S2000 Under The Hood S2000 Technical and Mechanical discussions.

A theory I have been thinking about - oxygen instead of nitrous?

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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 02:16 PM
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Default A theory I have been thinking about

It may have been thought of already (probably) but from a basic understanding of Nitrous...During the combustion reaction the Nitrous molecule breaks apart thus causing more Oxygen Atoms to be available during combustion therefore = more power. So the theory:

Could you use pure compressed oxygen instead of Nitrous in the same way. Wouldn't giving the engine a shot of pure compressed oxygen increase power in a similar way as Nitrous does. And wouldn't this make squeezing a little less harsh of the engine? I appreciate any thoughts you have. Thanks.

Ryan
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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 04:02 PM
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Theoretically yes....

However don't forget that the Nitrogen portion aids in the cooling of the intake charge, which contributes to power gain.
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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 04:11 PM
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by OverBooster
It may have been thought of already (probably) but from a basic understanding of Nitrous...During the combustion reaction the Nitrous molecule breaks apart thus causing more Oxygen Atoms to be available during combustion therefore = more power.
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 09:39 AM
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by CrazyPhuD
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 10:01 AM
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Also oxygen go boom. Nitrous is generally more stable and less explosive. Pure oxygen is extremely volatile. The Saturn V rocket was powered by Kerosine and liquid Oxygen.
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 01:56 PM
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Although I believe in the possibility of the possibility that a Tom edison or a Nicholas Tesla or an Alex Bell, pretty much working alone on an idea, can come up with a Eureka breathrough, it is rare these days, esp in the "macro" world of mechanical engineering. The breakthrough today are in theoretical physics, and nano-technology.

So generally, an idea like yours will come up against a hard place pretty quick, having, as they say in The Law, been "asked and answered". Unfortunately for all of us, that is the case here.

crazyphud had an excellent answer, but even if your car survived the oxygen's heat injection, I doubt the A/F system would be prepared to dump enough fuel to prevent you from going dangerously lean. Now, a lot of time spent with fuel adjustmnent software, bigger injectors etc. might be able to offset this, but all the while you will risk engine damage.

Plus, there are safety issues - a fuel fire under the hood, or in the rear from a rear-end crash, would become an inferno if compressed oxygen hit it - your car would become a Saturn 5 booster for a second or two, and anyone in the car would be at tremendous risk. Remember what the compressed air did to the mega shark at the end of "Jaws"?

If you want to go the more air/more fuel = more power route, I think that NOS has been carefully thought out and all the major risks carefully considered and compensated.

Keep thinking, Edison - you might hit on something that IS a brreakthrough. I hope you do, and I hope it is cheap to boot!
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 02:07 PM
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Amending your title so future searches will be more productive.
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 04:04 PM
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The amount of pure O2 injected would be adjusted to match the required power, so I don't feel the injectors would have a problem with it, per se...if you require X number of moles of N2O for Y whp, you would require X/2 moles of pure O2 for the same Y whp. This also means there is no direct issue with melting metal as you only pump in as much oxygen as required for the extra boost (disregarding the quenching effect of Nitrogen for the moment).

My chem books are packed away, so I'd appreciate it if someone could post the energy difference required to separate the O from N2O versus separating an O2 molecule into individual O atoms. I have a feeling the pure O2 would more readily give up the O atoms (i.e., require less input energy), but I can't say offhand.

Advantages would be a smaller tank (or longer spray) for the same hp boost...roughly a third of the size. Again, the chem books are packed away, but I believe O2 molecules are more tightly packed than N2O (on an atom for atom basis), which tend to take on a longer, more linear shape (if memory serves, the angle is 180 degrees).

The disadvantages, as have already been mentioned, are numerous. The nitrogen acts as a buffer to the combustion process (not as a coolant, as previously mentioned...this is provided by the phase change from liquid to gas, and liquid O2 would also provide this cooling power), slowing it down and acting as a coolant. Pure O2 is such a fast oxidizer, it is downright nasty stuff once introduced to a fire. I don't believe it's as nasty when in liquid form, but it's a vapor at atmospheric pressures, so that doesn't help us.
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 04:11 PM
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I know that if pure oxygen flows over oil it will spontaneously combust. I would assume the same holds true for gas, as it is just a refined oil.
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 04:59 PM
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by fperra
I know that if pure oxygen flows over oil it will spontaneously combust.
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