Comments on: Fuel scams: An Australian tradition http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/ the blog that is not dansdata.com Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:21:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: derrida derider http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5678 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:46:39 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5678 As Dan has pointed out in earlier posts, the laws of thermodynamics set strict limits on the efficiency of ANY heat engine, whatever its design. Aint no such thing as a free lunch in this area - I can confidently predict that no gadget or new engine design will produce much advance on present technology. When I first heard about Firepower I immediately knew on these grounds it had to be a scam. So how come it got so much favourable press, got listed on the stock exchange and sucked in supposedly shrewd investors? Unfortunately the scientific ignorance of journos is profound, but they had only to have a chat about it with any engineer or physicist to have got themselves a tremendous scoop. As Dan has pointed out in earlier posts, the laws of thermodynamics set strict limits on the efficiency of ANY heat engine, whatever its design. Aint no such thing as a free lunch in this area - I can confidently predict that no gadget or new engine design will produce much advance on present technology.

When I first heard about Firepower I immediately knew on these grounds it had to be a scam. So how come it got so much favourable press, got listed on the stock exchange and sucked in supposedly shrewd investors? Unfortunately the scientific ignorance of journos is profound, but they had only to have a chat about it with any engineer or physicist to have got themselves a tremendous scoop.

]]> by: infojunkie http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5635 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:05:00 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5635 You may be interested in the revetec story another Aussie motor. I saw it demonstrated at the Sydney motor show in the 90s and have been following it over the years. it is apparently nearing production now in China and Brazil with testing and possible interest in Germany. http://www.revetec.com/ You may be interested in the revetec story another Aussie motor. I saw it demonstrated at the Sydney motor show in the 90s and have been following it over the years. it is apparently nearing production now in China and Brazil with testing and possible interest in Germany.
http://www.revetec.com/

]]> by: Alan http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5626 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:06:00 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5626 Where did I read about "tuned" exhaust pipes on 2-stroke motorbikes? Damn, my memory is getting fuzzy. Aaaanyway, I had the thought of feeding the exhaust into the top of a second cylinder, at 90 degrees to the first- creating a sort of Stirling Engine. I don't claim to be any type of engineer, but I'll happily accept donations to build a prototype... Where did I read about "tuned" exhaust pipes on 2-stroke motorbikes? Damn, my memory is getting fuzzy.

Aaaanyway, I had the thought of feeding the exhaust into the top of a second cylinder, at 90 degrees to the first- creating a sort of Stirling Engine.
I don't claim to be any type of engineer, but I'll happily accept donations to build a prototype...

]]> by: steveg http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5619 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:07:45 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5619 @phrantic: Also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McBride_%28doctor%29" title="William McBride" rel="nofollow">William McBride</a> famous for his work on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide" title="thalidomide" rel="nofollow">thalidomide</a> and, later in his career, making stuff up. My mum took thalidomide while I was baking. Didn't hurt me none. ("What? It's cold, dammit. It's supposed to be that size.") A sentence of 8 to 12 too long? Well... perhaps for the offense, but sometimes things work out quite well... I'm thinking here of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Eastman" rel="nofollow">David Eastman</a> incarcerated for the murder of ACT Police Commisoner <a href="http://www.afp.gov.au/about/publications/platypus_magazine/platypus_magazine_previous_editions/1999/october_1999/murder.html" rel="nofollow">Colin Winchester</a>. I know people who had to deal with him prior to that; from what I heard even if he didn't commit the murder he deserves to be behind bars. Justice schmustice, sometimes, accidentally the world ends up a better place, process be damned. @phrantic: Also William McBride famous for his work on thalidomide and, later in his career, making stuff up. My mum took thalidomide while I was baking. Didn't hurt me none. ("What? It's cold, dammit. It's supposed to be that size.")

