The document discusses the development of compressed air technology vehicles, highlighting the work of Charles B. Hodges and Guy Nègre in creating engines powered by compressed air. These vehicles offer significant ecological and economical advantages, with features like automatic gear changes, regenerative braking, and a clean exhaust system. Compressed air vehicles are presented as a non-polluting, cost-effective alternative to traditional and electric vehicles, boasting fast recharge times and impressive performance capabilities.

1. COMPRESSED AIR TECHNOLOGY
VEHICLES
PRESENTED BY:
KESHAV GOYAL

2. Objectives
In this module, you will learn :
INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSED AIR TECHNOLOGY
OPERATING PRINCIPLES OF MDI AIR CAR ENGINE
DESIGN OF COMPRESSED AIR VEHICLE
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE
TECHNOLOGIES IMPLEMENTED IN DESIGN OF
VARIOUS SYSTEMS IN AIR CAR.

3. INTRODUCTION
• Charles B. Hodges is remembered as true father of
compressed air concept being the first person to invent a
car driven by compressed air.
• Guy Nègre, a French engineer and head of R&D facility
at Moteur Development International designed a low
consumption and low pollution engine that runs on
compressed air.
• He invented a dual-energy engine running on both
compressed air as well as on gasoline; then managed to
create a compressed air only engine.
• Compressed air is a new viable form of power that allows
the accumulation and transport of energy.

4. INTRODUCTION
• CAT vehicles are powered by air engine which uses
compressed air as fuel.
• Focus on developing ecological energies; conceive and
produce non pollutant vehicles and systems.
• CAT vehicles have significant economical and
environmental advantages.
• With incorporation of bi-energy CAT vehicles have
increased driving range to close to 2000 km with zero
pollution in cities.

5. COMPRESSED AIR ENGINE
 Developed between end of 2001 and beginning of 2002.
 Two technologies have been invented to meet different needs: Single
energy compressed air engines and Dual energy compressed air
engines.
 Engine will be able to use gasoline, gas oil, bio-diesel, liquidized gas,
ecological fuel, alcohol etc.
 Engines will be available with 2,4 and 6 cylinders.
 Oil change is only necessary every 50,000 km.

6. CONSTRACTION OF CAT CHASSIS

7. METHODANDDEVICESFORELIMINATINGPOLLUTIONOF
INTERNALCOMBUSTIONENGINES

8. METHODANDDEVICEFORADDITIONALTHERMALHEATING

9. FIG-2

10. FIG-3

11. FIG-4

12. PROCESSDESCRIPTION

13. ARTICULATED CON-ROD
 The MDI con-rod system allows the piston to be held at Top Dead Centre for
70 degrees of the crank rotation, so enough time is given to create the
pressure in the cylinder.

14. DISTRIBUTION AND VALVES
 Simple electromagnetic distribution system which controls the flow of
air to engine.
 No clutch is necessary. The engine is idle when car is stationary and
vehicle is started by magnetic plate which re- engages the compressed
air.
 While car is running on fossil fuels, the compressor refills the
compressed air tanks.
 The control system maintains a zero pollution emission in city at
speeds up to 60 km/h.

15. GEAR BOX AND MOTO-ALTERNATOR
 Gear changes are automatic, powered by electronic system developed
by MDI.
 This gearbox achieves the objectives of seamless changes and minimal
energy consumption.
 Moto-alternator connects the engine to the gearbox, supports the
CAT´s motor to allow the tanks to be refilled, as an alternator it
produces brake power, starts the vehicle and provides extra power
when necessary.

16. COMPRESSED AIR TANKS
 The compressed air tank is a
glass or carbon-fiber tank,
holding 80 kg of air
compressed to 300 bars.
 This system is not dangerous as
in the case of a major accident,
where the tanks are ruptured,
they would not explode since
they are not made of metal,
instead they would crack,
as they are made of carbon fiber.
 The tanks in CATs vehicles are composed
of an interior thermoplastic container which
ensures it is airtight, is held in a coiled and
crossed carbon fiber shell.

17. BRAKE POWER RECOVERY AND BODY DESIGN
 The MDI vehicles will be equipped with a range of modern systems, i.e. one
mechanism stops the engine when the car is stationary (at traffic lights,
junctions etc.)
 Another interesting feature is regenerative braking system which recovers
about 13% of the power used.
 The MDI car body is built with fiber and injected foam.
 Two main advantages: cost and weight.
 Nowadays the use of sheet steel for car bodies is only because it is cheaper to
serially produce sheet steel bodies than fiber ones, however, fiber is safer (it
doesn´t cut like steel), is easier to repair (it is glued), doesn´t rust etc.

18. AIR CAR COMPONENTS

19. THE AIR FILTER AND THE CHASSIS DESIGN
 Before compression, the air must be filtered to get rid of any impurities that
could damage the engine; carbon filters are used to eliminate dirt, dust,
humidity and other particles; the exhaust pipe on the MDI cars produces
clean air, which is cold on exit (between -15º and 0º) and is harmless to
human life.
 MDI has put together highly-resistant, yet light, chassis, aluminum rods glued
together; using rods enables to build a more shock-resistant chassis than
regular chassis. Additionally, the rods are glued in the same way as aircraft,
allowing quick assembly and a more secure join than with welding, helps to
reduce manufacture time.

20. AIR CAR BODY

21. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND OTHER FEATURES
 Guy Nègre acquired the patent for an interesting invention for installing
electrics in a vehicle; using a radio transmission system, each electrical
component receives signals with a microcontroller.
 The air car body is tubular and is held together using aerospace technology.
 Air car does not have normal speed gauges. Instead it has small computer
screen that shows the engine speed.
 In single energy mode, it consumes less than euro every 100 km that is to say
about 6 times lesser than a gasoline powered car.

22. COST, REFUELLING & MILEAGE
 The Air Car could cost around Rs. 3.45 lacs in India.
 It would have a range of around 160-300 km between refuels.
 The cost of a refill would be about Rs. 120
 The car has a top speed of 105 Kmph (about 65mph).
 Its mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car (200
to 300 km or 10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice
in cities where 80% of motorists drive at less than 60 Km.

23. COMPARISON WITH ELECTRICAL VEHICLES

24. REFUELLING

25. SUMMARY
 Compressed air technology allows for engines that are both non-polluting and economical.
 Unlike electric and hydrogen powered vehicles, compressed air vehicles are not expensive
and do not have a limited driving range.
 Compressed air vehicles are affordable and have a performance rate that stands up to
current standards.
 The air car is a clean, easy to drive, high performance car. MDI has achieved what the large
car manufactures have promised in a hundred years time.
 The end product is a light weight vehicle that can reach speeds up to 220 km/h (even
though the legal limit is 120), does not pollute like twentieth century vehicles and does not
take a lifetime to pay off.
 The principle advantages for an air powered vehicle are: Fast recharge time; Long storage
lifetime (electric vehicle batteries have a limited useful number of cycles, and sometimes a
limited calendar lifetime, irrespective of use); Potentially lower initial cost than battery
electric vehicles when mass produced.