Quote:
Originally Posted by oil pan 4
Sounds like it might work to power a generator under a fixed load.
But I already know of the perfect engine for running generator at fixed load:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post332707
It will run for thousands of hours, under a wide range of conditions from -25'F to 120'F.
A lot of these unicorn engines have a few things in common. They want to run a real lean A/F, they want high compression and maybe a turbocharger to recover energy from heat that tries to go out the exhaust.
I already have one and it drove me to and from work today. |
What is the thermal efficiency of your diesel engine? 35%? 45%? How about some of the large power generating diesels and their 52% indicated thermal efficiency? Now, you will admit that with some co-generation, up to 60% thermal efficiency is possible - and beyond. Is that a unicorn pipe dream?
You have already mentioned the turbocharger as a means of trapping lost exhaust heat. Most good turbochargers can increase thermal efficiency in the neighborhood of 5%. How about thermoelectric recovery? There are those who have research units that can produce enough electricity to reduce the drag on the alternator gaining a few more percentage points.
How about using the GEET IDEA of harnessing lost exhaust heat to produce syn gas ( producer gas or CO and H2) from gasoline (C9H[20]) and water. Instead of using their "magnetic plasma chamber" we substitute instead a common catalyst such as Nickel/Iron to reduce the temperature of reaction. When you look at the molar balanced equation, you see that you can get more energy out of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen than you did from just burning the gasoline directly. Where did the extra energy come from? The exhaust of course. Thus, the ability to increase our thermal efficiency - at least for the narrow range the GEET type system would run at.
I think it amusing that you poo poo engine modifications that are way out there when this forum is full of vehicles that look dangerous to drive due to the crazy aero mods and are driven with techniques that beg accidents.
There are other engine techs out there, HCCI, PCCI and LTC regime engines. Unfortunately, energy return via fuel processing with exhaust and cooling heat got off on the wrong foot because of Paul Pantone and his GEET.