Just curious if anyone has ever heard of anything like this for a car:

As I have previously stated, Im an aircraft mechanic. There is a cooling system on one of the aircraft I work on that works so proficiently that I cannot believe it hasn't been used before on a car to cool intake air or even turbos and engine oil. It's a hot air powered air conditioning system that uses no refrigerant whatsoever and takes PAS air from one of the engines (roughly 400 degrees F) and produces air cold enough that small bits of ice frequently come out from the ventilation ducts in the crewstations (cockpits).
It basically uses the the PAS air in two ways; 1.) it pushes the air through the system 2.) when cooled, the condensables in the hot air become a liquid and are used to mist an intercooler to further cool more hot air. This cycle continues until a thermostat determines the air is cool enough and it releases cool air from a release point into the ducts and pulls more hot air in. Once the thermostat determines the air is now warm in the system, the valve closes and the cycle continues again until cold. This process happens very quickly. I can get a more detailed breakdown of exactly how it works... but that is the basic idea. They have phased out this system because of the demand for a much larger output of cold air on the newer aircraft to keep hardworking electrical components cool (15-20 big black boxes that heat up quick), but this system worked very well at cooling two full cockpits to below 50 degrees F. during the dead of summer (100+ degrees outside.)

Is there or has there ever been something like this attempted on a car that anyone has heard of? It seems like it would be a great idea.

-shrugs-

 

Interesting, but I am guessing that whole system adds considerable weight to a car. The only place you'll find temps that high is in exhaust gas. The pressures likely aren't high enough and the back pressure alone would negate any gain from the cooling. What you are describing is pretty similar to an air-cooled absorption chiller that is used in Distributed Generation projects that takes the exhaust gases off a micro-turbine to create cooling.

 

Well these are turbine engines I speak of. Like I said, I was just curious if such a thing had ever been attempted. that does make sense about the back-pressure though. -shrugs-

 

Geez, 97 page doc, where are the pics!?



I use one of these at work to chill sensative parts in close proximity to my weld joints. Regular shop air goes in, 30 someodd degree air comes out one end, 90 someodd degree air comes out the other. No moving parts, no electricity. Something about a tiny vortex that somehow spins the heat right out of the air. Cool idea (no pun intended) but the useful air is only half of what you put in. Thats one big boost leak.

 

I know an OK amount about turbines and it won't work because piston motors can not operate at a high enough temp or flow enough air. Cars also travel to slowly to get the huge amount of air flow required. Also is this ona turbo prop,a jet, or a turbofan?

 

I dont think he's saying you need 400 degree air to run the thing, it sounds like a bigger version of the chiller I use at work. Warm/Hot air in, cold air out one end, hot air out the other. Theres a flow difference obviously, but I run my chiller on 60psi from the regulator, and you can go lower.

 

Wanna pic.... Here's one, the chiller is on the right.

 

Im gonna need to relocate some stuff if thats supposed to fit in the car. : )

 

haha,

The one Im talking about is only about the size ofa radiatorand is made to cool an aircraft. cockpit. I guess the best way to describe it is that its alot like a beefed up swamp cooler that recirculates the air until Its much colder than a swamp cooler does. Additionally, a swamp cooler needs a water source. With this, the heated air cooling down creates condensation (the hotter the air prior to cooling, usually the more condensation) which is used to mist it instead of tap water.
I doubt it would work near as efficiently if scaled down to a more manageable size, just food for thought I guess.