Compressed-air car: Difference between revisions

[[File:compressed air system with a PCM heat exchanger prototype.png|thumb|compressedCompressed air system with a PCM heat exchanger prototype by Dr. Reza Alizade Evrin from [[Ontario Tech University]].<ref name="Compressed air cars for urban transportation">{{cite web|url=https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/compressed-air-cars-for-urban-transportation/ |title=Compressed air cars for urban transportation |date=7 September 2020 |publisher=advancedsciencenews |accessdate=2020-09-07}}</ref><ref name="Experimental investigation of a compressed air vehicle prototype with phase change materials for heat recovery">{{cite journal|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/est2.159 |title=Experimental investigation of a compressed air vehicle prototype with phase change materials for heat recovery |year=2020 |publisher=onlinelibrary.wiley |doi=10.1002/est2.159 |accessdate=2020-04-27|last1=Evrin |first1=Reza Alizade |last2=Dincer |first2=Ibrahim |journal=Energy Storage |volume=2 |issue=5 |s2cid=219020514 |doi-access=free }}</ref>]]

[[File:Compressed air system with a PCM heat exchanger prototype diagram.png|thumb|CompressedDiagram of a compressed air system with a PCM heat exchanger prototype diagram.]]

Compressed-air cars utilizeuse a [[thermodynamic process]]. Air cools when expanding and heats when compressed. Thermal energy losses in the compressercompressor and tankage reduce the [[capacity factor]] of [[compressed air]] systems.

In 2020, Dr. Reza Alizade Evrin of [[Ontario Tech University]] developed an [[isothermal]] [[compressed air vehicle]].<ref name="Compressed air cars for urban transportation"/><ref name="Experimental investigation of a compressed air vehicle prototype with phase change materials for heat recovery"/> This prototype used [[low pressure]] air tanks and exhaust air recovery to power a paraffin [[heat exchanger]] system. Its [[energy efficiency (physics)|energy efficiency]] reached 74%. This is as much as 90% of the efficiency of [[lithium-ion]] [[electric car]]s. It had a driving range of 140 km140 km (86 mi.). Efficiency and range might be increased by a number of practical improvements. For example, combining the storage tank into the car chassis, higher pressure tanks, new rotary engines, and a more efficient heat exchanger. Also, the weight and cost of tanks and pneumatic parts might be reduced by using [[recycled]] and [[bio-based]] [[thermoplastic]]s.

This technology might develop into an inexpensive, greenclean transportation technology. The energy, vehicles and compressors might be easily produced easily by decentralized methods, even [[circular industry]]. Using the plasticsplastic might permit open source fabrication using [[numerical control]], including [[additive manufacturing]]. The compressed air for such vehicles might be easily produced easily by common formstypes of [[renewable energy]]. For example, multistage [[air compressor]]s and intercoolers or [[hydraulic pump]]s might be attached directly to [[trompe]]s, [[hydropower]], [[VAWT]] [[wind turbines]] or [[stirling engine]]s using a [[solar concentrator]]. Direct mechanical compression avoids the Carnot inefficiencies of heat engines. Insulated storage of compressed air avoids [[energy conversion]] and battery storage. Heat-based systems might utilizeuse tankage of solar-heated [[molten salt]]s driving a [[heat exchanger]] rather than an onboard [[heat recovery]] system. [[Electric energy]], [[electric grid]]s and their issues might be avoided.

[[File:Di Pietro Engine Animation2.gif|thumb|Dipietro eccentric shaft, with a rotary vane air engine{{clarify|how is this supposed to work?|date=August 2023}}]]

There have been several dubious claims with undisclosed information. The "di pietro" engine has been partially tested partially with [[CAD]] and [[finite element analysis]] programs. The results were published by [[Jarosław Zwierzchowski]] from [[Lodz University of Technology]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316884692 |title=Design type air engine Di Pietro |date=2017-07-18 |accessdate=2017-10-13}}</ref> This motor is an eccentric shaft vane motor that uses low air pressure.{{clarify|How is this supposed to work?|date=August 2023}}

[[File:Hyundai nexo high pressure hydrogen tank safety.jpg|thumb|Hyundai nexo high High-pressure hydrogen tank safety.]]

