PHOENIX MAY RISE IN RENO: LEAR TURNS TO TURBO - ELECTRIC

THE VAPORDYNE POWER SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY LEAR IS BUILT AROUND A TWIN-MOTOR SCREW EXPANDER. THE EXPANDER LOOKS LIKE TWO WIDE TAPERED CORK SCREWS SIDE BY SIDE. HIGH-PRESSURE STEAM SPINS EACH INVOLUTE, TURBINE-FASHION. THE INVOLUTE EX- PRESSURE PRODUCES THE VERY HIGH STALL TORQUES CHARACTERISTIC OF A POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT STEAM ENGINE, WHILE EXHIBITING HIGH EFFICIENCY & RELIABILITY OF A TURBINE AT ITS OPERATING RPM. PROBLEMS WITH THE VAPORDYNE SYSTEM HAVE BROUGHT THE REALIZATION THAT THE GAS TURBINES BEING FABRICATED WILL EMIT ONLY 2% TO 4% OF THE POLLUTANTS EMITTED BY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. LEAR'S TURBO-HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT CONSISTS OF A LOCOMOTION SYSTEM AND A CONTROL-AND- INSTRUMENTATIONS SYSTEM. THE LOCOMOTION SYSTEM IS BASICALLY A GAS TURBINE THAT DRIVES AN ALTERNATOR. THE ALTERNATOR SUPPLIES ELECTRICITY TO FOUR BRUSHLESS, VARIABLE-SPEED MOTORS THAT COUPLED THROUGH A REDUCTION GEAR TRAINS TO THE FOUR WHEELS INDIVIDUALLY. THE VEHICLE HAS AN UNCOMPLICATED FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. THE OPERATION IS DESCRIBED OF THE TURBO- HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 41, No 6, PP 16-18
• Publication Date: 1970-5-18

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Product Engineering
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill, Incorporated

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Electric power plants; Four wheel drive; Gas turbines; Motor vehicles; Steam engines; Turbine engines
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223239
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 3 1970 12:00AM