CRYOGENIC HEAT ENGINE

摘要

A classroom demonstration is described which illustrates how a cryogenic fluid, liquid nitrogen, can be used to run an open-cycle engine and do work. A brief analysis on the utility of liquid nitrogen for doing work shows some surprising results in comparison with lead/acid batteries. The specific energy (the work per unit mass) is found to be higher for liquid nitrogen while the energy cost is found to be about an order of magnitude lower. (C) 1996 American Association of Physics Teachers. [References: 4]