See other Science/Tech Articles
Title: Jet Plane on Wheels: The History of the Chrysler Turbine Car Program
Source:
Ed's Auto Reviews
URL Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4QVMYPy5co
Published: Feb 1, 2023
Author: Ed's Auto Reviews
Post Date: 2023-02-01 18:19:39 by Esso
Keywords: None
Views: 917
Comments: 22
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 3.
#1. To: Pinguinite, Straitgate, 4um (#0)
Speaking of turbines...
I saw a clip like this before, maybe even this one. Interesting and perhaps sad. Seems like if enough engineering was put into turbines they could have become a mainstay and even beat out pistons. Reminds me of VHS vs Beta. Beta was better quality but VHS beat them out simply due to marketing or what not. Goes to show that the best product doesn't always win.
The problem with the Chrysler Turbine was that it was direct drive, the main turbine shaft was mechanically geared to the driveshaft, like a conventional ICE. That resulted in horrible fuel efficiency, about 10mpg, and they weren't especially fast. A turbine powered car was run in Indy500 in 1968, it ran the race without refueling but crashed 8 miles shy of the requisite 500. Turbines are only efficient running at very high rpm, they have a sweet spot. Union Pacific had some turbine electric locomotives in the 50's, they were great for long distance high speed runs, but were very costly to maintain, something I think could have been overcome by bringing in some more experienced jet engine experts. If I recall, they just sort of slapped some leftover WWII crap together, typical of GE. I think a hybrid using very small turbine to spin an alternator(/or DC generator, whatever), would be ideal.
#4. To: Dakmar (#3)
Jaguar has a hybrid-electric concept car, the C-X75, that uses two diesel-fed micro gas turbines:
Indy 500? This car was on display in the lobby sometimes where I used to work. I knew the guy who fixed it after a careless forklift driver ran the forks through its side trying to move it.
Seems to me from the stories that the industry didn't really have much time to refine the engineering as they have with standard piston engines. If burning a fuel can make a shaft turn, it seems there has to be a a way to harness the energy of motion in any manner of ways, and also to reduce the size of the engine as has been done over the years with piston engine tech. Your suggestion of having it generate electricity would effectively make that electric current replace the drive shaft. I consider the modern automotive piston engine and drive train in the average car to be a master of advanced engineering. If automotive turbine engines had as much engineering put into it, I'd expect they could be quite small and much more efficient.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#2. To: Esso (#1)
#3. To: Pinguinite, Esso (#2)
(Edited)
Replies to Comment # 3.
#5. To: Dakmar, 4um (#3)
(Edited)
#6. To: Dakmar (#3)
#20. To: Dakmar (#3)
End Trace Mode for Comment # 3.