Power Plant Efficiency and Internal combustion engine

drive train (engine/transmission) efficiency

• continuously variable transmission

• cylinder deactivation

• direct fuel injection

• integrated stater/generator

• turbochargers and superchargers

• variable valve timing and lift 

continuously variable transmission

• variable diameter pulleys liked by chain or belt

• create infinite amount of gear ratios

• limits revving per minute at any speed

• reduce fuel consumption

cylinder deactivation

• deactivate while cruising

• reactive when accelerating

• no drop in preformance with tons of them

direct fuel injection

• directing inserted into cylinder barrel

• more efficient combustion, as no interactions

• no fuel and air were mixed

integrated starter/generator

engine shuts down and restarts when stopped rather than idle

turbochargers and super chargers

• fans powered by exhaust and engine 

• fans force compressed air into cylinders to allow more fuel to be burned per piston stroke

• more power, less fuel

variable valve timing and lift

• control the flow of fuel and air in cylinder

• control flow of exhaust out cylinder

• distance the valves travel to change in line with speed of engine

aerodynamics and weight reduction

• lighter materials

• ride height

• vortex generators

• wheels

lighter materials

use carbon fibers and lighter metals to increase efficiency while maintaining durability and stength

ride height

• low vehicle frames exposed to less drag due to less air exposed to rough underside and bottom tire tread

• air dam fitted below front bumper reduces drag 

• increase fuel milage by deflected air from bottom of car

vortex generators

• small delta shaped roof mounted devices in fron of rear view window

• reduce drag by causing air to flow along rear windshield and trunk lid

• properly sized, shaped and positioned spoilers can reduce drag too

wheels

• thinner, lighter, low rolling resistance tires reduce road friction and air drag

• increae fuel mileage

• fully closed concave rims are more aerodynamic

coal power generator

• source is coal

• chemical → thermal → mechanical → electrical

• waste: heat, sound, light

• pros: cheap, reliable

• cons: greenhouse gas, non-renewable

natural gas power generators

• source is fossil fuels

• chemical → thermal → mechanical → electrical

• waste: heat, sound

• pros: reliable, large amounts of energy

• cons: greenhouse gasses, pollution

hydroelectric power generator

• source is flowing water (gravitational potential and kinetic energy)

• gravitational potential energy → mechanical → electrical

• waste: heat, sound

• pros: reliable, lots of energy produced

• cons: flooding, greenhouse gasse, destroy habitat

nuclear power generator

• source is nuclear fission (energy stored in nucleus of an atom)

• nuclear → thermal → mechanical → electrical

• waste: sound, heat

• pros: reliable, no greenhouse gasses, energy from small amount of fuel

• cons: dangerous radioactive waste

geothermal power generation

• source is thermal

• thermal → kinetic → electrical

• waste: heat, sound

• pros: reliable, small station

• cons: harmful gasses, not suitable everywhere

wind power generation

• source is wind

• kinetic → mechanical → electrical

• waste: heat, sound

• pros: renewable, no greenhouse gasses, land for farming

• cons: ugly, loud, not reliable, not suitable everywhere

solar power generation

• source is sun (electromagnetic radiation)

• electromagnetic → electrical

• waste: sound, heat

• pros: no greenhouse gas/pollution, energy for remote places

• cons: not reliable, use lot of farm land

PETE

• more efficient solar pannel

• uses heat and sun radiation to make electrical energy