2190 An Unusual Air Engine

[@12thsonofisrael]

Replace the machine nuts with magnets, add a coil and boom. 👍

[@JeremyWilliams011571]

And connect his ram pump to it to power it.

[@maw9916]

Slows the flywheel with magnetic drag...

[@jonskowitz]

You could leave the nuts in place and use a magnet wrapped in wire for your generator.

[@j.christie2594]

Same, First thought seeing the set up. Second thought was, would it work with hydrodynamic Air compresssor? Type of air compressor that use's moving Water and that draws bubbles into the water and collect's them, and build's decent Pressure. That would be nice way of getting eletricity from moving water, using air Pressure to do the work, and Compressed Air storage is easy and safer than batteries.

[@valveman12]

Robert, when you blew into the air motor, it sounded like you were trying to start a Harley😊😊 Love your videos...

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - cheers mate

[@RubinJassal]

@@ThinkingandTinkering Robert how can I contact u pls ?

[@imbabyface]

Love how you laugh at the enjoyment of seeing things working.

[@3stepsforward2stepsback]

It’s incredible to see my design being put to such good use! Great explaining, incredible video!

[@geographicaloddity2]

I don't think Electrical Engineers in the US have to take Thermodynamics, Dynamics or Statics classes anymore. I did 40 or so years ago. As a controls and instrumentation engineer, those classes have served me as much as most of my EE classes. Your channel reminds me of why I loved those classes and almost changed in 4th year to mechanical engineering. And I too have been trying to come up with a way of testing the O-Wind turbine concept. I have an idea, not sure how valid it is, but I think I'm going to try. The potential is too great for it not be tested but I’ve seen too much green energy snake oil to accept the claims without empirical data.

[@8ank3r]

Loved the air engine. I was so surprised that you didn't use neo magnets instead of the hex nuts. Great stuff as always Rob. Cheers

[@azlandpilotcar4450]

Good project. I like Tom Stanton and Integza's KZbin Steam and Air motors. Stanton makes them small enough to power small toy airplanes.

[@woodworks2123]

I had a thought. Even though as you said Rob that the air engine is less efficient. That's not the only thing we need to think about. In an electrical system, we would make something spin. Which drives an alternator, which is then stored in a battery and then that powers a motor say but there's lots of stages there all with efficiency losses. My thought is say we compared a pedal generator to a pedal powered compressor. You pedal, compresses and stores the air then it drives an air engine, i wonder if there are more or less overall effort you put in is put to power plus i think this would be much simpler. No risk of shock, fewer components to break plus unless I'm wrong no difference to you if you connected a load. Worth a thought!

[@JasonGreen-ek4bd]

Great thinkin

[@luthersmen]

Great video. Love air engines and steam engines. Always amazed that compressed air can power a car.

[@industrialmonk]

Hi I love the idea of using the flywheel shaft as the valve gear it is so simple and effective.

[@mrbunchofcells]

hot air baloons they were used in military

[@OMIF1]

I was surprised you didn't go right in with magnets instead of nuts on the flywheel. 😃

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Great ideas. This inspired me to think of a cool design.

[@snekmeseht]

To eliminate problems with using a compressible liquid to drive a pistion, I've always wanted to do a air-pressure powered water engine. Scuba tanks would provide pressure regulated air that would be switched back and forth to pressurize a pair of water reservoirs that would drive the fluid back and forth through an appropriate spool valve and the engine. The logic is a bit complicated, but doable. A scuba tank doesn't go far, but multiple could be used and they are fast and easy to swap out.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

interesting idea mate - cheers

[@ShafaqIftikhar-pw9ld]

Lol absolutely beautiful!!! Thank you for a great video Robert

[@gerryplayz4532]

Something like a flapper switch splitter should run two pistons giving fairly constant power, maybe a controllable air spun splitter with a rotating hole that opens each outlet as it passes to give your timing?

