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Old 10-29-2011, 07:19 AM   #35 (permalink)
cafemyk
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It occures to me that there are a number of issues with water injection. I think that it's advantages are proven in piston engines. The expansion of steam due to heat is greater than the other gasses produced in the combustion process. Therefore the heat lost from the combustion gases is more that made up for by the expansion of the water.
But this is to a point. There will come a point where the volume of water will be too high and hinder the combustion process.

To use water in the combustion process as an expansion aid will require the carrying of a large volume, perhaps up to a quarter of the volume of fuel. This will add weight which is then to be carried, perhaps off setting a portion of the fuel economy gained.

I thought perhaps instead of trying to inject water or to suck with a vacuum line that the use of a Carburetor with finer jets than used for fuel could be employed to accurately meter the dose of water into the engine. Even though most vehicles use fuel injection systems, they still employ a throttle assembly as a primary means to control air flow into the engine. If this were replaced with a Carburetor that added water vapour a good result might be achieved.

If hot water is desired, this could be achieved by pre-heating it by passing a pipe through the top of the radiator.
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