ProtoConVert

http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/elect...trocharger.php

This device supposedly replaces the alternater, and drives the crankshaft in acceleration. Some of its equipment is supposed to go into the trunk too.

Seems like there are some issues like regenerative braking takes place while in gear, and engine space issues.

What do you guys think?

globi

I like the idea however based on its size I doubt that this motor generates more than a few HP. Also I wouldn't be convinced that this little motor can compensate for the extra weight added by the extra batteries or capacitors, but I can believe that it increases mileage somewhat. I guess a switch under the brake pedal could increase the load of that thing whenever you touch the brake or lift the gaspedal. I don't think it would work properly in combination with an automatic gearbox.
(Keep in mind that the Toyota prius has a 70HP electric motor.)

This more powerful alternator could be used to charge capacitors when decelerating which in turn could power an electric motor to supercharge the combustion engine when accelerating. (This might ultimately generate 4 to 5 times more extra power than what the same electric motor could achieve when driving the crankshaft directly. Imagine what would happen if the Toyota Prius would supercharge its one little gasoline engine with its electric motor? A real vette cruncher - well at least before it blows? )

capacitors: http://www.batcap.net/index1.htm
electric supercharger: http://www.boosthead.com/home.php
electric turbo: http://www.turbodyne.com

Ajax

while conceptually, an electric motor could do exactly what they're talking about, I have my doubts. My biggest doubt is their "super capacitor battery pack" which charges up in 8 minutes from dead... That has to be some wicked pack and it's gonna store a shitload of power. Since Q(charge) = C*V (capacitance*voltage), the order of magnitude on the capacitor would have to be in the E^1 or E^2 range in order to get that kind of charge on low voltage. That means somewhere between 10 and 100 farads.
I dont know if you've ever seen a 1 farad capacitor, but it's about as big as your forearm.

Those megacap batteries are the smallest caps i've seen at that rating. That's incredible.

Ajax

OMG! one of the TTU teams actually used these things back in the day!
Lol, we've come a long way at that school I guess!

shelleys_man_06

Wow. To think an Aggie could come up with something useful.

Anyway, it's a nice device, but I'm kind of skeptical about how much more power the electrocharger can produce. If it is supposed to be attatched like an alternator, I predict this thing as a parasitic loss, much like a roots supercharger. What is going to happen to the auxiliary devices, i.e the OEM water pump, A/C pulley, etc. when this thing starting increasing the angular velocity of the crankshaft? Is it gradual, or is it near-instantaneous change on crankshaft rotation?

JohnO

They exist! 2500 F, 2.5 V, 161mm x 61.5mm x 61.5mm, 725 g Check out this link: http://www.maxwell.com/ultracapacito...arge_cell.html

Put 10 of these is series to get 25 V @ 250 Farads! That's just one string, parallel a few and you've got some real energy storage... 100 Amps charge and 100
Amps discharge (over 5 seconds)! Pretty amazing.

Electric cars "can" be awesome. Check out: http://www.nedra.com/ . An electric motor make maximum torque at 0 RPM. That's exactly where you need it.

globi

Actually, there's one other benefit. That motor could also substitute the starter and therefore get rid of some weight.