[@qmangillett]

As soon as i seen the nuts going in i was thinking design that for magnets and make a generator. But your of course far ahead of me lol

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - I was mate - but i still like your thhinking

[@joohop]

Earthling Your A Star Blessings From Aberystwyth

[@hunnybunnysheavymetalmusic6542]

Actually, converting an ICE into an air motor is just a case of making a new cam shaft. And while you CAN run since cylinder air motors this way, it is far better if you use a multiple cylinder motor so as to make sure that there is always some state of driving force on the crank shaft, even though you do not have the problem of having a compression stoke, it is, in effect, still a 2 stroke motor, UNLESS you valve into the actual bloc of the motor, which, at least on most common reciprocating motors, requires sealing up a whole lot of leaks, and causes quite a bit of sluggishness and wasted air, seeing as on single stroke ICE converted motors, you have to both fill and drain the entire crank case volume, every time you rotate the motor. And even if you 'pack' he crank case as much as rotational parts will permit you, it still ends up wasting as much as 4 times the volume of the actual cylinder, just to fill the extra space, and, sadly, there is no way around the need of then venting all that air. For that reason, single stroke steam engines do not have a 'crank case' but merely a single cylinder and single piston that valves both directions, and is drip-oil lubricated, instead of either using splashed, or pumped oil in continuous recirculation. I have a design for a V-8 single stroke air motor, its a bit complicated, because of how I want to build the valves, but still the same, it is extremely efficient, compared to other air motors, because of the fact that 1, it is independent of the open crank case losses, but yet still allows for a full basin oil reserve, either in 'wet sump' OR 'dry sump' configurations. I plan on building my first versions out of common PVC pipe, some Teflon, felt and a few nylon gears. Because it is running at as cool of a temperature as freezing, I aim to make it where it can run on very low viscosity oil, and also, it will be able to warm up the inlet air somewhat before entering the chambers, so as to reduce the potential of oil getting too viscous to allow the motor to run. I may even lubricate it with plain kerosene. PVC on clean Teflon and felt bearings and seals will have no problem with low viscosity oils, so long as nobody accidentally scratches or otherwise damages the surfaces while making the parts and assembling them, and so long as they don't accidentally get dirt into the system which could abrade the parts until they fail prematurely.

[@Dave_D.]

I made an air/steam engine w/ a piece of aluminum pipe for the cylinder, a threaded rod for the shaft and some teflon for the seals. A switching valve (made w/ similar, but smaller materials) allows for dual action - powered on both in and out strokes. It works pretty good on air, haven't tried it on steam.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@bertbrecht7540]

How do you have time to do all these wonderful things?

[@ekaggrat]

really great mechanism and well explained video!

[@slrnuttall]

I had a great laugh when you where acting as the "compressor." Cheers mate!

[@rsummers1974ify]

truly love all the Passion you put In too expand the minded of others. I see a vision of putting a gap thermal vent in everyone's back yard but,,, how life is now, I probly not allowed LOL 😢

[@nln1515]

Very nice, that breath powered engine sounds great.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@j.christie2594]

If could, Strap a few clergy and Polition's together, add sized up, this Air engine to a Car or Truck frame.....

[@av8navig8]

Always great content Sir, Appreciate you!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I appreciate that!

[@RyanLebeck-td5ft]

Could you feed that with a Trompe with a steady supply from a hose and a release valve? That would make it great camping generator if you are close to a waterfall or have another way to run the Trompe (like a hydraulic ram pump even with a stream)

[@Humbulla93]

zeolite could be used to capture moisture in return the zeolite gets hot preventing icing a win win so to speak, though it has to be regenerated using heat, maybe using 2 zeolite dryers would solve the problem as one gets hot thus recharging the other and vice versa

[@gerryplayz4532]

I wonder how much heat it makes like say if you had the compressor running through the middle of an expansion tank could you start off on compressed air until it warmed up then steam takes over? The outside of the tank could be covered in heat - electricity pads to recharge batteries and maybe insulate or be a way to regulate the tank temperature, with some heat memory material you'd have a temp control for the pad's contact pressure?

[@jasonmorello1374]

I have a plan to try out a variation of your graphene doped plastic as steam body parts for steam components, as I think I could possibly use a nichrome heater, or a steel flame body coupled to it, and so much of the weight would go away, and that stuff will hold its form to pretty high temps.

