[homeworld1031tx]

I was pondering, as a future design choice, do you think it'd be possible to use gas turbines (turboshafts, rankine cycle) driving generators connected to batteries and capacitors which in turn connect to in-hub/wheel electric motors to power future more efficient cars? You could use capacitors for fully charged cruising (saving battery charging cycles), plus they could be used to give you the extra boost you need while you wait for the turbine to (comparitively) slowly spool.

If they could work out heat issues, i think this would be a great way to power super cars. a one-megawatt (1,300shp) helicopter turbine hooked up to a (and remember these are conservative numbers) 90% efficient generator which in turn is hooked up to a 90% efficient wheel motor system would deliver 1,050 hp to the wheel, while affording instant torque at all four corners (if so equipped).

thoughts?

edit: and yes, i know, something like this was already done in the '60 or something, but that was with a (geared) direct linkage from the turbine to the wheels...not the same. this is like the volt hooked up to a gas turbine instead of a 1.4L ecotec

 

[marc]

this has been considered

turbines are fantastically efficient when run at a steady RPM - so if you have an external generator source turbine hooked up to an electric motor, it could work out pretty well. The key is, what fuel would we use for them? Certainly not petrol, diesel, or ethanol.

 

[homeworld1031tx]

this has been considered

turbines are fantastically efficient when run at a steady RPM - so if you have an external generator source turbine hooked up to an electric motor, it could work out pretty well. The key is, what fuel would we use for them? Certainly not petrol, diesel, or ethanol.

gas turbines can run on practically anything, just like a properly modified piston engine can. if it's an infrastructure problem im sure it'd be fine to just use normal petrol. the military used to use diesel in m1 abrams before switching to jet fuel, so pretty much anything is feasible i guess?

jsut think about the weight savings itself that could be reaped from doing this. you don't even need extensive cooling systems with turbines, because they are so efficient plus their exhaust discharges excess heat so well. a 1000hp piston engine and the required cooling systems would probably weigh just as much as a turbine, generator, and a small battery system

 

[marc]

gas turbines can run on practically anything, just like a properly modified piston engine can. if it's an infrastructure problem im sure it'd be fine to just use normal petrol. the military used to use diesel in m1 abrams before switching to jet fuel, so pretty much anything is feasible i guess?

jsut think about the weight savings itself that could be reaped from doing this. you don't even need extensive cooling systems with turbines, because they are so efficient plus their exhaust discharges excess heat so well. a 1000hp piston engine and the required cooling systems would probably weigh just as much as a turbine, generator, and a small battery system

you could probably harness that heat for steam power or something in order to generate electricity in the vehicle too. wowowee!

 

[homeworld1031tx]

that'd be sweet but too heavy, they've already tried that with piston engine exhausts (in the early 20th century steam driven cars were a big hit but eventually got phased out by the 20s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_car ). someone give me some VC money to get the ball rolling on this i think if boosted and 2way were on board as engineers we could all become very rich . this is what a company like tesla should be doing. marc, you're rich right? hook me up with some vc$

edit: better yet the FIA should get the ball rolling on this by either making a new racing league or forcing F1 cars to switch to this. this would be a great stepping stone to the all-electric racer

 

[TRDoug]

I'd rather have something like Jay Leno's helicopter turbine engine powered motorcycle!!!

 

[Sty09]

I'd rather have something like Jay Leno's helicopter turbine engine powered motorcycle!!!

x2. Then i could melt the front bumpers of cars who tailgate me :chuckles: