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Questions tagged [thermodynamics]

The branch of physical science that deals with heat.

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2 votes
1 answer
324 views

Tire Pressure Monitors during very cold temperatures

As outside temperature decreases by 10 degrees Fahrenheit, tire pressure decreases 1 psi. However, in very cold temperatures of -10 degrees Fahrenheit, the vehicle TPMS indicates low pressure but the ...
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10 votes
9 answers
3k views

Why is it that when supercharging, it's preferred to compress the input, rather than pull a vacuum on the exhaust?

It's a strange dilemma, but if the power of an engine is determined by the difference in pressure between the combustion chamber and the exhaust, it should follow that turbocharging should be equally ...
tuskiomi's user avatar
  • 215
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

Cast iron vs aluminium engine blocks

From what I can tell by reading, aluminium engine blocks are more thermally efficient than cast iron blocks - but it also seems that aluminium is more thermally conductive than iron. That seems ...
Erik's user avatar
  • 293
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Thermocouple vs Thermostat

Why don't modern engines use a thermocouple (electronic temperature sensor) instead of a (wax element) thermostat?
voices's user avatar
  • 366
11 votes
4 answers
2k views

What exactly is a catalytic converter and why does it need to operate within a certain range?

I heard here that a catalytic converter needs to operate within a certain "chemical range" otherwise it will generate unnecessary heat. What exactly is a catalytic converter? How does it work? What ...
Max Goodridge's user avatar
23 votes
3 answers
10k views

Why does a gas engines torque and horsepower curve always meet at 5252 RPM?

I'm watching a TV show called Tech Garage and they just made the claim that an engines torque and horsepower curves always meet at 5252 RPM. Assuming this is true, why does this happen? Is it ...
cdunn's user avatar
  • 9,326
7 votes
1 answer
4k views

Why no exhaust gas turbine generator in hybrid vehicles?

I found something interesting on Wikipedia today: a hybrid turbocharger. This is a device that charges a battery with an exhaust gas turbine, and at the same time operates an air compressor using the ...
juhist's user avatar
  • 15.3k