>>> To the Group:
   >>>
   >>> The following link shows a couple engines using compressed air for
   >>> fuel.  I have also read an article about an Indian company doing
   the
   >>> same thing.  Three different manufacturing companies in three
   different
   >>> parts of the world doing the same basic concept.  Can anybody find
   >>> anything basically wrong with what they are doing?  I know that
   the
   >>> Wankel is used as a compressor.  If the air is reversed it could
   be used
   >>> as an engine.
   >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXrnCYAlUFc_
   >>> Norm DeBoer
   >>
   >>
   >> The advantage of fuel over batteries, compressed air
   >> and other fixed mass storage systems is that your
   >> weight decreases.
   >>
   >> How much does a carbon fiber air tank weigh and
   >> how much energy can you store in it?
   >>
   >> It might be good for a car where you can recover brake
   >> energy.
   >>
   >> Jeff Martin
   >>
   >> Fill your air compressor tank to 100 psi. Turn off the compressor.
   >> Time how long your air grinder runs.  Another guess
   >> is it will run for about 5 minutes at the most. Multiply by 10 for
   1000
   >> PSI.
   >> 50 minutes. Double the size of the tank. 1 2/3 hours or 100 minutes.
   >>
   >> My guess is an air grinder is 1 to 3 HP at the outside. 10 to 20
   thousand
   >> RPM.
   >>
   >> Divide 50 HP by 3 HP or 16 times for the minimum HP needed for a small

   >> car.
   >> So the car will run for 6.25 minutes. Triple that for 3000 psi. 18
   >> minutes.
   >> I think you see where I am going with this.
   >>
   >> Paul Lamar
   >
   >
   > I see your points Paul..  But, I imagine that air grinders are quite
   > inefficient - single stage turbines, leaky.  Targeted at being compact
   > and light weight.  It seems that a slow turning piston decompressor
   > could be quite a bit more efficient.
   >
   >
   > Matt-

   And to play the green card, how efficient is your compressor, your power
   lines and your coal fired generators etc. Also a real B if you run out of
   air and air drives tend to be very noisy.

   John


If you had a really long retractable air hose you could do pattern work.

Dan