Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

You'd get better energy density that way, but I think it's offset by worse efficiency & more damage to the engine. The inert gas fraction (N2, CO2, H2O) provides a useful working fluid to convert combustion heat to force pushing on the piston. Burning pure O2 would mean a lot more heat is needed for the same amount of force. Higher peak temperatures & more available oxygen will tend to create hotspots & knock/pre-detonation, & possibly erosion of the cylinder wall & piston from directly burning the metal.

Using nitrous or cool compressed air keeps most of the benefits while mitigating the problems of using pure O2.




Join us for AI Startup School this June 16-17 in San Francisco!

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: