The Reality of Installing Gas Turbine Engines in Automobiles
" "While the idea of installing gas turbine engines in automobiles has been explored, it is essential to understand the practical limitations and challenges associated with such a concept. This article delves into the feasibility and drawbacks of using gas turbine engines in vehicles.
" "Introduction: The Potential and Reality
" "Anything is possible if you have enough money - such was the case when a VW Bug was modified to run on a gas turbine engine. This event reflected a broader interest in exploring the potential of utilizing gas turbine technology in the automotive industry. However, the practicality of this idea is often debated.
" "Efficiency and Application
" "Turbine engines, renowned for their high efficiency and reliability, are primarily used in aircraft due to their consistent operation at high speeds. In contrast, cars are not ideal for this type of engine design due to frequent stops and starts. Turbines operate at high speeds and can struggle to respond quickly to reduce speed, which makes coupling them to standard transmission systems like clutches or fluid couplings challenging. Once coupled, they also take an extended period to increase their efficiency again.
" "Economic and Environmental Considerations
" "The statement that 'Turbines are not fuel efficient and have poor power response times' is supported by various automotive engineering challenges. One reason for the inefficiencies is that turbines burn a significant amount of fuel, producing a substantial amount of waste heat. Their slow acceleration makes them particularly difficult to maneuver in urban environments, where cornering is frequent. Furthermore, these engines are very expensive to manufacture and maintain, making them an impractical choice for most vehicles.
" "Historical Attempts and Current Status
" "Historically, efforts to integrate gas turbine engines into automobiles have faced numerous setbacks. For instance, Chrysler’s mid-sixties gas turbine engine project was canceled due to non-compliance with 60s emission standards, which were more stringent than they are today. While the engineering aspects of turbines, such as reduced mechanical complexity compared to reciprocating engines, are appealing, the use of more expensive materials and manufacturing techniques makes them financially unviable.
" "Additionally, a concept car, while it might have been designed to directly power by a turbine, is generally not a practical solution. The Rover in the UK attempted to use an aircraft auxiliary power unit (APU) as a turbine for electric generation in a gas turbine/electric hybrid setup, but the project was abandoned. This underscores the difficulties in creating a practical and efficient automotive design that uses a gas turbine.
" "Current Evaluation and Future Prospects
" "Despite the challenges, some have suggested that while it might be possible to install a gas turbine engine in a car, it would be a fundamentally flawed and impractical choice. The high fuel consumption, waste heat generation, and slow acceleration are significant drawbacks. Even with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a recuperator, such a setup would not be cost-effective.
" "It is important to note that current state-of-the-art technology in gas turbines is still not mature enough to fully address the issues mentioned. While there may be potential for improvements, the current environmental standards make it difficult to justify the expense and inefficiencies of gas turbine engines in the automotive sector.
" "In conclusion, while the installation of gas turbine engines in automobiles remains a theoretical possibility, it is not a viable or practical solution due to its high cost, poor fuel efficiency, and environmental impact. As technology advances, it is possible that new solutions may emerge, but until then, the status quo favors traditional combustion engines.