Exhaust driven Alternator

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

Actually, we don't see all of what they spent millions researching, because some of it comes down to
i) too costly to mass produce (Wherein they probably have some equation like .5mpg or 5 extra HP is only worth $5 per car)
ii) it doesn't show up on the EPA's testing schedule.
iii) Buyers would be put off by percieved extra complication, maintainance, noise, visual impact.... (Yeah, they'll spend $25 a car to fix NVH issues... )

With that in mind, be aware that an average alternator isn't the most efficient electrical conversion device on the planet, at about 60% efficiency. This is "good enough", because another 20% efficiency quadruples the price. (They don't pay the parts store price though) That efficiency loss places about 1KW extra demand on the motor at times (Maybe 20% overall duty cycle)... which equates to maybe 1% less MPG, if that...

[scho]

Funny, I'd say the extra cost is what would throw most buyers off. Consumers speak with their wallets first and their minds second (obviously not in this neck of the woods, but you know most everyone else ). Even if it's just a perception of expense, they'll run the other way into a worse deal.

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

Yes that's all wrapped up in i) "too costly" meaning by the time the car got to a dealer it's an extra $500 on the sticker which makes it uncompetitive in the market segment.

[OldCorolla]

after looking at the website that was linked , i think it would be completely feasable to do this , use the diameter of the tube to regulate the speed at which it was driven , make your own "impeller" for it so you could set it up to keep as much of the heat away as possible , and when you reintegrate the exhaust back into the system the highest volume and velocity of the normal system would provide a scavenging effect and decrease the amount of heat built up in the turbine housing for the generator.

[dkjones96]

Gotta love it.

[OldCorolla]

hey im new to the forums and felt the need to throw a new(i think it was new) idea or spin on it. sorry to have annoyed you with my ideas.

[dkjones96]

It's cool. I just wanted an excuse to use that gif. I've got one of a real guy with a real horse that looks like it got hit by a car but chose to take the high road.

I've even thrown my ideas in on this topic. Until someone actually does it we will never know if it is a sweet idea or a stupid one.

Personally, I'd rather use a liquid-gas system to drive a steam turbine and run it off the exhaust heat but that system would be heavy and complicated.

[OldCorolla]

I feel the urge to be completely honest , when i read your reply to my post i got a little agitated hence the slightly smart*** comment i made to you , now i just busted out laughing when i read that you waited to use that gif and it just so happened on my post. Well played sir, well played. I think i may give this a chance on my 79 corolla and see what happens like i said shouldnt be too hard.It will definately work out well to build it myself. oh well. all in due time.

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

Originally Posted by dkjones96

Personally, I'd rather use a liquid-gas system to drive a steam turbine and run it off the exhaust heat but that system would be heavy and complicated.

Now what you could do with a sliding vane type compressor in the AC unit is wrap a coil round the exhaust and use it to drive the compressor, putting energy back into the crank... (No longer works as AC unless you get clever and dual rig it to be switchable)

Edit: Doh, actually that would require reverse rotation operation, so you'd need to steal a compressor off an opposite handed car, or rig a forward/reverse transmission or something.

[dkjones96]

Can you say steam hybrid!