[@audiowan]

That is really cool indeed! It looks and sounds like it has some torque behind it... I wonder if a black coloured 50 Gal. drum in the sun shine could build up some useable air pressure? Yet one more brilliant video.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

interesting idea mate - cheers

[@Suzuki_Hiakura]

One great example of a modern adaption in cars would be some taxis in India that run off Compressed air tanks. Think they have about a 20 mile or so range between fills, but for a taxi maybe covering that distance in a few hours, it works well in the city. Was actually looking into making something similar, albeit for personal use or fun, like a largish gokart.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

in concept they are very cool

[@bobwerner6512]

Good to see you are sober LOL Airhogs long ago fun things to play with. Great Vids thanks.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@infertilepiggy5667]

these would be great if coupled with something like a trompe

[@infertilepiggy5667]

well the static one would lol, although you never cease to amaze ill probably come back and you've made a portable one somehow

[@colleenforrest7936]

You can use the cooling effect for HVAC though. And cold can be stored like heat can to be used when needed. More research needed there. Probably with how they did things in the old ice houses. And then you'd have a hot store with your sand battery storing the excess heat from the compression and a cold store from the expansion, so maybe you could get some of that energy back using a peltier chip or a Stirling engine?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

that is an interesting idea mate - thanks for sharing

[@MrRinghoe]

I just love your enthusiasm and creativity ! Thanks ! Now, pistons and flywheels are the easy parts. The challenge in an airmotor (as in steamengines) will be the valves and the timing. For an efficient engine, the "cut-off" has to be less than 10 - 15 % , to allow the air to expand properly. - And of cause, it has to adjustable, best of all stepless ;-) It took me 6 years to solve this problem . . . Looking forward to the next videos on this issue. I will bet you come with a solution that can get this wonderful engine back in peoples mind !

[@Barskor1]

Water in the air supply of a compressed air engine is not nessesarily bad if you also boil the air trapped water for extra expansion and suitably engineer it to handle the increased pressures between the air tank and the engine you have a one way valve and then a plenum or chamber that you heat then another one way valve likely a reed valve you can heat it with a resistance coil or burning a gas even an oil lamp.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@reypolice5231]

I was looking at the fact that a car air inpacked or air gun to remove bolts on tire's connected to a trompe for air and driving a simple generator would work and easy to maintain.

[@orpheuscreativeco9236]

Would the seal/friction-reduction benefit from a silicone lubricant? 🤔 Super cool build Rob!!! ✌️✨

[@willgilliam9053]

.... Ty Robert, now I want to know if anyone has been able to make a 3d printed air compressor

[@makingd.o.123]

I'm an off grid nut and us off grid folks usually need to store water like rainwater collecting if a water source isn't available or drilling a well is too expensive. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to use our water storage to make compressed air to run a generator were storing water anyways might as well use it

[@JehuMcSpooran]

I love the idea of a compressed air engine. I don't really see the wetness as in issue though. You are pulling water out of the air as a waste product and that can be rather precious in dry areas. Also the cooling of the compressed air on expansion gives you essentially free refrigeration. If you look at it in this way, it makes a lot of sense.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice one mate - i agree

[@Lil_Nuggy243]

I’m still learning about this stuff so if someone could tell me what output would I use?

[@michaelmayes9689]

Far fetched as i am, Could an air engine power a cycle by storing air compressed by pedal motion when the cycle is in motion or whilst breaking ,to be used as a boast when needed to accelerate or assist the cyclist ?.

[@aghawaqarahmad4303]

Nice thing, I love your success Laugh really

[@Vibe77Guy]

Where do you get your neodymium magnets from? I've got a project that I thing needs an axial Halbach array. Source prices vary quite a bit.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

first4magnets is one place I use also eclipse magnetics

[@Vibe77Guy]

@ThinkingandTinkering Thank you. Looking to build a paramagnetic particles brush, of sorts. Funny thing, the least expensive source for transparent plate, was buy a new aquarium (on 1/2 price sale) and deconstruct it for the glass. 3 sheets of glass, less than 1/2 the cost of a single sheet of polycarbonate of the same size.

