Very interesting discussion on the air powered motor. It reminds me of a new
air powered motor and air powered car that is gathering some news converage
in France since a few months. Actually we wanted to invite the inventor, Guy
Negre, at Science Frontieres festival last january, and I'm sure he would
have been a big sensation, but he was not available at the time
So I have no direct contact with him yet and so far I'm relying on an
article published in Science & Vie, the French leading popular science
magazine, in June 1998, called "Le moteur zero pollution". Of course I could
find more info if needed.
NB - there is no weird science or over-unity stuff in this motor (a field
that Science & Vie wouldn't touch with a 10-feet pole), but it looks like an
economical and non-polluting transport invention, apparently very
clever.and carefully designed. Guy Negre, a former moter engineer for car
racing and aeronautics, works at it full-time since 1991 and has now a
company, CQFD, and a team of 18 engineers and technicians, several
prototypes, and world-wide patents (actually there are 20 different patents
for the basic motor and its annex inventions). Reportedly Mexico-City
(arguably the most air-polluted city in the world) is investing in a factory
right now, in a project to equip all the city's taxis.=20
The air-powered car is an urban vehicle (an hybrid version exists, powered
by gasoline for long distances). It runs at a maximum of 100 km/h (about 60
miles/h), with a 60 to 80 CV motor, turning at 7500 RPM, weighing 34
kilograms. 15 liters of compressed air permit 1 hour of driving, and
containers may hold up to 300 liters. Refueling can be done at home with
outside air and electric compressor and lasts 4 to 5 hours, or could be done
at specialized compressed-air stations in 3 minutes.
Now, the principle of operation, as described by the article. Here is my
attempt at translation :=20
1 / Outside air is sucked in. At the same time the "soupape de detente"
(release valve or relaxation valve ?) lets out from the expansion chamber
the air used in the preceding cycle.
2 / Air is compressed to 21 bars in the expansion chamber. Its temperature
reaches 400=B0 C. At the same time air relaxation pushes the piston, and=
this
is the motor's cycle.
3 / Compressed air is injected, between 40 and 50 bars, temperature 25=B0 C.
Shock between the 2 fluids generated higher pression, then over-heating of
the mixture (here resides the inventor's secret). At the same time the
exhaust takes place.=20
4 / The release valve opens itself towards the release/exhaust cyclinder,
while air is sucked in for the next cycle.
Hope it makes some sense... :-)
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Jean-Pierre Lentin
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