A PROJECT REPORT
ON
AIR POWERED CAR
ABSTRACT
Gasoline, which has been the main source of fuel for the history of cars, is
becoming more and more expensive and impractical (especially from an
environmental standpoint).
These factors are leading car manufacturers to develop cars fueled by
alternative energies.
INTRODUCTION
Due to increasing amount of pollution, crisis of fuel and increasing cost of
fuel we need to think about alternative for fuel. Some alternatives for fuel
are solar energy, hydrogen, bio-gas and compressed natural gas.
Air powered cars are zero pollution cars which will use compressed air or
nitrogen gas instead of gasoline fuels. It will not only reduce the cost of
fuel but will also environment friendly and it is a renewable source unlike
gasoline.
There are two types of air powered cars i.e.
• (1) Working by compressed air
• (2) Working by nitrogen gas
COMPRESSED AIR CAR
INVENTION OF SYSTEM:
• Guy Niger, thought that he could develop an engine and sell it to the large
automotive manufactures.
WORKING OF SYSTEM:
• Basic components of Air Powered car are as shown in fig.
Two stroke engine
• The air engine is an emission-free piston engine using compressed air.Two
stroke engine Sis used in compressed air car.
SYSTEMS:
Distribution and valves:
This system runs on very little energy and alters neither the valve phase
nor its rise.
Gear box:
Gear changes are automatic, powered by an electronic system
developed by MDI. A computer which controls the speed of the car is
effectively continuously changing gears .
The latest of many previous versions, this gearbox achieves the
objective of seamless changes and minimum energy consumption.
Pistone Working
MDI´s vehicle's have fibre glass bodies which makes them light, silent
urban car. The car's body is tubular, light weight, and is held together using
aerospace technology.
The vehicles do not have normal speed gauges. Instead, they will have a
small computer screen that shows the speed and engine revolutions.
FUEL AND RECHARGING:
Air tanks made of carbon fiber are fixed to the underside of the vehicle can
hold about 79 gallons (300 liters) of air. This compressed air can run the
car for up to 124 miles (200 km) at a top speed of 60 miles per hour (96.5
kph).
Alternative energies such as solar power or wind power or even nuclear
power could be used to power the compressors if available, to result in
zero carbon emissions.
When your tank nears empty, you can just pull over and fill the air at
nearest air pump where air tank is filled by using a high pressure air pump,
which will take about 2 to 3 minutes.
The air is compressed at pressure about 150 times the rate we put into car
tyres or into bicycle
FUEL COST:
The price of a full tank of air would be about 1.50 euros (86.35 rupees)
MILEAGE:
The car with full tank of air can run upto about 300 kilometers (200
kilometers in traffic areas).
OIL REQUIREMENT:
The car's motor does require a small amount of oil. About .8
liters worth that the driver will have to change just at every
31,000 miles (50,000 km).
ADVANTAGES:
• Cheap
• Light in weight
• Cool Exhausting
• Safety
• Power recovery
ADVANTAGES OVER GASOLINE FUELS
Cost of gasoline is increasing day by day; more over it is not environment
friendly.
Gasoline fuel is also not a renewable source, so that it will eventually run
out.
In some case of accidents there is also a chance of explosion.
LIMITATIONS:
Engine of the car becomes cold due to adiabatic expansion
when the air runs out from it and losses its efficiency.
At the supply station, compressing the air heats it, and if
then directly transferred in a heated state to the vehicle
storage tanks will then cool and reduce the pressure. If
cooled before transfer, the energy in this heat will be lost.
WORKING BY NITROGEN GAS
(CRYOGENIC ENGINE)
Another version of an air-powered car is being developed by
researchers at the University of Washington using the concept of a
steam engine, except there is no combustion.
The Washington researchers use liquid nitrogen as the propellant for
their LN2000 prototype air car.
The researchers decided to use nitrogen because of its abundance in the
atmosphere (nitrogen makes up about 78 percent of the Earth's
atmosphere) and the availability of liquid nitrogen.
However, because a liquid nitrogen-propelled car will be lighter, the
researchers think that a 60-gallon (227 liters) tank will give the
LN2000 a potential range of about 200 miles (321.8 km).
COMPONENTS:l
There are five components of the LN2000 engine.
A 24-gallon stainless steel tank.
A pump that moves the liquid nitrogen to the economizer.
An economizer that heats the liquid nitrogen with leftover exhaust heat.
CONCLUSION
With gas prices soaring over the past years, it might not be long before
many motorists turn to vehicles powered by alternative fuels.
Although air-powered vehicles are still behind their gasoline
counterparts when it comes to power and performance, they cost less to
operate and are arguably more environment friendly, which makes
them attractive as the future of highway transportation.
References
– www.howstuffworks.com
– www.wikipedia.com
– www.mdicars.com
– www.pneumaticoptionsresearchlibrary.com
– www.aircaracess.com
– www.news.bbc.co.uk
– www.theaircar.com
Thank you
