Saturday, October 27, 2007
Ballroom Posters (Greenville Hyatt Regency Hotel)
682

A Nanoparticle Based Combustion Engine: Theory and Experiment

Jason Lackey and Thomas Manning. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA

The combustion of cellulose and lignin based materials has been used by mankind for heat and energy. Currently our society is largely powered by the rapid combustion of hydrocarbons. In this project, a hypothetical engine, based on nanoparicles of wood or coal is proposed. With a dramatically increased surface area of nanowood or nanocaol verses the bulk products, the ability of these materials to be ignited by a spark and generate enough energy to drive a piston is explored. The nanoparticles are driven through the system by pressurized air, which also plays a role in preventing the escape of greenhouse gases. Secondly, the heat from the engine coupled the pressure in the closed loop system is used to convert carbon dioxide gas into a supercritical fluid, which is stored and later discharged for use in plant growth. Experimental data from bomb calorimeter studies as well as details of our micro and nanowood generator will be used to show the feasibility and advantages of an environmentally friendly nanowood or a nanocoal combustion engine.