Some Engineers have suggested that air compressed into tanks can be used to prop

Question

Some Engineers have suggested that air compressed into tanks can be used to propel personal transportation vehicles. Current compressed air tank technology permits us to compress and safety hold air at up to 4000 psia. Tanks made of composite materials require about 10 lbm of construction materials for each 1 ft^3 of stored gas. Approximately 0.01 hp is required per pound of vehicle weight to move a vehicle at a speed of 30 miles per hour. What is the maximum range that this vehicle can have? Account for the weight of the tank only and assume perfect conversion of the energy in the compressed air.

Explanation / Answer

P = 4000 psia = 27,579,029.2 N/m^2 ? = M/V = 10 lbm/ft^3 = 0.45359237 kg/0.0283168466 m^3 = 16.0185 kg/m^3 HP = 0.01 (hp/lb)*M = 16.4398681*M W/kg v = 30 miles/hour = 13.4112 m / s Energy required to maximum distance, E = F*s......(1) HP = F.v F = Hp/v.....(2) (2)-->(1) E = HP*s / v....(3) Energy maximum from compressed tank, E = P*V...(4) (4)-->(3) P*V = HP*s / v, with ? = M/V--> V = M/? P*M/? = HP*s / v s = P*M*v/ ? HP = 27,579,029.2 [N/m^2]*M*13.4112 [m / s] / 16.0185 kg/m^3*16.4398681*M W s = 1,404,512.46 m = 1,404.512 km ~ 872.723296 miles Edit Pressure is absolute, so P = 27,479,029.2 (minus 1 atm~1 bar) distance should be = 1,404.512 km - 5.1 km = 1,399.412 km or s = 869.554303 miles

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