Re: Open-Source Armchair Critics At It Again

On 29/07/2026 19:07, Carlos E. R. wrote:
> On 2026-07-29 19:17, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 29/07/2026 18:13, Carlos E. R. wrote:
>>> On 2026-07-28 17:22, Rich wrote:
>>>> c186282 <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>> On 7/27/26 00:42, rbowman wrote:
>>>>>> On Sun, 26 Jul 2026 21:23:57 -0400, c186282 wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>      They DID promise atomic-powered cars back when I was a 
>>>>>>> little kid.
>>>>>>>      Wonder what happened ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ford didn't make any promises with the Nucleon. It was a concept 
>>>>>> based on
>>>>>> small, lightweight reactors becoming available in the future. Never
>>>>>> happened.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I do remember Chrysler's turbine car from the '64 World's Fair. 
>>>>>> There were
>>>>>> working prototypes but that didn't prove out either.
>>>>>
>>>>>    Turbines aren't great for automobiles.
>>>>>
>>>>>    We CAN make 'em cheap enough now - but they are not very fuel
>>>>>    efficient and take too long to wind up and down.
>>>>>
>>>>>    So, no "Batmobiles".
>>>>>
>>>>>    "Hybrids", using a small constant-speed diesel as the recharge
>>>>>    generator ...  those can be very efficient.
>>>>
>>>> Which is also a "usage point" for "turbines".  Run them at
>>>> constant-speed spinning a generator, then use the resulting electricity
>>>> for battery recharge.
>>>>
>>>> But you still have to deal with the "not terribly efficient" factor for
>>>> a car sized model, plus the heat generated by the turbine combustion
>>>> process.
>>>>
>>>
>>> In theory, you could run a second turbine on those hot gases of the 
>>> exhaust.
>>>
>> Its called a turbocharger.
>>
> 
> On piston motors, yes. I have never seen a turbine powered car, so I 
> don't know what they actually do.
> 
A gas turbine *is* a turbocharger feeding a combustion chamber. And that 
is it
Shaft horswpeower is taken off the turbocharger spindle


> I understand a turbocharger generates compressed clean air to feed the 
> motor intake; this is not needed for a turbine car plant.
> 
LOL! It is precisely what a turbine engine runs on!
A turbocharger delivers compressed clean air to feed the  combustion 
chamber, and the exhaust gases spin that compressor


> What a car would do is use the exhaust hot gases to generate more 
> electricity instead.
> 

Well in CCGT power stations they strap a steam turbine on the back
Its a but clumsy for a car tho.

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