Introduction: Air Powered Bicycle.
A hybrid pushbike / compressed air powered bike.
Step 1: Find and Modify an Air Tank.
this is an old propane tank. this turns out to be a very bad idea. although the propane was emptied out, the really heavy mercapton (stinnky sulfur based molecules) were left in the bottom of the tank. even after 20 odd air refills, it still smells awful to run air from this tank. hence the nickname - "stinkbike"
Step 2: First Crazy Tandem Test
for want of a better idea, Eric is going to sit on the pannier cage and rub the chuck of the air drill (friction drive) on the wheel, that way i (saul) can pedal and steer without thinking about other thingy..
Step 3: One Person Operation.
so it actually worked and moved eric and I along at about 4 miles perhour for about 1 minute. that's all we expected from a 100psi tank. what we really need is a 4500 psi carbon fiber scuba tank. in theory that should give 250 watts worth of power for about an hour. that would be way cool. also need more efficient motor directly in drive train to really accomplish this.
Step 4: Test It.
the one hand operation is difficult.
particularly when the brake handle is on the same side as the hand required for the throttle operation...
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162 Comments
6 years ago
how can i download pdf of this project
11 years ago on Introduction
Have the propane tank full of propane and use that. No combustion, just propane pressure. Don't fall. =D
Reply 7 years ago
even in a standing state propane can vary in pressure from 3 to 70 psi
Reply 7 years ago
Yeah, propane is a terrible propellant used that way. Besides the flammability, and the smell of the gas leak detection, the tank will get cold and start putting out no pressure on cold days, & on hot days will give loads of pressure.
Air is much better.
9 years ago on Introduction
Your tank's 100psi - but what's its actual capacity..?
Reply 7 years ago
the pressure in a propane tank can get to 325 psi easily. they are rated to about 375 psi. in order to safely have that rating each tank is tested at 900 psi.
Reply 7 years ago
thanks
9 years ago on Step 4
Join www.motorbicycling.com . It is for kit-built as well as homebuilt motorized bikes. If you google "compressed air bike" you will likely find many examples from which you can gather ideas. It is good you are thinking about modifying bikes. Compressed air is a difficult way to power a bike, so it should really stir up a lot of creativity. Good job.
11 years ago on Step 3
The proper way to do this would be to build an air turbine engine and connect that to your tank. Modified tesla turbine maybe?
11 years ago on Step 4
Only looking to go about 5mi, to/from my carpool. Think this would make it on a 20Lb propane cylinder? How high a pressure might required?
15 years ago on Step 4
pretty fly.. ....for a white guy
Reply 11 years ago on Step 4
nice (i love the offspring)
14 years ago on Introduction
Hmmm, you might want to try CO2 with multiple motors and make a mechanical drive. Just a suggestion. Or you could use a turbine, maybe a tesla. That would be interesting.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
the whole reason someone would use compressed air would be to go green, instead of using a gas engine. why in the world would someone use one of the gases that is causing all of the trouble with global warming. we are trying to get rid of co2 not produce more. the compressed air is a way better idea then co2!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I was saying you might use the compressed air to run a tesla turbine. A tesla turbine isn't a type of jet engine, it's just the power part, kinda like an axial flow turbine, but just a different type. And a lot more efficient (up to 95% efficiency), so you don't waste as much of the energy used to compress the air in the first place. See what I'm saying?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Your not talking about the c02 which what im talking about. I said, why would you use one of the gasses that we are trying to remove from the atmosphere. We are trying to reduce co2 emmisions, and no matter what kind of turbine or motor you use, the air will always be vented back into the atmosphere. We are trying to remove co2 from that atmosphere, which is why he made an AIR powered bike. If the air is vented back, it will do no harm. co2 will increase the green house effect. Do you see what I'M saying?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I think by co2 he meant a c02 tank, filled with air.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I can't tell which one of us you're talking to.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Why dont you just read what you wrote and read what he is saying to you?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Not you too! ; ) I figured it out a little bit after I posted the comment.