A sentence of 8 to 12 too long? Well... perhaps for the offense, but sometimes things work out quite well... I'm thinking here of David Eastman incarcerated for the murder of ACT Police Commisoner Colin Winchester. I know people who had to deal with him prior to that; from what I heard even if he didn't commit the murder he deserves to be behind bars. Justice schmustice, sometimes, accidentally the world ends up a better place, process be damned.

]]> by: phrantic http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5618 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:17:20 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5618 TTFK: Quality of work seems to have no memory. Just because someone's last 10 projects have been world-changingly positive doesn't meant their next one won't be an utter failure, or worse, woo. It always reminds me of Dr John Dee, who did some wonderful work in mathematics, chemistry, astronomy etc., but ended his career on the run and hiding in shame from his former royal patrons because he allowed a man to convince him he could talk to angels. Through a stone. On a magic table. TTFK: Quality of work seems to have no memory. Just because someone's last 10 projects have been world-changingly positive doesn't meant their next one won't be an utter failure, or worse, woo.

It always reminds me of Dr John Dee, who did some wonderful work in mathematics, chemistry, astronomy etc., but ended his career on the run and hiding in shame from his former royal patrons because he allowed a man to convince him he could talk to angels. Through a stone. On a magic table.

]]> by: TTFK http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5617 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:11:09 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5617 When it comes to split-cycle engines, they are actually in development by legitimate going concerns, of which is being designed right around the corner from where I work. Most interesting is the air-hybrid design they are working on that theoretically will recapture and reuse a fair portion of energy on each cycle. As for the chops of the inventor, Carlo Scuderi's resume is beyond reproach. This is a man who helped test NASA's space suit designs, helped design the Mark-48 Torpedo among other things. His biggest achivement, however (from his bio): In 1992, Scuderi developed a compressor technology to prevent the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere in response to a key United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate. His oil-less compressor was conceived and introduced within a period of six months and captured 70 percent of the refrigerant recovery market within one year. In 2005, Discovery Magazine credited this development as one of the reasons for the ongoing repair of the ozone layer. Nearly 20 years later, Scuderi's technology remains the industry standard. http://www.scuderigroup.com http://www.scuderigroup.com/scuderi-engine-now-running/ When it comes to split-cycle engines, they are actually in development by legitimate going concerns, of which is being designed right around the corner from where I work. Most interesting is the air-hybrid design they are working on that theoretically will recapture and reuse a fair portion of energy on each cycle.

As for the chops of the inventor, Carlo Scuderi's resume is beyond reproach. This is a man who helped test NASA's space suit designs, helped design the Mark-48 Torpedo among other things.

His biggest achivement, however (from his bio):

In 1992, Scuderi developed a compressor technology to prevent the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere in response to a key United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate. His oil-less compressor was conceived and introduced within a period of six months and captured 70 percent of the refrigerant recovery market within one year. In 2005, Discovery Magazine credited this development as one of the reasons for the ongoing repair of the ozone layer. Nearly 20 years later, Scuderi's technology remains the industry standard.

http://www.scuderigroup.com

http://www.scuderigroup.com/scuderi-engine-now-running/

]]> by: corinoco http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5616 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:00:01 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/09/07/fuel-scams-an-australian-tradition/#comment-5616 Ah, this makes me think way, way waaaaaay back to Towards 2000; when Ralph Sarich was going to save the world, and put Australia on the map for sure! I think Our Most Famous Ex-pat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Foster">Peter Foster</a> probably did a fuel scam at some point, he's done just about every other kind. I liked the theme music for Towards 2000 though. I think I taped it from the telly. As for Finnin "A man who represents himself in court has a fool for a lawyer" Ah, this makes me think way, way waaaaaay back to Towards 2000; when Ralph Sarich was going to save the world, and put Australia on the map for sure! I think Our Most Famous Ex-pat Peter Foster probably did a fuel scam at some point, he's done just about every other kind. I liked the theme music for Towards 2000 though. I think I taped it from the telly.

As for Finnin "A man who represents himself in court has a fool for a lawyer"

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