View Single Post
Old 02-14-2012, 09:02 PM   #152 (permalink)
IamIan
Master EcoModder
 
IamIan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: RI
Posts: 692
Thanks: 371
Thanked 227 Times in 140 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by niky View Post
There's a difference between a technological limit and natural law. The law of thermodynamics is not a technological limit.
100% agree.
Which is why I had two different thing ... one is the limits of science allows ... which includes thermodynamics but is not just about thermodynamics ... which is better than the best technology we have today ... the 2nd was the limits of current best technology.

Quote:
Originally Posted by niky View Post
And the limit is, once you've converted energy two to three times, you're never going to end up with enough energy to adequately power the process creating it or to effectively offset it.
Never is a very close ended thing ... I don't see enough conditions on what you have presented for that to be correct... perhaps if you added the additional condition of ... no outside source of energy ... or others like that ... then maybe.

As it is ... even with 2 or 3 conversions ... I could violate what you post by using the energy from oil to extract more oil , thus paying for the oil used for extraction and still ended up further ahead with more oil ... or using the energy from solar cells to make more solar cells ... or using x% energy to improve the efficiency of the entire system by >x%... etc.

Quote:
Originally Posted by niky View Post
Hybrid-electric works only because it allows you to completely shut off the ICE when you don't need it.
Nope... That is a reason not the 'only' reason.
  • It also works because regenerative braking is always more efficient than friction braking.
  • It also works because of the torque differences between a ICE and Electric Motor at low RPM ... and how much larger a ICE would otherwise have to be over sized for the design criteria torque at low RPM.
  • It also works because of the large efficiency swings in a ICE ... vs the HEV path... Load Leveling.
  • It also works because a single basic HEV motor can do the job of both a starter and an alternator in less weight than the starter and alternator combined.

Quote:
Originally Posted by niky View Post
Hydrogen injection doesn't. It's just adding an extra step and an extra set of losses which are better spent simply storing that electricity in a battery.
90% agree... remaining 10% being ... sometimes it is better to not burn the extra fuel than it is to convert it to be stored in a battery.
  Reply With Quote