Texas Man makes 100MPG car

[dmcowen674]

Man builds 100mpg engine using 200-year-old technology
[/url]
6-15-2016

Josh "Mac" MacDowell of San Antonio Texas had a brilliant idea. He took a Stirling engine, a type of engine developed 200 years ago, and added some 21st-century technology to it. The result is a hybrid electric car so efficient that you never have to stop to recharge, reports Houston's KHOU11.

The centerpiece of MacDowell's innovation is the Stirling engine, which was created in 1816. The closed-cycle air engine uses the expansion of hot air and the compression of cold air to generate the power needed to drive an engine. Unlike steam engines which utilize a similar principal, the Stirling engine has an internal regenerative heat exchanger that keeps the hot and cold air at the correct temperature. This recycling feature boosts the engine's efficiency to a whopping 50 percent. For comparison, a standard internal combustion engine operates only at 14 percent efficiency.

MacDowell coupled the engine with existing hybrid technology, creating a system that will deliver 58 miles per gallon to a Ford F-150 and at least 100 miles per gallon in a smaller SUV. In his model, the Stirling engine runs at a fixed RPM generating electricity that is used to charge the batteries, which drive motors that propel the vehicle.

Using this thermopile technology, a Stirling-powered vehicle can drive at highway speeds without having to recharge. MacDowell also redesigned the Stirling engine to have the dimensions and appearance of a standard four-cylinder engine, making it compatible with existing automobiles. His idea was so brilliant that Texas A&M University became involved in the project, providing MacDowell with technical expertise and a testing environment to aid in the development of the engine.

To showcase his original engine, MacDowell intends to drive an SUV across the country on less than 40 gallons of gasoline. He also plans to submit his laboratory findings to the Texas Transportation Institute, which will verify his 100 miles per gallon claims. Once proven and tested, MacDowell believes his idea will revolutionize the hybrid engine industry leading to the eventual end of the internal combustion engine.

[url=http://www.khou.com/features/san-antonino-man-has-engine-that-gets-100-mpg/242673922]San Antonio man has engine that gets 100 mpg

[dmcowen674]

There is no way the Oil Thugs would allow this to ever get to the American public.

[SickBeast]

Wow this looks interesting.

[RolloTheGreat]

They were doing it in Texas......

[BoFox]

Elon Musk @ Tesla, 

BUY HIM OUT - even if it's a billion dollars!  Make Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda, etc.  all humble!!!!

[ocre]

Stirling engine is just one of many ultra efficient energy generators and like so many others, it has been pushed out and away so it never had a big impact.

The Stirling engine fascinated me ages ago when I was pretty young the first time i heard and read about it. Then once again years later, when I pondered and realized the true power in expansion. Such a truly amassing invention and yet it was completely abandoned.

As astonishing as the lost Stirling engine is, there have been other great power generating methods that have been pushed to the side to be forgotten. Some are so great, the Stirling pals in comparison. Clearly there have been plenty of solutions to our energy needs, great and wonderful ideas and methods that have been proven. Our reliance on fossil fuel is by design, there're is little doubt to me that all energy crisis as a result are artificial.

Of course, at this point moving over to new forms of energy could not happen over night. So an immediate interruption in our fragile system we run on today would be a huge problem. But, this system was built in such a way so that the dependancy is by design. Far better methods of harnessing usable energy have existed but they have all been ignored and pushed aside. The irony is that many of these solutions were the product of people who invested so much believing they would make a difference, that there was a legitimate energy problem and they set out and came up with some mind boggling solutions. But, of course here we are...sometimes I think that many of us still have the mentality of those in the stone age. The real intelligent humans have no drive to rule and conquer, the scientists and physicists don't have any drive to become politicians, nor do they run for top office. They typically don't have that in them, they don't have that drive, ego, or need. As a matter of fact, anyone with mediocre intelligence just couldn't stomach the games and bologna that our governing bodies are these days. It's just an insane mess.

The mess extends all the way from governing of our states and country to our corporations and beyond. Almost all are lead by a different mind set, one completely in odds with great human intelligence.
As a result, we aren't nearly as thoughtful and civilizations remain held back. At one time, the traits that drove certain people to the top slots, that way of thinking would have been a great benefit for much of human existence. Today.. it holds us back tremendously.