[@donniewatson9120]

Rob, you and I have another thing in common. We're both full of enough hot air to drive an air engine.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol

[@BillDeWitt]

Of course, the real problem is how to compress the air in the first place. If you're compressing it with a gas or electric motor, you could just use the gas or electric motor instead.

[@fulloppositelock6778]

A trompe perhaps?

[@JeremyWilliams011571]

His ram pump should be able to power that.

[@seannolan1833]

If you connect magnets a push the engine with compressed air that would allow for rim generator. However gow would you safly find the max speed as i am sure the higher the rotation the more vibrations and thus unless stationary might come apart under thos vibrations

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yeah - could be mate

[@seannolan1833]

@@ThinkingandTinkering was thinking assuming you have a tank of compressed air. If you built a housing around a wheel like a water wheal but used a mag lift to reduce friction spin the wheal faster and built a small housing for the wheal to collect the sound energy to create stabilising mechanism. That would make it stable well in my mind anyway

[@JoesWebPresence]

Ah yes, the *UNUSUAL* air engine! Normal air is ok for most air engines but for the best results it's always best to use unusual air. I make my own at home, and sell it by the jar full if anyone needs some.

[@TheWorldBelow360]

Well if that ain’t the beginnings of another one of those perpetual toys.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

as long as you keep breathing it keeps running mate lol

[@kilokilos]

Liquid air is a great way to store energy. It however is very volitile to work with as when left in the sun chances are something will explode under the right conditions.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@lastchance045]

i have never "printed" anything so i would appreciate some facts about this project: 1) how long does it take to print all parts 2) what is the price of the materials? thanks

[@Delchursing]

I'm not an expert but looks around 10hrs to print and cost around 2 pounds.

[@robdagenais3023]

how about an air engine with a fluid and a steam machine also compression and or chemical gun powder

[@fredkroh6576]

Would you expect regenerative braking to work efficiently on an air engine in a car?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yes

[@j.christie2594]

Why not? Wouldn't be much gain, but even a 5% is worth it, unless making that happen is to Costly.

[@j.christie2594]

Why not? Wouldn't be much gain, but even a 5% is worth it, unless making that happen is to Costly.

[@dremaboy777]

Interesting. 👍🏾

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@Luziferne]

you have a big bellow made from blinders, don't you? Feed the bellow through a check valve into a balloon that feeds into the actual engine, presto - power and power regulation(somewhat) stick magnets onto the nuts, place any coil near the flywheel, easy makeshift generator Naturally, if you have a 3D(and not just a 2d one like me) you can print/create attachments for all of that to make it easier to hold everything together

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I do mate and i think that is an awesome idea

[@fpvoslo]

Hi My name is BM Fantastic but You just have to put a flywheel nr 2 on the other side with a set of magnets 😆See You in the next video Thanks for sharing Sir.

[@robdagenais3023]

horse power or Robert power what was it 1R,2R,3R

[@magapefarmshomestead6453]

This air engine is good but imho needs a scotch yoke

[@murdocks4304]

Hi Rob. Good to see ya

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate - you too

[@MerwinARTist]

The energy that can be found in "hot air" is amazing .. lol

[@josephdupont]

Why not use that Air motor uncompressed air jet uncompressed air generated by dropping water and separating the bubbles and have them rise before they flow out.

[@vornamenachname762]

❤Watherengine❤

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yep!

[@TheGathumpus]

have you seen this young man Tom Stanton Flying a Plane Powered by AIR

[@TuttleScott]

I was going to mention him too, he does a lot of air motors

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yes

[@angrydog4379]

Why am I thinking about wax? Take the 3D printer parts, create molds, and then cast aluminum. Will it work? No. The problem with casting is that it will be unbalanced.

[@bpark10001]

Where does the compressed air come from? From other mechanical energy of course! Steam energy gets its energy from HEAT. Most compressed air comes from electric compressors. Where does the electricity come from? Most of it comes from HEAT from burning fuel in air, converted to mechanical work by STEAM ENGINE driving electrical generator.

[@tomislavvaldec1]

newer give up!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@markhodgson2348]

Steam punk breathalyser

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - i like that! lol

[@AndreaDingbatt]

❤😅1st!!🎉

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome lol!

[@EballzNC]

great videos

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Glad you like them!