Response time would be one of steams solvable problems. There has not been much research on this aspect in the last hundred years, but off the top of my head.
1. Response time is already great, You have a reservoir of instantly available energy in the form of steam pressure ready to go whenever you need it. look up steam engines slipping their wheels, in fact one big problem with steam is that it is much easier to apply too much energy. Same problem with electric. they need a good torque management system to deliver only the power that is needed.
2. The reservoir response time is too long, Probably not a problem, that is the whole point of having a reservoir, but if it is, make it faster, fire tube boilers, more surface area, etc, a solvable problem. Consider the response time of the reservoir of an electric car. it is far worse than any steam engine, yet you say it has a faster response time.
No the real reason we don't use steam cars is that the engines are more expensive than internal combustion engines without all that much benefit.
It's not solvable. Yes, temporary response is a thing. But if I'm driving around town but then go on a freeway then what? Does it always over-produce around town? Or does it take time to build the new head of steam needed for the freeway?
Also consider how complex a thing you are proposing vs a gas and electric simple solution of "more input gives more output now."
That said, as neat as steam cars are, there is a reason internal combustion engines won. Probably because they are smaller, lighter and most importantly cheaper.
Comments
Response time would be one of steams solvable problems. There has not been much research on this aspect in the last hundred years, but off the top of my head.
1. Response time is already great, You have a reservoir of instantly available energy in the form of steam pressure ready to go whenever you need it. look up steam engines slipping their wheels, in fact one big problem with steam is that it is much easier to apply too much energy. Same problem with electric. they need a good torque management system to deliver only the power that is needed.
2. The reservoir response time is too long, Probably not a problem, that is the whole point of having a reservoir, but if it is, make it faster, fire tube boilers, more surface area, etc, a solvable problem. Consider the response time of the reservoir of an electric car. it is far worse than any steam engine, yet you say it has a faster response time.
No the real reason we don't use steam cars is that the engines are more expensive than internal combustion engines without all that much benefit.
It's not solvable. Yes, temporary response is a thing. But if I'm driving around town but then go on a freeway then what? Does it always over-produce around town? Or does it take time to build the new head of steam needed for the freeway?
Also consider how complex a thing you are proposing vs a gas and electric simple solution of "more input gives more output now."
Here is how they solved it in 1925. I feel with our many modern advancements we could do much better.
https://youtube.com/v/rUg_ukBwsyo?t=1012
That said, as neat as steam cars are, there is a reason internal combustion engines won. Probably because they are smaller, lighter and most importantly cheaper.