As for the Stirling in a hybrid, It's pretty awesome. I have had this other idea in my head for some time: steam. Steam engines have had a place in history, way bigger than a Stirling. But I believe that revisited steam today would have a massive pay off. with a brand new look using modern technology, I believe the power of steam has been barely realized. An yet, look at how powerful and useful it was so long ago. Giant ships and trains driven on terribly inefficient steam technology..yet they were very capable and powerful. Steam potential has been barely tapped, it's been forgotten but the potential is enormous. There is so much more to extract, I personally believe that there is far more to gain from reinventing steam than what a modernized Stirling can produce. Not trying to take away from this man's achievement, just saying. Steam should be revisited. There is so so much more that can be harnessed. To do so, this new steam solution would not resemble the steam engine of the past.

[dmcowen674]

I love Steam Locomotives. When lived in Elgin Illinois there was a local Train club that I volunteered when I could in the rebuilding of an engine.

[SteelCrysis]

I love Steam Locomotives. When lived in Elgin Illinois there was a local Train club that I volunteered when I could in the rebuilding of an engine.

Me too. I still remember the day that Milwaukee Road 261 stopped by where I lived.

[happy medium]

He will somehow wind up killed like others that have tried this.
or they will give him tons of cash and you will never hear this again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir5XgMiXlzM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0dhwlhTs9M

[RolloTheGreat]

Stirling engine is just one of many ultra efficient energy generators and like so many others, it has been pushed out and away so it never had a big impact.

The Stirling engine fascinated me ages ago when I was pretty young the first time i heard and read about it. Then once again years later, when I pondered and realized the true power in expansion.  Such a truly amassing invention and yet it was completely abandoned.  

As astonishing as the lost Stirling engine is, there have been other great power generating methods that have been pushed to the side to be forgotten.  Some are so great, the Stirling pals in comparison.  Clearly there have been plenty of solutions to our energy needs, great and wonderful ideas and methods that have been proven.  Our reliance on fossil fuel is by design, there're is little doubt to me that all energy crisis as a result are artificial.  

Of course, at this point moving over to new forms of energy could not happen over night.  So an immediate interruption in our fragile system we run on today would be a huge problem.  But, this system was built in such a way so that the dependancy is by design. Far better methods of harnessing usable energy have existed but they have all been ignored and pushed aside.  The irony is that many of these solutions were the product of people who invested so much believing they would make a difference, that there was a legitimate energy problem and they set out and came up with some mind boggling solutions.  But, of course here we are...sometimes I think that many of us still have the mentality of those in the stone age.  The real intelligent humans have no drive to rule and conquer, the scientists and physicists don't have any drive to become politicians, nor do they run for top office. They typically don't have that in them, they don't have that drive, ego, or need.  As a matter of fact, anyone with mediocre intelligence just couldn't stomach the games and bologna that our governing bodies are these days.  It's just an insane mess.  

The mess extends all the way from governing of our states and country to our corporations and beyond.  Almost all are lead by a different mind set, one completely in odds with great human intelligence.
As a result, we aren't nearly as thoughtful and civilizations remain held back. At one time, the traits that drove certain people to the top slots, that way of thinking would have been a great benefit for much of human existence.  Today.. it holds us back tremendously.

As for the Stirling in a hybrid, It's pretty awesome. I have had this other idea in my head for some time: steam.  Steam engines have had a place in history, way bigger than a Stirling. But I believe that revisited steam today would have a massive pay off.  with a brand new look using modern technology, I believe the power of steam has been barely realized.  An yet, look at how powerful and useful it was so long ago.  Giant ships and trains driven on terribly inefficient steam technology..yet they were very capable and powerful.  Steam potential has been barely tapped, it's been forgotten but the potential is enormous.  There is so much more to extract, I personally believe that there is far more to gain from reinventing steam than what a modernized Stirling can produce.  Not trying to take away from this man's achievement, just saying.  Steam should be revisited. There is so so much more that can be harnessed.  To do so, this new steam solution would not resemble the steam engine of the past.

Very amusing you can see the rigging of the energy market by and for the benefit of the rich here but can't see it in the jobs market....

There's a big difference GStan.

There are financial benefits for companies to avoid switch to energy efficient technologies. (manufacturing facilities in place, huge industry of gas delivery)

If companies hire less qualified people based on affiliation there is only financial downside. Loss of more qualified internal candidates who wanted the jobs, decreased productivity at best or ineptitude at worst.

You call me a witless moron while yelling, "It's not what you know, it's who you know 75% of the time!".

I've got news, Albert Gstein. Companies are self serving and seek competitive advantage. A company of 75% know nothings is a company on it's way out.

The only way your GLogic applies is with similar candidates and even then it's self serving to the company.

If you have two chemical engineers that each have a BS and 5 years experience but one is buddies with a current chemical engineer you hire the buddy. A. Helps you retain existing skilled labor as they're happier working with friends B. Friends are more likely to be good employees because they don't want friend who recommended them to look bad.