Re: New Land Speed Record
Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2009/8/30 13:35:10
The earlier comment about the tremendous torque throughout the RPM range of steam engines holds for electric motors as well. This kind of torque, even in low hp motors, remains beyond the means of any internal combustion engine. It's what makes electric power drills so good at driving those tough-to-turn fasteners.
However, due to the laws of thermodynamics (I think it's the 3rd), it's pretty easy to see that external combustion motors will never be as efficient as internal combustion engines.
BTW, the steam engine is technically a "motor" as it gets it's power from an outside source, as does the electric motor. The internal combustion engine, burning its fuel directly as the power source, gives it an automatic advantage in efficiency. (I used to know the numbers regarding the loss of energy when outside power is used. Maybe somebody has the textbook and can supply more info.)
If what I've posted is all or partly erroneous, I blame bad memory and our education system. Although I think I learned this stuff in Popular Science.
However, due to the laws of thermodynamics (I think it's the 3rd), it's pretty easy to see that external combustion motors will never be as efficient as internal combustion engines.
BTW, the steam engine is technically a "motor" as it gets it's power from an outside source, as does the electric motor. The internal combustion engine, burning its fuel directly as the power source, gives it an automatic advantage in efficiency. (I used to know the numbers regarding the loss of energy when outside power is used. Maybe somebody has the textbook and can supply more info.)
If what I've posted is all or partly erroneous, I blame bad memory and our education system. Although I think I learned this stuff in Popular Science.
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