Crank James D. The Modern Steam Engine

Выходные данные отсутствуют. — 38 p.The demand in this decade to reduce global warming is becoming a most serious matter. Depending on foreign oil from unstable and often hostile foreign governments encourages the use of fuels made in the United States. It also demands that the burning of these fuels be as carbon free as possible and highly efficient for the consumer. These two demands are often at cross purposes and the inclusion of digital electronic systems has been mandatory to meet the ever increasing Government mandates with the present internal combustion (IC) engines, often leading to some reliability issues.
Two IC engines are used in motor vehicles and in large trucks and locomotives. The spark ignited gasoline engine and the compression ignited Diesel engine. Both now demand expensive pollution control systems to meet government mandates.
In the motor vehicle, these demands for clean and efficient operation have now imposed highly complex and costly coordinated digital electronic systems for fuel management, engine operation and transmission control. All have seriously increased the purchase and maintenance costs of the automobile or truck for the purchaser.
A most serious need for some reliable and cost effective alternate power source has not been the subject of massive corporate investigation and investment. The path pursued by the auto industry is to adapt known technology to the gasoline engine at increased cost, added weight and reduced reliability. Management has again chosen the path of minimum technical risk and minimum corporate cost. A reasoned and dispassionate investigation of what is actually available and adaptable for their long term need has not been accomplished.
In the case of the Rankine cycle engine, the lack of accurate and available data to a vehicle manufacturer has guaranteed the loss of any reliable guidance and the serious lack of education and experience with this power source has been noted.
The present attempts to satisfy Government mandates has produced solutions that are more panic driven and easily accomplished than any long term sensible solutions for the automotive industry. Management has again taken the path of least resistance and cost.