To those more knowledgeable about these types of things, this may seem like a “dumb” question. However as a non-scientist it makes perfect sense to me.
1.
Suppose one had an ignition system that completes a circuit allowing current from a battery to heat a heating element for a boiler full of water. Or… initially one had to plug up the heating element into a power source.
2.
The steam from the boiler powers an alternator/generator that:
a. Powers an electric motor for the vehicle
b. Generates even more electricity to heat the boiler. intensely hotter (using gear ratio factors to make the rotation even faster) and heating elements of the hottest variety (losing very little energy as it transfers from electricity to heat – almost none lost as light)
Here’s the part that may be dumb – I feel like I’m missing something otherwise it would’ve already been done…… The water tank may have to be huge (so 4 passenger cars would have to be or about the size of minivans for water storage – so what?)…. and you fill up on WATER. From any available water source!!
Of course you don’t turn off the engine during the day – unless you want to wait until the water heats. (but you can turn it down very low)
But voila’!! The vehicle runs on water!!!! Even dirty water – ocean water – bath water – laundry water.
Ok. Why won’t this work?
Ok guys – granted it is a steam powered engine. but is essentially an ELECTRIC ENGINE – much as trains use diesel engines to generate electricity to power electric engines to power the locomotive. OBVIOUSLY some engineer somewhere figured you’d come out on top by using the fuel to power and electric engine. Hmmmm?
Correction :
To power AN electric engine.
Finally assuming I “can” control the rate of the boiling water – not impossible and assuming the weight (payload) to be the weight of 4 passengers and the water. The seam engine would be no bigger than the what fits normally in the engine space allowed in the average truck – or minivan as it were. C’mon where are the real scientist that can give substancial and significant reasons why this can’t work.
ok… I fdidn’t make it clear that the electricity for the heating element comes from the alternator. The faster the car goes…the faster the water boils. so having enough electricity to generate enough steam is contigent on how fast the electric motor is turning. this seems like cyclical logic.. but hey… everything in you gasoline engine is cyclical as well. So what? (Instead of charging a battery to fire spark plugs, I’m heating the boiler) Also when I take my feet the accelerator, the wheels are still turning …producing even more electricity.
