Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 20 (9): 1075-1077, 2014

ISSN 1990-9233
IDOSI Publications, 2014
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2014.20.09.114101
Corresponding Author: D. Ravi, Mechanical Engineering Department, Bharath University Chennai, India.
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Fabrication of Compressed Air Engine
D.RAVI
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Bharath University Chennai, India
Abstract: Climate change and energy security require a reduction in travel demand, a model shift and
technological innovation in the transport sector. Through a series of press releases and demonstrations, a car
using energy stored in compressed air produced by a compressor has been suggested as an environmental
friendly vehicle of the future. Analysis the thermodynamic efficiency of a compressed-air car powered by a
pneumatic engine and considers the merits of compressed air versus chemical storage of potential energy. Even
under highly optimistic assumptions the compressed-air car is significantly less efficient than a battery electric
vehicle and produces more greenhouse gas emissions than a conventional gas-powered car with a coal
intensive power mix. However, a pneumatic-combustion hybrid is technologically feasible, inexpensive and
could eventually compete with hybrid electric vehicles.
Key words: Thermodynamic efficiency Compressed Air Hybrid
INTRODUCTION We are using IC engines for automobiles for last
All means of transportation requires some sort of solution, compression, power and exhaust. In order to
energy for producing useful work. At present, we use obtain the power, the process carried out is very much
fossil fuels to produce the required energy. But such complicated. Also that the exhaust from these engines
conventional source of energy brings out many leads to many environmental disasters like Global
disadvantages along with them. We all know that fossil Warming, Green House effect, ozone depletion directly
fuels are limited and non-renewable. The rate of depletion and indirectly [3, 4].
of fossil fuels is increasing at an alarming rate. In near
future, their availability will not be sufficient to meet the Current Scenario: Nowadays we are using IC engines
demand. Another major trouble caused by the usage of rapidly in the field of automobiles. The IC engines works
fossil fuels is the increasing rate of pollution to our in the cycle of suction, compression, power and exhaust.
environment. The harmful emissions from the exhaust of In order to obtain the power, the process carried out is
vehicles using fossils fuels have proved to affect both very much complicated. Also that the exhaust from this
human beings and the environment to large extent. Global engines leads to many environmental disasters like Global
warming, an outcome of this situation, has started Warming, Green House effect, ozone depletion directly
disrupting our ecosystem. and indirectly. Here due to complicated design and
Compressed air could be the best replacement as an assembly of IC engines more friction and power losses
energy source under such context. Air is readily available occurs which result in reduction of mechanical efficiency
in nature. Hence it would be wise enough to harness such [3].
renewable source for our energy requirement. Air, on its
own, is non-flammable. Hence the possible damages Motive of the Project: As mentioned above the recent
created by the explosion of fossil fuels can be avoided by automobiles have becomes slaves of the fossil fuel. There
using air as an alternative fuel. The idea of using are many problems like environment disasters (due to
compressed air as fuel is not new. There have been exhaust), price rise and scarcity of fossil fuels tends us to
prototypes cars since the 1920s, but the engine we used go towards and alternative fuel. Many of the alternative
here is more efficient than the air powered engines used fuel by products hazardous and the production and
in the already existing prototypes [1, 2]. preparation of many alternate fields are complicated.
several decades. The IC engines works in the cycle of
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Thus we go for an easily obtainable alternate fuel, piston inside the cylinder A reaches the TDC and the
compressed air. Other than that it is economically cycle continues. This helps to obtain mechanical work at
beneficial to us compressed air. The main motive of the the output of the crankshaft [1, 2].
project is to design and implement a car eco friendly, with
zero exhaust and emission, economically cost effective
using easily obtainable fuel.
