"The HEG-1, represents a significant departure in the way generators/alternators are built. It is capable of dramatically reducing the fuel consumption of any vehicle and boosting its mileage... think 1500 miles or more to a tank!"
Yeah, I figure potential maximum overall gain to be +5% at 60mpg cruise. I wanna know what car already gets 1428 miles to a tank full that actually uses a conventional alternator ( Figure some hybrids don't)
I would tend to agree. I'm anxiously awaiting more information from the company.
My thoughts for possible gains:
More efficient power generation/less drag to same amount of power =1-5%?
Turn off alternator under load, basically use as regenerative braking device= up to 10%?? (would probably do alot more on a 1.0 litre metro than on the wifes project Suburban 5.7)
Higher voltage output for more efficient system 1-??%
The only way I can see the gains they are claiming at this point would be IF it was something along the lines of an electrocharger/hybrid conversion with ultracapacitor bank that actually helps power the vehicle. BUT they also discuss using for stationary power generation and I can't see how that would work.
Without seeing more data about how this works I'd give them 10% average on a small to mid sized car. Hope they can prove me wrong. We can get that modding our current systems for much less.
The tagline of the article claimed 20-30% implying gain in overall FE. But, reading it, that's 20-30% more efficient (at converting mmechanical to electrical energy) than a normal alternator. That means if a normal alternator has about 5HP drag, then this will have 4HP drag for same output. So you're really just gaining 1HP. If a typical vehicle needs 30HP to cruise at highway speeds, then an extra HP is around 5% boost.
Now 5% is about maximum potential. If you do long trips without many accessories running, and your ECU controls the alternator field current, you prolly won't see close to that gain, because you might have an average drag of only 1HP from the alt, so reduction by a quarter there, you'll barely notice. You'll pretty much only see 5% if you drive with everything turned on.
Not that a better alternator isn't a good thing, it's just not such a huge overall FE improvement as the propoganda would have the sheep believe.
That's exactly what I was thinking. Now, if the alternator had two separate voltage outputs, one for charging the battery and one for running the ignition, that could help a bit...
You would have to have two separate circuits that didn't intermingle. Also, what if you had something else powering the alternator, like the exhaust. If you hooked up a Paxton supercharger backwards to drive the alternator, would the gains offset the losses created by the increased back pressure?
My guess is that they are talking about the possible mpg from a hybrid vehicle using batteries and an IC powered generator...plus regenerative braking.
This is really a good thing if they will implement this properly. I think this is a big innovation for the alternators manufacturer and will benefit a lot of automotive user. I will be glad to see this in the market.
Comments
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
Interesting. I look foward to seeing these put into production.
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
"The HEG-1, represents a significant departure in the way generators/alternators are built. It is capable of dramatically reducing the fuel consumption of any vehicle and boosting its mileage... think 1500 miles or more to a tank!"
Slight exaggeration here?
No alt gains 10% mpg here:
http://www.metrompg.com/posts/alternator-optional.htm
20-30% gain in efficiency might = 2-3% gain in overall mpg?
Not that this isn't important...but this is how mpg gains are made in the REAL WORLD?
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
Yeah, I figure potential maximum overall gain to be +5% at 60mpg cruise. I wanna know what car already gets 1428 miles to a tank full that actually uses a conventional alternator ( Figure some hybrids don't)
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
[quote="E=mc2"] Slight exaggeration here?
[/quote]
I would tend to agree. I'm anxiously awaiting more information from the company.
My thoughts for possible gains:
More efficient power generation/less drag to same amount of power =1-5%?
Turn off alternator under load, basically use as regenerative braking device= up to 10%?? (would probably do alot more on a 1.0 litre metro than on the wifes project Suburban 5.7)
Higher voltage output for more efficient system 1-??%
The only way I can see the gains they are claiming at this point would be IF it was something along the lines of an electrocharger/hybrid conversion with ultracapacitor bank that actually helps power the vehicle. BUT they also discuss using for stationary power generation and I can't see how that would work.
Without seeing more data about how this works I'd give them 10% average on a small to mid sized car. Hope they can prove me wrong. We can get that modding our current systems for much less.
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
The tagline of the article claimed 20-30% implying gain in overall FE. But, reading it, that's 20-30% more efficient (at converting mmechanical to electrical energy) than a normal alternator. That means if a normal alternator has about 5HP drag, then this will have 4HP drag for same output. So you're really just gaining 1HP. If a typical vehicle needs 30HP to cruise at highway speeds, then an extra HP is around 5% boost.
Now 5% is about maximum potential. If you do long trips without many accessories running, and your ECU controls the alternator field current, you prolly won't see close to that gain, because you might have an average drag of only 1HP from the alt, so reduction by a quarter there, you'll barely notice. You'll pretty much only see 5% if you drive with everything turned on.
Not that a better alternator isn't a good thing, it's just not such a huge overall FE improvement as the propoganda would have the sheep believe.
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
That's exactly what I was thinking. Now, if the alternator had two separate voltage outputs, one for charging the battery and one for running the ignition, that could help a bit...
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
Hey, why isnt that done. That seems like a great idea.
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
You would have to have two separate circuits that didn't intermingle. Also, what if you had something else powering the alternator, like the exhaust. If you hooked up a Paxton supercharger backwards to drive the alternator, would the gains offset the losses created by the increased back pressure?
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
My guess is that they are talking about the possible mpg from a hybrid vehicle using batteries and an IC powered generator...plus regenerative braking.
In this case 1500 miles might be feasible?
Alternator Promises to Boost Gas Mileage of Nation's Automob
This is really a good thing if they will implement this properly. I think this is a big innovation for the alternators manufacturer and will benefit a lot of automotive user. I will be glad to see this in the market.