Compressed Air Vehicle- A future of Urban transport in India
Harmful gases - A threat to environment
Gasoline which is the largest used fuel in the passenger cars ,produces gases like nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and unburned hydrocarbons this causes vehicular pollution in the environment. To deal with such constantly increasing environmental challenges a wide range of evolutionary and revolutionary solutions are required.Gasoline which is the largest used fuel in the passenger cars ,produces gases like nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and unburned hydrocarbons this causes vehicular pollution in the environment. To deal with such constantly increasing environmental challenges a wide range of evolutionary and revolutionary solutions are required.
Mechanism of Compressed Air Vehicle
An achievable solution to the gasoline-power car is one which runs on air power. Air, which is inexhaustible and is pollution free, can be compressed to higher pressure at a minimum cost. Compressed Air Vehicles (CAV) is a transport mechanism fueled by tanks of atmospheric gas and driven by expansion and release of gas within the pneumatic motor.
It has found its uses in early prototype submarines, locomotives in digging tunnels and torpedoes. Compressed air propulsion can also be incorporated in the battery electric propulsion, this type of system is called a hybrid pneumatic electric propulsion.
An environment friendly solution
Prospective environmental advantages have generated a public interest in CAV.In 1970’s Willard Truitt invented CAV but sold the design to NASA and US Army because of financial restrictions. In 1979, Terry Miller invented the air car and patented it. Later in 2007, one of the leading automobile companies signed an agreement with a French firm, to launch a car that would run on compressed air. The “AIRPOD”, is one of the five derivative vehicles based on compressed air designed by that firm. Regarding this it has developed two versions a single fuel engine and a double fuel engine. A single fuel engine that relies on compressed air designed for urban areas and double fuel engine that uses compressed and combustible fuel. Therefore, it can be said that Compressed Air Vehicle is the best solution and works in favor of the environment and thus needs to be incorporated.
