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This idea came to me while being buffeted about by a semi passing me on the freeway, and then buffeted again by a semi coming toward me. We burn an awful lot of gas just to push air around. Wouldn't it be cool if the air pushed by one truck, could be redirected 180 degrees and help push a truck coming
the other direction? Think of a rollerskating rink, where you end up with a vortex of air, just by everyone skating around the oval in the same direction. Or a revolving door where one person pushes in one direction, and it conserves the energy by pushing the door for someone coming the other way.
One way to accomplish this would be a covered highway (tunnel) segment with rounded ends, and a wall separating the two sides, like a very elongated donut.
So the cars going north push the air at 60 mph. At the end of the highway, the tunnel curves 180 degrees and pushes the air southward at 60 mph, so everyone always travels with a tail wind, and gets much better gas mileage. The tricky part is getting the cars in and out of the tunnel without losing the air flow. I envision a long slanted metal mesh ramp, so the cars could drive up and out of the tunnel, while the air continues flowing thru the mesh, and into the curved part.
Another benefit is that you could have air scrubbers on the thing to reduce smog.
Covered bicycle way
http://www.biketrans.com/
Similar idea, missing the circular part. [pashute, Mar 31 2008]
[link]
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Might be better to make cars, trucks, etc. more aerodynyamic. That saves gas in the long run. |
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We're missing something here, aren't we? |
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Just have tunnels filled with vacuums to reduce air resistance. What do you mean you wouldn't be able to breathe? |
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No, but wouldn't the air from the other cars behind you (and partial vacuum from cars ahead of you) give as much propulsion already as anything in this idea, without involving ramps, huge air ducts, etc.? |
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i have this image of a whole bunch of hoovers, electolux and the like running along in the tunnel. very clean place. |
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