Compressed Air Engine: A Compressed-air engine is a
pneumatic actuator that creates useful work by expanding
compressed air. They have existed in many forms over the Schematic Layout Of Compressed Air Engine
past two centuries, ranging in size from hand held turbine
up to several hundred horsepower. Some types rely on Engine Description: For the fabrication, emphasis was
piston and cylinder, other use turbines. Many given to the usages of rapidly available parts as maximum
compressed air engines improve their performance by as possible to avoid complexity of the works as well as to
heating the incoming air, or the engine itself. Some took reduce cost. The engine consists of two cylinders with
this a stage further and burnt fuel in the cylinder of opposed pistons. The selection of opposed piston
turbine, forming a type of internal combustion engine. The arrangement was done for the balancing purpose. The
basic components of such engine may include cylinders, valve timing mechanism was provided by two solenoid
reciprocating piston, or may turbines means for valves which were assisted by contact point beaker
selectively supplying air under pressure to cylinders and mechanism. A 12V battery provides the energy supply to
exhausting the air after extracting the pressure. It is also operate the solenoid valves according to the required
a common practice to drive such engine from a storage timing. The cam provided at one end of crank shaft
source of air under pressure, which is replenished, or kept operates the contact beaker points thereby activating the
within a desired pressure range by means of compressor. solenoid valves whenever needed.
Working Principle: In compressed air engine, the Engine Design: The next phase is the modelling of
pressure energy of compressed air is utilized for the various parts of the engine and assembling them to form
reciprocating movement of the piston inside the cylinder teh proposed compressed air engine. For this purpose we
arrangement thereby producing mechanical work. The selected Pro/Engineer wildfire which is one of the best
proposed air engine has two 180 opposite cylinders with modelling software being used for designing various
pistons set in opposites phases to each other. The mechanical models.
connecting rod of each piston is connected directly to the The software which is used was developed and
crank. The given figure illustrates such an arrangement of supported by the parametric technology cooperation
opposed piston engine. (PTC), based in United States. Pro/Engineer wildfire is
When compressed air is fed to the cylinder A via a unique software developed for the manufacturing
control valve, piston inside the cylinders A starts industry to meet the competing demands of engineering
moving from its TDC to BDC due to the pressure energy productivity, faster time to market and improved product
of the compressed air. As the piston reaches the BDC, quality.
exhaust port gets opened and the high pressure air Pro/Engineer wildfire is a comprehensive product
escapes through the exhaust port. This motion of the development solution for concept and industrial design,
piston causes the rotation of the crank through 180. At detailed design, simulation and analysis, mold/tool/doe
the end of this stroke, the piston inside the cylinders to design and NC tool path creation and generating the NC
reach its TDC. Suddenly another control valve attached codes. With the powerful tools of Pro/Engineer, we will be
this cylinder operates and causes highly pressurized able to capture the design intent of any complex model, by
compressed air to be fed into cylinder B. Hence the incorporation intelligence into design [5].
piston inside this cylinder starts moving formed to BDC The model has been as an assembly with each
due to the pressure energy of the compressed air. As the component made individually. Care has been made in
piston reaches the BDC, again exhaust port opens air order to keep the computer model dimensionally in
escapes. This action causes the crank to rotate 180 further accordance with the real world model. It gives the added
thereby completing a complete rotation of crank. Now the advantage that unskilled labour employed can be retained
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and also CNC machines can be employed for machining of The compressed air car points to is the fact that
the model. The major individual parts in the model are humanity has the technological capability of solving our
being shown below, one part at a time and the assembled energy problems as they related to transportation.
model of the engine as last [6, 7]. Combined with the other types of alternate fuels in the
Engine Fabrication and Assembly: The final phase of the free of our reliance on the internal combustion engine.
project is the fabrication of the different parts other than Now that is the potential and clear possibility. Lets use
the readily available parts. The crankcase was the main technology not hamper but to make this world a better
part to be fabricated using cast iron material and 8mm place to live in.
square rods. The a hole of 47mm is bored through the
central axis of the crankcase in order to jolt the bearing of REFERENCES
the crankshaft. The hole required for the free movement of
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contact breaker points. To that end, the contact breaker
point assembly is screwed with at most care since it
decides the valve timing.
CONCLUSION
With the present situation of alarming pollution and
depletion of fossil fuel, the concept of compressed air
engine has taken a vital position in the research and
development field. Various improvements in this regard
are proving that in near future, the world will witness a
much cleaner environment by the practical implementation
of such air engine. Thus the potential of air can be utilized
as an alternating fuel for the automobiles.
next few years, it is possible that we could primarily be