[HN Gopher] Smokey's new hot vapourizing engine creates heat in ...
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       Smokey's new hot vapourizing engine creates heat in Detroit (1983)
        
       Author : satchet
       Score  : 24 points
       Date   : 2023-04-16 18:36 UTC (4 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (rexresearch.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (rexresearch.com)
        
       | JohnBooty wrote:
       | This is all very fascinating, but also very over my head!
       | 
       | I found a post detailing some reasons why this technology never
       | made it to production; apparently such an engine is always
       | running rather close to its limits and could more or less self
       | destruct if there was a small problem with air/fuel ratio and
       | timing.
       | 
       | https://www.yellowbullet.com/threads/smokey-yunicks-hot-vapo...
        
       | mgarfias wrote:
       | RIP Smokey
        
       | pengaru wrote:
       | In my gearhead days I had a dead-tree copy of Yunick's Power
       | Secrets, and read about his adiabatic modified car engine.
       | 
       | My understanding at the time was that the main barrier to market
       | was emissions related. Oxides of nitrogen in particular were far
       | too high from the high temperatures. If you look at an emissions
       | test summary NOx is one of the few things they actually measure.
       | 
       | > NOx gases are usually produced from the reaction between
       | nitrogen and oxygen during combustion of fuels, such as
       | hydrocarbons, in air; especially at high temperatures, such as in
       | car engines. [0]
       | 
       | So I'm pretty sure the opening line "meets all emission standards
       | without electronic equipment" from TFA is incorrect. Or maybe was
       | only briefly correct in 1983...
       | 
       | [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOx
        
         | vhodges wrote:
         | I read the PopSci article on this way back when and always
         | wondered what became if it, thanks!
        
       | userbinator wrote:
       | He's a very interesting character:
       | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Yunick
        
         | mgarfias wrote:
         | Was. And the linked Wikipedia article doesn't capture nearly
         | enough. I recommend picking up a copy of his "best damned
         | garage in town" autobiography.
        
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       (page generated 2023-04-16 23:00 UTC)