Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
mNo edit summary Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
||
Line 9:
Compressed-air cars use a [[thermodynamic process]]. Air cools when expanding and heats when compressed. Thermal energy losses in the compresser 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
This technology might develop into an inexpensive, clean transportation technology. The energy, vehicles and compressors might be produced easily by decentralized methods, even [[circular industry]]. Using plastic might permit open source fabrication using [[numerical control]], including [[additive manufacturing]]. The compressed air for such vehicles might be produced easily by common types 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 use 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.
| |||