700 times more powerful and -200 ºC
The world is immersed in a grueling search for new types of fuel. In this context, many people trust hydrogen, but the first nitrogen engine could reappear to leave him behind. Research shows it is 700 times more powerful and operates at -200°C. Replacing internal combustion engines that have been in use for years is not an easy task.
Given the high levels of pollution we face, replacing engines and fuels is a necessity. For this reason, several alternative options have appeared on the market, which are already considered as new realities. This applies to electric vehicles or the use of hydrogen. What hydrogen fuels and electric batteries have in common is that they are not primary energy sources.
To produce or recharge them, it is necessary to use solar, nuclear or chemical energy. A process that must be performed with the highest possible efficiency. The resulting fuel must be able to accumulate and be used efficiently. On the other hand, the production and storage of liquid nitrogen meets these requirements.
Liquid nitrogen engine replaces hydrogen engine: no surprise
Its production is carried out using a very simple and well-known technology. You just need to cool the air to 196 degrees below zero (almost 200). In this cycle, oxygen is separated from the remaining gases and then stored in isolated tanks to minimize losses due to evaporation.
It is low cost and we have seen it before at various superconductivity exhibitions. If the evaporation of liquid nitrogen is forced, an engine is created that operates on a principle very similar to the steam engines that powered the railroads. The difference is that this method does not require any heat source.
We should only use the outside air temperature, which will always be higher. When one drop of liquid nitrogen evaporates, its volume increases 700 times. The expansion of these gases can be used to move the piston and create motion. This was the way of working Cryocarconverted van from University of Washington.
His invention was realized at the beginning of the last decade. Another similar project was CoolN2Cardevelopment with printing University of North Texas.
Electric cars are delayed with the first liquid nitrogen engine
If you compare these developments with current electric vehicles, they win by a large margin. Liquid nitrogen allows you to store more energy in less space and with less weight. The consequence of this is greater autonomy. In addition, there is no need to replace batteries every few years and they are more reliable.
Even with all these advantages, its performance was still lower than that of a traditional internal combustion engine. This technology has great advantages, but also important disadvantages. In addition to the difficulty of designing and constructing new infrastructure capable of distributing liquid nitrogen, we discovered the risk of cold burns if used carelessly.
This context, and the possibility that a leak in an enclosed space could displace oxygen and make it extremely difficult for a person to breathe, is reason enough to remember that gasoline and hydrogen are fuels that pose a serious threat. Likewise, batteries are also not protected from fire and explosion hazards.
He nitrogen engine Liquid had its heyday, but now seems to have been surpassed by its achievements in other areas. However, there are still enthusiasts who dream of it becoming a real fuel in a few years. One of them is the company eco-wave motors which submitted a proposal for a nitrogen vehicle.
Only time will tell if there will be nitrogen engine It becomes as powerful a technology as the ones we see every day, or remains an idea that could have been.