tomalator t1_j29gt0e wrote
We are very good at separating the exhaust from the heat. We can extract about 90% of the heat energy, send the exhaust outside while keeping the heat inside. Basically there's a heat exchanger that gets heated up by the reaction, and air blows over it, getting heated up and the exhaust stays completely sealed off until it goes outside. The same thing happens to heat a gas car, it's just using waste heat from the engine.
ZAFJB t1_j29pvy9 wrote
> The same thing happens to heat a gas car, it's just using waste heat from the engine.
Most cars do not use exhaust heat to heat the cabin. They use a water to air heat exchanger that extracts heat from the water cooling system. So, combustion heats water >> water heats air.
tomalator t1_j29r3m1 wrote
Yeah, that's because the engine can't handle that kind of heat. It's still the same principle of removing heat from combusted fuel. If there were no radiators in a car, the heat would stay in the exhaust and engine.
The point is combustion produces heat, and we can remove that heat without touching the fumes. It doesn't become exhaust until.we want to get rid of it
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