Internal combustion engine invention impact

The Internal Combustion Engine was a extreme improvement of the best engine of its time, the steam engine. The internal combustion engine was smaller and far more powerful for its size. Since the discovery of SpindleTop, which produced massive amounts of oil, a source of fuel was freely available for the new engine. Since the extreme amount of oil was found, oil prices dropped, the internal combustion engine became more practical, and cheaper than a steam engine, which used Coal instead of oil, which back then was extremely cheap. The thing about oil is that oil is also cleaner than coal, and is easier to transport. After Spindle Top Oil Barrels cost about 4 cents, a Barrel contains 31 gallons of oil, which is about 3/5 of the Gas Tank of a Dodge Ram (52 Gallons).

The internal combustion engine — one of this period’s greatest developments, yet one that has the most environmental impact — followed a similar rate of adoption. While the first two-stroke engine was presented in 1867, the success of this device came when it was added to vehicles, first to a bicycle in 1885, then later to a "horseless carriage" in 1886. The perfection of this technology, coupled with other technologies that allowed for mass-production of automobiles, and combined with the business savoir-faire of Henry Ford, led to the incredibly rapid adoption of motorized vehicles. Instead of selling a "luxury" product, designed only for the well-to-do, Ford saw the huge market in not only urban populations, but also those settling new parts of the United States. For this reason, he gave his cars enough clearance to not only navigate on muddy roads (the norm at the time) but also drive through fields.

While steam remained the primary power source throughout the century, by the end of the 1880’s its successor — the internal combustion engine — was making its first appearance, both in the form of the gasoline powered four-stroke engine and the more efficient diesel engine. Though both were not yet developed enough and remained largely underpowered during the waning years of the nineteenth century, they were to lay the foundation not only for the ultimate demise of the steam engine, but for a number of industries people at the time could only imagine: the automobile, the airplane, and even the five-speed, multi-level adjustable lawn mower. Plus, despite all the bad press fossil-fuel powered engines get nowadays, they produced a hundred times less pollutant than coal-fed steam engines.

From http://en.wikipedia.org

Exercise 16, p. 60.

Suggested Solutions

Catalytic Converters

Most modern cars contain catalytic converters. In these, exhaust fumes and added air pass over a catalyst where they are broken down to less harmful products.

Drive less

It may be fairly obvious, but people are very reluctant to do it. Pedestrian zones should be increased; cycling should be encouraged. The use of public transport and of carpools can be of help. 'Driving a car is the most polluting act an average citizen commits'.

Use cleaner engines

Many modern cars are designed to be more fuel-efficient and less pollutant. (These vehicles are usually at their best in cities. Pick the car that's best for the way you use it.) Less pollutant cars may cost a little more, but they'll pay for themselves in the feeling of smugness they give you! On a more serious note, some governments are considering giving grants to make this type of car cheaper to purchase. Also, of course, if they use less fuel they are cheaper to run. There is less environmental damage caused by fuel production and delivery.

Drive hybrid vehicles

Whether a hybrid engine is more environmentally sound than a normal engine depends on how the car is used. For city stop-start driving, they're usually better. Consider how you use your motor, do some research, and purchase accordingly.

Keep your car in good working order

An engine will be more environmentally friendly when it runs more efficiently. According to the Ohio EPA, more than 80% of emissions come from less than 30% of cars. This is related to the point above.

Use smaller cars

There are some good reasons for driving massive vehicles. They have their place, certainly. But do any of these reasons apply to you? A heavier vehicle will naturally consume more fuel, producing a large proportion of pollutants.

Drive intelligently

The way a car is driven can have a huge effect on its fuel-consumption and hence on its effect on the environment.

From http://en.wikipedia.org

 

UNIT 5

Exercise 14, p. 73.

Turbojet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbojet

A turbojet is the simplest of all aircraft turbine engines, consisting of four sections: compressor, combustion chamber, turbine section and exhaust. Turbojets were developed in Germany and England before World War II. In this type of engine, air is passed at a high rate of speed into the combustion chamber where the fuel inlet and igniter is located. The turbine, driven by expanding air, causes thrust from accelerated exhaust gases.

Turboprop

 

Turboprop engines drive propellers through a reduction gear, which provides optimum propeller performance at slower rpm speeds. That translates to greater fuel efficiency and performance at slower airspeeds, which is why turboprops are popular aircraft turbine engines for small, commuter aircraft, cargo planes and agricultural use. The propellers are less efficient as the aircraft speed increases, making them better for planes that do not have travel at higher speeds.

Turbofan

 

Merging the best features of the turbojet and turboprop, the turbofan is an aircraft turbine engine that diverts a secondary flow of air around the combustion chamber, which creates additional thrust. This is the most modern version of an aircraft turbine engine and the one often found on high-speed transport and fighter planes.

Afterburning Turbojet

 

Used predominately in fighter jets, afterburning turbojets include an afterburner in a core turbojet so that some of the energy from the exhaust helps to turn the turbine. When the afterburner is on, additional fuel is injected into the exhaust stream, producing additional thrust. Although this does provide additional speed for the aircraft, this type of aircraft turbine engine burns more fuel than traditional turbojet aircraft.

From http://blog.covingtonaircraft.com/2012/07/11/types-of-gas-turbine-engines-jet-engines/

 

Exercise 15, p. 74.