%0 Journal Article
%T A Study of Performance Output of a Multivane Air Engine Applying Optimal Injection and Vane Angles
%A Bharat Raj Singh
%A Onkar Singh
%J International Journal of Rotating Machinery
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/578745
%X This paper presents a new concept of the air engine using compressed air as the potential power source for motorbikes, in place of an internal combustion engine. The motorbike is proposed to be equipped with an air engine, which transforms the energy of the compressed air into mechanical motion energy. A mathematical model is presented here, and performance evaluation is carried out on an air-powered novel air turbine engine. The maximum power output is obtained as 3.977£¿kW (5.50£¿HP) at the different rotor to casing diameter ratios, optimal injection angle 60¡ã, vane angle 45¡ã for linear expansion (i.e., at minimum air consumption) when the casing diameter is kept 100£¿mm, at injection pressure 6 bar (90£¿psi) and speed of rotation 2500£¿rpm. A prototype air engine is built and tested in the laboratory. The experimental results are also seen much closer to the analytical values, and the performance efficiencies are recorded around 70% to 95% at the speed of rotation 2500¨C3000£¿rpm. 1. Introduction As per recent survey in the populationwise largest state of Uttar Pradesh, India, there are more than 10.5 millions transport vehicles out of which about 8.2 millions are two wheelers/motorbikes, mostly driven by internal combustion (IC) engines. The total transport vehicles are generating about 77.8% air pollutants such as: carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and unburned hydrocarbon (HC), out of which 80% pollutants is generated by motorbikes and released to the atmosphere. The study shows that the IC engines of motorbikes may generate up to two times more pollutants than those of automobiles. In order to reduce the air pollution and eliminate 50¨C60% of the emitted pollutants, this paper presents a new concept of an air engine using compressed air as the potential power source for motorbikes instead of an IC engine. Such motorbike is proposed to be equipped with an air engine, which transforms the energy of the compressed air into mechanical motion energy. The number of transport vehicles is increasing across the world every year and resulting into rapid and huge consumption of fossil-fuel quantities, thereby causing a threat to fast depletion to energy resources. A noted geophysicist Marion King Hubbert [1] was the first man who effectively applied the principles of geology, physics, and mathematics in 1956 for the future projection of oil production from the US reserve base. Hubbert indicated that conventional crude-oil production would attain peak oil in 1970 and thereafter start depleting. This may cause a serious threat to mankind within 40 years,
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijrm/2012/578745/