SG + Wind Turbine + Air Compressor

[Branch Gordon]

Has anyone tried, or know someone who has tried, to use the mechanical energy from the wheel of the SG to pump air.

I found this video, showing a wind turbine pumping air: Wind turbine driven air compressor - YouTube
I also found all these amish air-powered appliances: Air Powered Appliances | Custom Air Powered Appliances

Seems like you could pump air into a storage tank and use it in your home while charging batteries.

Thoughts on this?

[James Milner]

Branch, an air compressor would be a better resource than you would expect. I've seen some pictures/ videos of air engines. That is engines driven by compressed air. If you could translate that to a usable car, you would have a very valuable fuel. What's more every gas station provides your fuel for free . They just think you're pumping up your spare tire. It's definitely worth investigating further. Maybe look at converting a regular gasoline car.
Cheers
James

[Prinsloo]

Hi guys

Was thinking on this the other day, just the basics.

If you can convert a 4 stroke engine to a 2 stroke by changing the cam shaft, no intake valves needed, (only an exhaust valve to close on every TDC and open on every BDC)
only 2 exhaust cycle compared to a normal 4 stroke engine, will have some high pressure air injectors, etc. changing the computer mapping etc. (maybe still a lot of other things.)

Stroke 1: piston at the TDC, exhaust valve closed and have a air injector blow/force compressed air into the piston down, piston moves down, (don't need an intake cycle !)
Stroke 2: piston reaches BDC and exhaust valve opens piston comes up and release the air pressure in the cylinder, immediately when piston reaches TDC exhaust valve closes

and back to stroke 1.

You have two power stroke in 1 cycle compared to a normal combustion engine.

Imagine no more oil changes, spark plugs, etc

Wheres the guys with the maths that can conjure up some figures and see if it is feasible ?

Theunis

[Tom C]

Hi guys

Was thinking on this the other day, just the basics.

If you can convert a 4 stroke engine to a 2 stroke by changing the cam shaft, no intake valves needed, (only an exhaust valve to close on every TDC and open on every BDC)
only 2 exhaust cycle compared to a normal 4 stroke engine, will have some high pressure air injectors, etc. changing the computer mapping etc. (maybe still a lot of other things.)

Stroke 1: piston at the TDC, exhaust valve closed and have a air injector blow/force compressed air into the piston down, piston moves down, (don't need an intake cycle !)
Stroke 2: piston reaches BDC and exhaust valve opens piston comes up and release the air pressure in the cylinder, immediately when piston reaches TDC exhaust valve closes

and back to stroke 1.

You have two power stroke in 1 cycle compared to a normal combustion engine.

Imagine no more oil changes, spark plugs, etc

Wheres the guys with the maths that can conjure up some figures and see if it is feasible ?

Theunis

there are some other things to deal with, you will need to figure out a way to completely remove all exhaust gasses from the intake track, to keep the intake mixture clean. on a 4 stroke a little bit of the fresh combustion mixture is drawn down into the cylinder, hits the top of the piston and pushes the exhaust gasses out the exhaust valve. then it is drawn back in as the exhaust valve closes, that is why cam timing AND the shape of the lobe is so critical. personally I think turning a 4 stroke into a 2 stroke is not practical. some have done some deisel conversions of 4 strokes but the pressures required are much higher and those motors usually blow out head gaskets......

Tom C

[Prinsloo]

there are some other things to deal with, you will need to figure out a way to completely remove all exhaust gasses from the intake track, to keep the intake mixture clean. on a 4 stroke a little bit of the fresh combustion mixture is drawn down into the cylinder, hits the top of the piston and pushes the exhaust gasses out the exhaust valve. then it is drawn back in as the exhaust valve closes, that is why cam timing AND the shape of the lobe is so critical. personally I think turning a 4 stroke into a 2 stroke is not practical. some have done some deisel conversions of 4 strokes but the pressures required are much higher and those motors usually blow out head gaskets......

Tom C

Hi TomC

NO combustible exhaust gases as it is only compressed air. iow NO spark plugs and NO gasoline/petrol !

Obviously one needs to get the engineering and the correct angels etc on the cam lobes,

Theunis

[Tom C]

Hi TomC

NO combustible exhaust gases as it is only compressed air. iow NO spark plugs and NO gasoline/petrol !

Obviously one needs to get the engineering and the correct angels etc on the cam lobes,

Theunis

yea should have read more carfully, always thinkin about da gas engine! you actually would not need cams at all. just an injector valve combo, timed off the crankshaft. push it in, let it out no need to use either valve just the spark plug hole. although a hi volume exhaust port would reduce the energy needed to evacuate the cylinder. need to figure out what velocities are needed to get the remainder of the compressed air out of the cylinder. Air-powered go-kart hits the tracks | CNET UK

I have driven one of these, a lot of fun.

Tom C

[Prinsloo]

TomC

Just come to think of it, in a 4 stroke ICE you always have 2 piston top and 2 pistons bottom, iow, 2 x power strokes at once and . . . . 2 x the power stroke with the piston having a power stroke every time it reaches TDC. or you can use a smaller engine and do the same amount of work,

In summary: you can use 1/4 of the energy that one would need from gas to get the same job done ? ? ?, right? or 4 time less energy ( being compressed air) and getting the same power as from gas. (Sorry not to sure how to put it.)

There is a lot of other technical stuff to be thought about I know not my forte,

but just think, you can have a 2 or 3 stage compressor on board running of solar ( for the 2 hours you go shopping or 8+ hours working) or go to the garage they already provide 2 - 3 bar of pressure on the airline, your on board compressor just finalize the pressure.

The owner wont take kind to that as he already lost you as a customer on fuel/service sales, and now you are cutting into his profit too. But you can have a little compressor running from solar/SG at home filling up a tank that you can use.

Well just thinking/dreaming - please don't wake me !


Theunis