Ask A Scientist© Engineering Archive

Index Key:   ENG039
Author:      jon w canvin
Subject:     Possibility of non-polluting engine design.
Can you make a non-polluting engine?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      david r munoz
Unfortunately, Jon, there is no way that I know of to make a non-polluting
engine.  The engine that comes the closest would not really be an engine as
in the conventional internal combustion engine.  The engine that I have in
mind would be a combination fuel cell that converts hydrogen into electrici-
ty which is then used in an electric motor to make a car move.  The problem
is you have to make the hydrogen some how (or I should say you have to
separate the hydrogen from water or some other molecule that compound that
contains hydrogen).
All internal combustion engines that burn hydrocarbons pollute.  The best
you can hope for in this engine burning a fuel like gasoline (a hydrocarbon)
is that it emits only CO2 and water vapor.  However, this is never realized
in real life because not all of the hydrocarbon is burned, also the engine
is usually not turning at a constant speed, therefore making the emissions
difficult (if not impossible) to eliminate).