steam cars

<...Steam technology....more suitable in the long run then Hybrids...>

On what basis is that proposal made?

"Wouldn't it be more efficient,fuelwise, enviromentally wise and engineering wise to

pursue Steam Car technology instead of Hybrids ?"

You would still have to produce the steam some type of fuel would be needed to do that. Have you come up with what type of fuel that would be more efficient and not cause damage to the environment.

Cogeneration of energy producers can result in higher levels of efficency. A model for steam efficency could be seen as a potential for higher levels of efficency. Example a train in russia built for Stalin had a steam side of the piston opposing a Diesel side of the piston. The Diesel exhaust heated the water which upon expansion drove the steam compressing the diesel fuel. thus regulating the diesel fuel supply,or the water supply, drove the whole thing. Could this be done in a car? Probably.

The fuel must be abundant enough and beyond that there are several safety concerns with steam powered vehicles. The way a steam powered car works is heating water turning it into steam in a contained environment and then releasing the steam in measured portions to drive the car. One of the other issues is that steam powered cars take time to warm up to temperature so they have steam to let off. And if you've never been burned by steam, trust me, you don't want to.

Another thing to note is that steam powered cars have been around a long time but they just didn't work well enough. It's like going out and hunting with a black powder rifle, sure you can do it and a lot of folks do for sport. But when it comes down to it a semi-auto rifle is just a better tool for the job, it's cleaner, less mess to fool with, the maintenance is much simpler and it is far more accurate. It's just old technology.

In short, the answer to your question is no.

Perhaps the original poster thinks that having slippery,smelly black mold and algae laden heavily trafficed streets is preferable to our current situation. Plus a spike in traffic accidents until the entire automotive "ecosystem" adapts to the new conditions ofconstant wet pavement and hydroplaning. Bridges in winter, and crosswalks OH My!

milo

I think the point of the original poster was that steam cars burn their fuel completely, thus easily meeting or exceeding the most stringent current emissions regulations. Moreover they can burn a wide range of fuels, requiring little conversion to run entirely on biofuels, or old cooking oil from restaurants. Their high torque, slow running engines will not wear like high revving petrol engines. And with compact flash steam generators there is no long wait for steam. The steam isn't stored, so there is less risk of explosion than with petrol engines. The condenser is dry when not in use, so will not freeze in winter, like a radiator, and the engines have far fewer moving parts - making servicing simpler. By superheating the steam, it is nearly dry, so, no you won't get mold and algae. Jay Leno was booked for speeding at 78mph in a 1906 Stanley steamer, and the Doble of the 1925 could pull away in 45 seconds from cold and do 0-70mph in 10 seconds.

Duly noted, but Jay also has talked about how his Stanley steamer catches fire quite often, the way to put it out, he says, is to just drive faster.

Working on steam sterilizers will make one question any uses of steam. Sure it does it's job of sterilization, but steam is the devil.

The best alternative that we have, in my o pion is hydrogen power. It burns clean there is a unlimited supply and the by product is water.

P.s. I am looking for a mechanical engineer in the Vegas area, any Ideas of how to locate one would be helpful.

thanks