[[File:DuraStor consortium Thermoplastic composite pressure vessels.png|thumb|DuraStor consortium Thermoplastic compositeComposite pressure vesselsvessel for hydrogen vehicles. <ref name="compositesworld.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/thermoplastic-composite-pressure-vessels-for-fcvs |title=Thermoplastic composite pressure vessels for FCVs |publisher=compositesworld.com |date=2015-02-01 |accessdate=2015-02-01}}</ref>]]

[[File:Wind Turbine Air Compressor.jpg|thumb|Wind Turbineturbine Airair Compressor posted Fieldlinescompressor.com: The Otherpower discussion board <ref name="fieldlines.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.fieldlines.com/index.php?topic=148883.0 |title=Wind Turbineturbine Air Compressorair compressor. |accessdate=2015-07-13}}</ref>]]

[[File:wind turbine powered hydraulic pump with Open Accumulator for Isothermal Compressed Air Energy Storage ICAES System.png|thumb|windWind turbine powered hydraulic pump with Open Accumulator for Isothermal Compressed Air Energy Storage ICAES System. <ref name="researchgate.net">{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320288204 |title=Open Accumulator Isothermal Compressed Air Energy Storage (OA-ICAES) System |accessdate=2018-07-13}}</ref>]]

Compressed air can also be produced by attaching an [[air compressor]] or [[hydraulic pump]] to a wind turbine <ref name="fieldlines.com"/><ref name="researchgate.net"/> or by using a river, tidal or wave [[hydropower]] turbine. These all convert directly from mechanical to pneumatic energy. Eliminating electricity from the loopcycle gives higher efficiency overall. It is also possible to use thermal solar energy with a parabolic or [[Fresnel lens]] [[solar concentrator]] to power a thermal [[Stirling engine]]. This can move the compressor or pump. Solar Stirling is more efficient than solar steam or photovoltaic.

Various companies are investing in the [[R&D|research, development and deployment]] of compressed air cars. The MDI Air Car made its public [[South Africa]]n debut in 2002.<ref name="HowStuffWorks">{{cite web| title=How Air-Powered Cars Will Work | author=Kevin Bonsor | publisher=[[HowStuffWorks]] |date=2005-10-25 | access-date=2006-05-25 | url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/air-car.htm/printable}}</ref> It was predicted to be in production "within six months" in January 2004.<ref name="SundayTimes">{{cite news | title=Gone with the wind | author=Robyn Curnow | newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (UK)]] |date=2004-01-11 | access-date=2006-05-25 | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-120-957436-120,00.html | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> As of 2022, it was not in production.

Peugeot and Citroën announced that they intended to build a car using compressed air as an energy source. However, it utilizes a hybrid system. A gasoline engine propels the car overmore than 70&nbsp;km/h or when the compressed air tank has been depleted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gas2.org/2013/02/18/compressed-air-hybrid-car-developed/ |title=Compressed-Air Hybrid Car Developed |publisher=Gas2.org |date=2013-02-18 |access-date=2013-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://inhabitat.com/peugeot-announces-plans-to-release-a-hybrid-car-that-runs-on-compressed-air-by-2016/|title=Peugeot Announces Plans to Release a Hybrid Car That Runs on Compressed Air by 2016|author=Marc Carter|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref>

In January 2015, there was disappointing news from France: PSA Peugeot Citroën has putdelayed an indefinite hold onindefinitely the development of its promising-soundingseeming Hybrid Air powertrain, apparently because the company has been unable to find a development partner willing to splitshare the huge costs of engineering the system. Development costs are estimated to 500 million Euros. Production volumes would have to be more than 500,000 cars a year to repay these costs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blog.caranddriver.com/deflated-peugeot-citroen-shelves-its-air-hybrid-technology/|title=Deflated: Peugeot Citroen Shelves Its Air Hybrid Technology|last=Duff|first=Mike|date=January 26, 2015|work=Car and Driver|access-date=2018-10-29|language=en}}</ref> The head of the project left Peugeot in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/11/01/2015/lesechos.fr/0204071426759_psa---la-revolution-de-l-hybrid-air-n-aura-pas-lieu.htm|title=PSA : la révolution de l'Hybrid Air n'aura pas lieu|last=Fansilber|first=Maxime Amiot Denis|date=November 1, 2015|website=Les Echos|language=fr|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref>