering the fuel with an endothermic reaction). The
problem that I can see with the heat exchanger is that it didn't exchange
enough of the exhaust heat. Obviously, if it exchanged more, with a greater
efficiency, the engine would be more efficient - it's basic thermodynamics,
and it's even given a name - "Regenerative cycle" ie. recycle waste heat
energy to raise the efficiency of the engine. And guess what... It's easiest
to do with some sort of turbine. Perhaps someone should revisit the old
Chrisler engine and make the heat exchanger more efficient???

Danny Barrett.


>>Something you mentioned: I know of Charles Nelson Pogue's "200 MPG carb."
>>And I know about the chemistry of how it worked, and why its results were
>>not very reliable (I know more about the chemistry of it than he did at the
>>time - but this doesn't take much). Asside from this, Pogue stated in an
>
>Unfortunately, these kind of devices and technology are basically bandaids
>to a much greater problem, one of great inefficiency.  A pushrod engine is
>about as ineffecient as an engine can get, however it does have its merits.
> I think once engineers start moving away from a 100 year old design,
>things will definately get better mileage wise.  I don't have the URLs
>handy, however there are two such engines that have strayed away from
>pushrods, but replacing the rotating assembly with a giant Cam.  The cam,
>instead of controlling valve timing, is driven by the pistons, which are
>configured in a radial fashion.  The one engine that is running (and in the
>internet), creates very little horsepower, however the torque it generates
>phenominal as compared to its weight, size, and configuration.
>
>I think pushrod engines waste something in the neighborhood of 80% of the
>available power in the gasoline.
>
>
>Frederic Breitwieser
>Bridgeport, CT 06606
>
>Homebrew Automotive Website:
>http://www.xephic.dynip.com/
>
>1993 Supercharged Lincoln Continental
>1989 HMMWV
>2000 Buick-Powered Mid-Engined Sports Car
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