A Design Meeting in Another Universe
This never happened.
The Boss: Welcome to today’s working session. Based on Joe’s groundbreaking realization that we could put wheels on things and use them for transportation we have a great new opportunity. What did you call it, Joe?
Joe: A vehicle.
The Boss: Vehicle. It’s got a great ring to it. Sounds like the future. We’ll see if it works for the folks in marketing. Okay, it sounds like we have decided on four wheels, and to have the front wheels to be used for steering. Team Alpha is designing that right now. We have to design a propulsion and drive method.
Sally: We have to set forth some design requirements. Here’s what we have so far: reliable, good range, easy to build.
The Boss: Those are good. Gotta know what success is.
Gary: I think I have it figured out. I was drawing up some ideas. It’s a little something I call an “engine”.
The Boss: Nice. Okay, let’s get into it. Lay it out for us, Gary.
Gary walks up to the erasable board and in blue ink begins drawing a rectangle as he describes the engine.
Gary: The essence of my idea is explosions.
Joe: Explosions?
Gary: I know it sounds a bit crazy, but hear me out. The explosions will be within this big iron case. We’ll combine a flammable fuel with pressure, air and a spark and cause a bunch of explosions.
The Boss: How flammable is the fuel?
Gary: Like extremely flammable. We can make it with less flammable fuel but we’d need a different mechanism and more pressure. Anywho, we’ll synchronize these explosions within the case so they happen in a specific timing, putting the spark to the fuel at just the right time.
Joe: How fast is this happening?
Gary: Quite fast. Maybe a thousand times per minute.
The Boss: Impressive.
Gary: Here’s where it gets good. Each explosion will drive a cylinder down and they will, together, make a shaft rotate. This we can use to propell the vehicle.
The Boss: Seems so obvious now that you’ve said it. Any questions, team?
Sally: How much fuel will it need, Gary?
Gary: My calculation is that it will take approximately three gallons per hour for a normal vehicle that carries four people.
Sally: So we’ll need a lot. Where do we get it at scale?
Gary: We’ll drill for ancient deposits of biomass that have become oil. From there we’ll move it to plants where it will be refined into a suitable fuel. Thinking of calling them “refineries”.
Sally: I see. One more question. What about the residual materials from these explosions? Where does it go?
Gary: Easy. We’ll collect it and route it out of the vehicle, probably at the back as it will be pretty nasty stuff and you will not want it blowing into your face while driving.
The Boss: So more fuel makes it go faster, and the vehicle then goes faster. We just blow the waste out the back. Simplicity.
Gary: Sort of. We’ll need to add some gearing to change the torque ratio at different speeds. In fact, this part could get complicated. The other thing is that there will be substantial friction and heat from these fast moving metal parts. Lubrication will be very important. We’ll probably use a version of the oil refined just for that purpose. Let’s add that to the open item list.
The Boss: Gee. I thought this would be hard, but Gary has this well thought out. A big round of applause for…
Joe: Excuse me!
The Boss: Sorry, Joe. You’ve been very quiet. Something to add?
Joe: Impressive stuff, Gary. Really. Just seems we could do it much simpler.
Gary: Um. Okay.
The Boss: Go ahead, Joe. What have you got for us?
Joe: Why not store electrical energy in rechargeable storage devices in the vehicle, and have electric motors driving the wheels directly? Plenty of torque. No explosions. No gears. No oil. No waste out the back.
Team looks at Joe, and then in unison turns to look at Gary.
The Boss: Hmmm. So it’s a vehicle, but an electric one. What do you think about that, Gary?
Gary: I guess that could work, too.
