probably should call this part of the site "alternative propulsion" rather than bio fuels.

So what about this, use compressed air to run your engine. Get a solid over strengthened tank, pump in 5000psi, attach a regulator and allow say 300psi to get into the cylinders at the right time. Throttle control is at the regulator and you would time the air to flow through the valves at the existing timing so no real changes to the engine are necessary.

Range would be very limited and it would also be a fairly inefficient way of using the air as a real air powered engine is more like a 1 or 2 cyl steam engine.

Positives would be a cheap conversion, everything stays the same inc power generation, and of course depression proof! I think it would work for all the 2 to 3km runs I am constantly doing around the local area.

Perhaps you could stop at every service station who offers free air to top up on your journeys. seriously though, if I remember right, someone had alread developed an economical compressed air motor for forklifts and small infactory trucks, etc., and they showed this on a TV program a few years back.

yeah I know, I met the guy, its a good engine. I am talking cheap, fast conversion to get people around the local area for free. Keep the car the same, add compressed air and get a few clicks from a tank.

Valve timing may have to be changed because you need the inlet valve to open for most of the power stroke duration, you would also probably change to '2-stroke' operation.
Inlet valve opens, compressed air enters and pushes piston down, inlet closes, exhaust opens and expanded air is exhausted. Camshaft speed would have to be doubled (or two lobes on each cam).

If you can sort the valve timing all you would need to do is supply the compressed air to the manifold.........

Best of luck with this one....


Colin

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thanks for luck but I am not contemplating doing it, just an idea. BUT if I was to do it I would get a $500 car off ebay with lots of engine bay room, 3 or 4 cylinder like a moke or daihatsu or something very light. get a new cam made up and make an air supply valve for the throttle.

The aussie inventors air powered car need a minimum of 1psi to run so the funny thing is you could actually use servo's air compressors to fill up, how cool would that be.

I would think an air engine would have heaps of torque because the piston is being powered by air all the way to the end of the stroke. Another thing is engine oil, imagine how long you would go between oil changes with no carbon in the system.

There has been some serious research been done in Europe over the last few years and I believe they were expecting to have the first of these compressed air cars on the road by 2020. From memory I think it was Mercedes and BMW, but not sure. I read an article on it some time ago.
It wont be commercially pursued until oil reserves are just about depleted, cause we cant have the poor Sheiks losing money.
The technology has been around for a while, but not practical or economical.
I believe the new generation compressed air engines start on fuel and produce their own air and once going cut off the fuel. Still early days though.
Would bring a whole new meaning to the mercedes Kompressor line.