Comments for The Ergosphere http://ergosphere.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:20:15 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Corn stover collection project by Engineer-Poet http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-43 Engineer-Poet Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:20:15 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-43 There's plenty in the pipeline but I can't seem to get anything finished. This is partly because I'm swamped for time.  I won't bore you with the details, but I don't have any prospects this weekend or the next. There’s plenty in the pipeline but I can’t seem to get anything finished.

This is partly because I’m swamped for time.  I won’t bore you with the details, but I don’t have any prospects this weekend or the next.

]]> Comment on Corn stover collection project by Justin http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-42 Justin Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:30:53 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-42 Are we ever going to get another blog post? Are we ever going to get another blog post?

]]> Comment on Corn stover collection project by BBM http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-11 BBM Mon, 21 May 2007 21:47:21 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-11 You've probably seen this: http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/mar2007/bw20070319_949435.htm?campaign_id=rss_topDiscussed Probably a very small light wt vehicle, but interesting. Doesn't say if there is any regenerative braking, though. If there is not, then there's even room for improvement. You’ve probably seen this:

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/mar2007/bw20070319_949435.htm?campaign_id=rss_topDiscussed

Probably a very small light wt vehicle, but interesting. Doesn’t say if there is any regenerative braking, though. If there is not, then there’s even room for improvement.

]]> Comment on Can I get any more disgusted with Google? by Engineer-Poet http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/can-i-get-any-more-disgusted-with-google/#comment-10 Engineer-Poet Sat, 12 May 2007 04:21:08 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/can-i-get-any-more-disgusted-with-google/#comment-10 If I didn't want anyone to read it, I sure wouldn't post it here.  Link anything you want. If I didn’t want anyone to read it, I sure wouldn’t post it here.  Link anything you want.

]]> Comment on Can I get any more disgusted with Google? by opit http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/can-i-get-any-more-disgusted-with-google/#comment-9 opit Sat, 12 May 2007 03:56:13 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/can-i-get-any-more-disgusted-with-google/#comment-9 I find Blogger blacks out on some websites when I try to view them. I'm conflicted about your desire for privacy and posting your link on my Blogroll. I have a few people who like to use my picks on worthwhile web content. Kindly advise if you'd rather I gave you a miss. I find Blogger blacks out on some websites when I try to view them.
I’m conflicted about your desire for privacy and posting your link on my Blogroll. I have a few people who like to use my picks on worthwhile web content. Kindly advise if you’d rather I gave you a miss.

]]> Comment on Can I get any more disgusted with Google? by M Bender http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/can-i-get-any-more-disgusted-with-google/#comment-8 M Bender Fri, 04 May 2007 09:28:27 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/can-i-get-any-more-disgusted-with-google/#comment-8 I sure hope you've discovered scroogle (dot org). I sure hope you’ve discovered scroogle (dot org).

]]> Comment on Corn stover collection project by Engineer-Poet http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-7 Engineer-Poet Wed, 02 May 2007 02:11:56 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-7 There have been several compressed-air cars, including one now being promoted in India.  The problem with using air for regenerative braking is that it's hard to package all the filtration, intercooling, drying and such gear that stationary high-pressure compressors have, and the tanks for low-pressure would be mighty big. There have been several compressed-air cars, including one now being promoted in India.  The problem with using air for regenerative braking is that it’s hard to package all the filtration, intercooling, drying and such gear that stationary high-pressure compressors have, and the tanks for low-pressure would be mighty big.

]]> Comment on Corn stover collection project by BBM http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-6 BBM Wed, 02 May 2007 01:29:19 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-6 I wonder how much energy could be stored in a compressed air tank of reasonable size. Those tanks are pretty heavy, though as you point out. Perhaps a carbonfiber tank? Crash protection would also be a worry. I wonder how much energy could be stored in a compressed air tank of reasonable size. Those tanks are pretty heavy, though as you point out. Perhaps a carbonfiber tank? Crash protection would also be a worry.

]]> Comment on Corn stover collection project by Engineer-Poet http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-5 Engineer-Poet Wed, 02 May 2007 00:46:57 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-5 The hydraulic systems have high efficiency but a relatively low specific energy.  This makes them very good for short start-stop cycles (e.g. garbage trucks) but not so good for typical passenger car cycles; you would need a very large and heavy accumulator (relative to the vehicle) to absorb all the braking energy. I went searching for the 30% figure, because I was wondering about the methodology and the split with the friction brakes.  The one hit I found was a pointer to a page which is now 404.  Regardless, larger batteries (e.g. PHEV-class) will have a higher regeneration efficiency because they can absorb more power. The hydraulic systems have high efficiency but a relatively low specific energy.  This makes them very good for short start-stop cycles (e.g. garbage trucks) but not so good for typical passenger car cycles; you would need a very large and heavy accumulator (relative to the vehicle) to absorb all the braking energy.

I went searching for the 30% figure, because I was wondering about the methodology and the split with the friction brakes.  The one hit I found was a pointer to a page which is now 404.  Regardless, larger batteries (e.g. PHEV-class) will have a higher regeneration efficiency because they can absorb more power.

]]> Comment on Corn stover collection project by BBM http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-4 BBM Wed, 02 May 2007 00:25:26 +0000 http://ergosphere.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/corn-stover-collection-project/#comment-4 EP, I'd like to get your opinion on something. What do you think about constructing a hybrid car that consists of a hydraulic accumulator, connected to a pneumatic drive motor, with an energy battery electric motor keeping the accumulator charged? I was thinking about that because apparently current electrical regenerative braking tech is only 30% efficient, but the pneumatic recapture is about 70% efficient. The accumulator could act sort of like a cheap ultracapacitor, allowing the batteries to be optimized for energy storage rather than power burst AND storage. And this would not interfere with the eventual electrification of transportation, as other types of pneumatic hybrids might. EP,

I’d like to get your opinion on something.

What do you think about constructing a hybrid car that consists of a hydraulic accumulator, connected to a pneumatic drive motor, with an energy battery electric motor keeping the accumulator charged?

I was thinking about that because apparently current electrical regenerative braking tech is only 30% efficient, but the pneumatic recapture is about 70% efficient.

The accumulator could act sort of like a cheap ultracapacitor, allowing the batteries to be optimized for energy storage rather than power burst AND storage. And this would not interfere with the eventual electrification of transportation, as other types of pneumatic hybrids might.

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