SHOULD WE HAVE A NEW ENGINE? AN AUTOMOBILE POWER - SYSTEMS EVALUATION. VOLUME I--SUMMARY AND VOLUME II--TECHNICAL REPORTS

Alternative automotive powerplants were examined for possible introduction during the 1980-1990 time period. Technical analyses were made of the Stratified-Charge Otto, Diesel, Rankine (steam), Brayton (gas turbine), Stirling, Electric, and Hybrid powerplants as alternatives to the conventional Otto-cycle engine with its likely improvements. These alternatives were evaluation from a societal point of view in terms of energy consumption, urban air quality, cost to the consumer, materials available, safety, and industry impact. The results show that goals for emission reduction and energy conservation for the automobile over the next 5-10 years can be met by improvements to the Otto-cycle engine and to the vehicle. This provides time for the necessary development work on the Brayton and stirling engines, which offer the promise of air pollution, dramatically reducing fuel consumption, and being saleable at a price differential which can be recovered in fuel savings by the first owner. Specifically, the Brayton and Stirling engines require intensive component, system, and manufacturing process development at a funding level considerably higher than at present. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive
  Pasadena, CA  United States  91103
• Publication Date: 1975-8

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 641 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Air quality management; Costs; Diesel engines; Energy; Evaluation; Fuel consumption; Heat cycle; Hybrid vehicles; Rankine engines; Safety; Stirling engines; Stratified charge engines; Vehicle power plants
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile engines; Brayton system
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00128248
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: JPL SP43-17, V I&II
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 10 1976 12:00AM