carbon monoxide is a by product of burning gasoline
carbon monoxide burns with a blue flame
why don't cars have a separate ignition system fed by the exhaust pipe?
while the CO is contaminated, it still ignites
this could be implemented as a secondary energy source directly onto the driveshaft, or coupled more into a stirling type heat engine as an electrical source of energy (alternator)
i found one thing on wikipedia that mulls over it without giving any specifics
good idea? bad idea? how has this not been used yet
There is some carbon monoxide present in ICE exhaust but the amount is
small and variable depending on the mechanical condition of the engine.
There is a already a second ignition system in cars called the catalytic
converter. The catalytic converter burns up residual combustable gases
in the exhaust. The catalytic converter needs a certain amount of
fuel/oxygen so it can heat up to right operating temperature. Currently
there is no use made of the heat energy that is produced but a balance
needs to be struck so that the catalytic converter temperature doesn't
drop too low.
:S:MarkSCoffman