Nitrous oxide as energy source - in torque-generating combustion engines, or for assisting in motor ignition

摘要

Nitrous oxide is used, opt. with other known fuels, in combustion motors producing torque, e.g. in petrol or diesel engines for vehicles. It is also used to assist ignition in such motors of fuels which ignite with difficulty. (1) N2O is an endothermic cpd. which decomposes when exposed to a spark evolving heat, according to the equation 2N2O = 2N2 +O2+39 kcal; (2) it has high oxidising power, giving up oxygen very readily, so that fuels burn in it more readily than in air. (3) it does not combine with water, oxygen or NO and forms no corrosive cpds. (4) it explodes by appropriate ignition in presence of hydrogen or CO, to give nitrogen and waer or CO2; (5) it is non-polluting and causes no loung damage, (6) it can be used in liquefied form, e.g. in steel cylinder, (7) it requires no expensive refineries as used for petroleum, (8) i decomposes into nitrogen and oxygen, the existing constituents of air and (9) its use would allow reduction in dependence on imported energy carriers.