On 24/04/17 09:55, Nightjar wrote:
On 23-Apr-17 9:57 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 23/04/17 09:49, Nightjar wrote:
Steam is viable, even if that does not sit well with your world view.
Technically perhaps ...but economically?

IC engines are good because you don't have to lug the fuel oxidant or
the working fluid around. Its in huge supply as atmospheric oxygen and
gases respectively.

Once you are building a static installation though, steam predominates
and is more efficient, because you can run huge condensers on the back
end.

And you have a variety of thermal sources that you can hook up - coal,
oil gas, nuclear.


The developers of the engine I mentioned see the main transport use to
be in commercial vehicles in third world countries, where its multi-fuel
capacity would allow more flexibility than a conventional ICE.

Ah. Like a traction engine.

To go with the windmills.


--
"I guess a rattlesnake ain't risponsible fer bein' a rattlesnake, but ah
puts mah heel on um jess the same if'n I catches him around mah chillun".