The Potential of the Gas-Turbine Vehicle in Alleviating Air Pollution

Abstract

The author examines the potential of the gas turbine in alleviating air pollution as a replacement for presently used vehicular reciprocating engines. Automobiles receive particular emphasis because of the magnitude of their contribution to the problem. Emissions of gas-turbine engines are compared with those of gasoline reciprocating engines, and other important characteristics relevant to the problem (such as engine power output, reliability, transmissions, vehicle performance, fuel consumption, and manufacturing cost) are discussed. It is concluded that widespread adoption of vehicular gas-turbine engines can — provided these engines can be produced and operated at costs competitive with those of future reciprocating engines — can virtually eliminate automotive air pollution as a source of serious environmental concern.

Design Study of an Advanced Concept Simple Gas Turbine for Possible Use in Low Emission Automobiles

“…The use of gas turbines has frequently been identified as a potential solution to the increasing demand for a major reduction of automobile exhaust emissions (1) facturing cost study of automobile gas turbines by United Aircraft Corporation (2,3). The overall costs and feasibility of several types of gas turbine were compared with the current reciprocating engine.…”