Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
Steam might not be the ideal fuel for an engine. But possibly using some other source of existing heat (such as tire and brake friction) to convert to electrical or compressive energy would be a better use of heat exchange. When added to the electric plant of an EV, it could provide additional power for acceleration, or help to power on-board devices.
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Steam is NOT fuel! It is an energy transfer medium, just as mechanical drive shafts or electricity are. In the case of steam propulsion, fuel is used to heat water in boilers, causing a phase transformation from liquid to gas (steam), which is then piped to an engine that converts the heat energy in the steam to mechanical energy to, in the case of an automobile, turn the drive wheels.
The advantage of steam for automobiles is that it can directly turn heat in the form of high temperatures into rotational mechanical energy. It is not the only way, nor at the scale of passenger vehicles is it the most efficient. The disadvantages, as has been noted, is the danger of steam leaks, and the weight and complexity of the various systems involved.
Some lower temperature liquid/gas cycle e.g. Freon, or CO2, or ammonia might be viable though.