I was in an interview for an internship, and the engineer asked me to explain how an internal combustion engine worked? I hadn't the slightest clue. My question to you guys is, is this a fair question for an electrical engineer? I always thought the the internal combustion engine was in the realm of mechanical engineering, no? It's just I never had the topic brought up in any of my upper division engineering classes. I do know how a DC motor works, however.
Wouldn’t it make their car go faster on straight?
I know hydrogen is more expensive to produce than electricity, but with the amount of lithium needed to convert every car electric, lithium will soon become very expensive. Also, can't the oil companies just get subsidies for hydrogen from the government like they get right now for oil?
On Mars the waste heat won't be wasted, it goes to heat the crew cabin of the Mars Rover. Oxygen can be obtained from Mars rocks, carbon as well. Water under ground can be freed up, split into hydrogen and oxygen. Make methane and burn it in ic engines and that adds carbon-dioxide to the atmosphere increasing the greenhouse effect.
Why can't an internal combustion engine work in a vacuum if the fuel contains enough oxidizer, like rocket fuel? If the Moon produces rocket fuel for rockets, it could provide fuel for heavy equipment, whose exhaust could be easily re-liquified at -200 (the whole system would be sealed against vacuum). Even lots of excavators and bulldozers require far less fuel than rockets. A (teleoperated) truck's exhaust could be recycled at a solar powered fuel plant back into fuel, with mined ice being added from the excavations/minings. The 'fuel' would be an energy storage system with significant advantages over electricity/batteries in some cases it seems to me. And I see no obvious theoretical reason why it would not work in the Cybertruck.
This is one of those "there must be something wrong with this, but I can't figure it what..." posts. I'm sure it has a simple answer but it was bugging me. Any thoughts? Thanks!
EDIT to add: Thank you, people! This place is great. Non-engineer here gratefully illuminated.
The smallest engine is like the size of a lunch box so i’m wondering if its possible that you can make one even smaller and fit all of the other car parts inside of it
Yes, it's modern technology, yes, reduced carbon footprint yadda yadda yadda but I somehow fail to appreciate electric cars. They make a funny noise, they are highly dependable on charging stations, they don't have the cool varieties regular engines offer. Teslas look downright ridiculous with these humungous tablets in the middle. Now, a powerful V8 engine is another story, you can hear it roar, you can feel the car. The driving experience you get from an electric car is similar to those little bumping carts. Also, there is a huge variety and every model comes with different options. I just don't believe that electric cars will ever completely satisfy the need of fun while driving. Disclaimer: this post is mostly targeted to people who actually enjoy driving. If someone uses the car just to travel from A to B, electric might be even a better option. But to me driving is so much more than that and I'll never find peace if the future offers only electric cars.
What you guys think?
If possible, add stories!
At a simple glance C8H18+13.5O2=8CO2+9H2O, or 14.5 gas molecules into 17 gas molecules. Is this the greater cause of pressure in the cylinder, or the heat given off and the resulting expansion (roughly online with the ideal gas law)?
I was thinking about this one on my walk this AM. Many modern engines have completely independent control of the spark and valves so why couldn't you do this:
Sense which piston is closest to TDC but on the downstroke. Crankshaft sensor will tell you that.
Close that cylinders' intake and exhaust valves and open all the others.
Inject a shot of fuel into that cylinder and then ignite with a spark.
That should send that piston down and begin rotating the crank. It might take a couple of these cycles in order to get the engine going but it seems like it should be possible. Of course with a 4 cylinder engine you might not have a piston in the right place, it would be easier with a 6 or 8 cylinder engine.
If indeed this were possible, you could eliminate the external starter and make the battery a lot smaller.
Am I overlooking something? I keep thinking that this can't be the first time someone thought of this.
Thanks for input!
EDIT: cleared up that I was referring to an external starter.
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