Questions about my thesis plans

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of designing and fabricating a low power alternator connected to a car exhaust, utilizing a wind turbine driven by smoke emissions. Participants explore the potential power output and applications of this concept, as well as the challenges associated with it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a novel project involving a low power alternator powered by a wind turbine using car exhaust emissions, questioning its feasibility and potential power output.
  • Another participant raises concerns about the practicality of the project, noting that obstructing the exhaust with a turbine could lead to low engine performance and reduced energy generation.
  • A third participant expresses difficulty in proposing a thesis topic to their adviser, indicating a broader context of academic exploration.
  • A fourth participant shares links to research articles on automotive alternators, suggesting that there has been significant recent research in this area, including the application of modern control theory to enhance power output.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the feasibility of the proposed project. There are competing views regarding the practicality of using a turbine in the exhaust system and the potential energy output.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on assumptions about engine performance and the efficiency of energy extraction methods. The discussion does not resolve the technical challenges posed by the proposed design.

jecuen
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Hello I'm a fifth year electrical engineering student. i am planning to design and fabricate a low power alternator connected to a car exhaust. it's prime mover is a wind turbine run by the smoke emissions so that the smoke can still b useful. i just wanted to make something new because i think there are many projects made on piezoelectricity,TEGs and the like. is this a possible thing to make? and please can it make it to a power in Watts or just milliwatts? I'm also thinking for what i can use this power? thanks!
 
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There is a bit of a problem with your suggested project. An IC engine needs to have low exhaust back pressure, if you obstruct the exhaust with a turbine the engine will not work well. The energy you generate will probably be less than the engines energy reduction by obstructing the exhaust. It would be better to extract energy from the alternator fitted to the engine.
 
ok thanks, I'm having trouble proposing a thesis topic to my adviser. xD
 
i have noticed there's been substantial research into automotive alternators of late.

Some interesting articles:

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=560180&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fiel3%2F4112%2F12219%2F00560180.pdf%3Farnumber%3D560180

These fellows use modern control theory to get more power out of an ordinary alternator
http://www.rle.mit.edu/per/JournalPapers/JPtpemay04p618.pdf


this young fellow optimized a control scheme for using them on wind turbines
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=1x9Ae72SSicuAXq7xETdnA&bvm=bv.66330100,d.aWw
 

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