Re: [alfa] Of emissions etc!

[James Montebello <jamesm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003, John Fielding wrote:
> The measurements were made at the time when emissions were becoming a
> serious problem for all automobile manufacturers.  The comparison is
> made between a steam powered car and the 1968 emissions limits ruling.
>
> Here are the results.
>
> Internal combustion specification
>
> Hydrocarbons   275 ppm
> Carbon Monoxide  1.5%
> Oxides of Nitrogen  1,500 to 3,000 ppm
>
> Steam powered car - measured results
>
> Hydrocarbons  30 to 40 ppm
> Carbon Monoxide  0.3%
> Oxides of Nitrogen  25 to 35 ppm

I'm sure with some development the steam engine could do better, and it
would have to.  Even a rather tired SPICA-equipped Alfa with a fresh,
modern catalyst can do 10ppm HC and 0.1% CO.  The current ULEV cars
are so clean you have to switch to a whole new scale (ppb) for HC,
and stretch the limits of measurability with commonly used equipment.

Still, the steam engine would be instantly "flex-fuel" capable.  I suppose
you could even use electricity to boil the water, and with the steam
plant running an alternator, you'd get excellent range, I'd expect.
I believe the only remaining downside with steam is that, even with a
"flash" boiler, you still have to wait some time to build up steam after
the car has been sitting for a few hours before you can get moving.

jamesm
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