Greta Thunberg and the climate

Have ever heard of the compound turbo engine? It’s a conventional internal combustion engine with an exhaust driven turbine. The turbine is used to drive a small electric generator used to power all ancillaries, such as water and power steering pumps, air conditioner, etc.

I hadn’t heard of that. But it now seems blindingly obvious! I wonder why it hasn’t migrated into hybrid vehicle tech...?
 
I hadn’t heard of that. But it now seems blindingly obvious! I wonder why it hasn’t migrated into hybrid vehicle tech...?

Probably the bean counters bashed it. Or anti progressive thinking by execs.
 
No, we are not thinking differently so much as expressing the same thing differently.

“so thatwas set 21 years ago and we haven’t even been back to the moon in 50 years!”

Have you ever asked why we haven’t been back to the moon in fifty years? Because we have a populous in the US that is more favorable of mindless wars than space exploration. Therefore, we have government leaders who engage our military in endless conflicts in foreign countries under the guise of National defense. Also, our business leaders view wars more profitable than space exploration.

I believe the US was heavily involved in Vietnam in the sixties, (during the Space race) and Korea before that so you can hardly maintain any difference now, it's just the countries involved that have changed. America got to the Moon then just to shove it up the Russkies.
 
Our space program was started and funded well before the Vietnam war. Once the bills from that war came in (by the late seventies). funding for NASA was no longer looked upon favorably.
 
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The annual power sports show is on this wknd in Halifax NS .... display drawing largest crowd was the new Harley Livewire !
 
The annual power sports show is on this wknd in Halifax NS .... display drawing largest crowd was the new Harley Livewire !
Ewan and Charlie have recently finished a South - North America trip on Livewires. To be shown in the autumn
 
[QUOTE="JimC, The turbine is used to drive a small electric generator used to power all ancillaries, such as water and power steering pumps, air conditioner, etc.[/QUOTE]
To what advantage over the belts and pulleys already in universal use?
 
[QUOTE="JimC, The turbine is used to drive a small electric generator used to power all ancillaries, such as water and power steering pumps, air conditioner, etc.
To what advantage over the belts and pulleys already in universal use?[/QUOTE]

These belt driven ancillaries can take over 25 hp. When you use the juice from an exhaust turbo driven generator to drive the water and power steering pumps, AC compressor, the power drain is eliminated. Plus, the belt driven alternator is eliminated. Belt driven stuff is a continual power drag, whereas the electric stuff only use power as demanded.

The last four vehicles I’ve owned, 2015-2019 vintage, all have electric power steering.

https://mechanics.stackexchange.com...e-components-on-the-engine-belt-generally-use
 
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Have to admit. the words: 'Sledgehammer' and: 'Nut' spring to mind, and cost of those extra peripherals must add up, somewhat....
 
How 'bout regenerative braking? Rather than heat the air around them use the energy to charge batteries etc.
 
How 'bout regenerative braking? Rather than heat the air around them use the energy to charge batteries etc.
It is being used on some vehicles but the power from it is small compared to power needed to drive the vehicle forward
 
You wouldn’t be a Luddite, would you?
Not at all... But it DOES seem like a vastly over complex solution... AND... As an adjunct to an infernal combustion engine it's not the answer we're supposed to be seeking. no?
It's just a shame that I/C engines are becoming so efficient now so close to their demise.. (IMHO)
 
Aren’t most automobile cooling fans electric now? Same thing, big power usurpers, constant drag.
 
Yes, but regardless of these cures the patient has already been condemned to the gallows..
 
If there are to be any they'll have to survive on a diet that doesn't include fossil fuels, or produce any noxious emissions....
 
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