Tall tales (ICE running on water)

[radioranger]

Sad thing is in better times these guys would be inventing stuff, or trying to, think Doc brown ! most of these guys or I should say a few of them are genuine experts on some things, they are very focused, hard to do, some of course are a bit off, then they become ECOMODDERS, !!!! ( insert DR EVil laugh !!)

[razor02097]

Originally Posted by ConnClark

Just for the record

Properties of water - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you split hairs enough anything is technically possible.

[sheepdog 44]

This is actually a real concept. Water under high current and voltage will vaporize and expand violently into steam. The expansion is where the motive energy comes from, not compression. I can't recall if the application was automotive or for a gun. I think the guy didn't fully understand the concept or just didn't express it well. Either way, i don't think his car actually ran using it. I'll try to find a link.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by sheepdog 44

This is actually a real concept. Water under high current and voltage will vaporize and expand violently into steam. The expansion is where the motive energy comes from, not compression.

Sure. That's what happens when a tree gets hit by lightning, for instance. But the problem with using it as a source of motive power is that it's inherently less efficient - basic thermodynamics - than using the same amount of electricity to turn an electric motor.

[sheepdog 44]

I can't find a link through all the garbage on the internet.

I think it was a concept for a Navy gun. Using water as a replacement for carrying ammunition with its gun powder. As an alternative to a Railgun, or other EM weapons that the Navy is very fond of. The electricity used to create the expansion from water was equal or comparable to the expansion of gunpowder??? Expansion due to high current has much different properties than steam generated from heat. And both are probably unsuitable for cars because they aren't energy efficient.

[Cobb]

I wouldnt worry about the link. The stuff you read in pop science or pop mechanics is just chewing gum for the brain. Its the furthest from reality as you can get.

Ive been impressed lately with the videos on you tube of the stnley steamer and the trains that run of coal and water.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by sheepdog 44

This is actually a real concept. Water under high current and voltage will vaporize and expand violently into steam. The expansion is where the motive energy comes from, not compression. I can't recall if the application was automotive or for a gun. I think the guy didn't fully understand the concept or just didn't express it well. Either way, i don't think his car actually ran using it. I'll try to find a link.

...however, I'd venture that they put IN a lot more ELECTRICAL POWER (kW) than they got OUT in "useful" MECHANICAL POWER, ie: Efficiency (%) is P(out)/P(in)

1 HP = 0.745699872 kW or basically 746 W.