Hey everybody, this question has been bothering me for quite a while, and it probably has a simple answer and I will feel really dumb when that answer is said, but I'm asking it anyway. Why don't people add pure Oxygen to their intake instead of Nitrous Oxide? The way that I understand it Nitrous Oxide, N2O, splits into 2 parts Nitrogen and one part Oxygen when it is injected into an engine. I understand that their are other subtle effects of Nitrous such as effects on pressure, and nitrogen formation to help engine efficiency ect... Anyway, the way that I'm looking at this is basically the point of a turbocharger or supercharger or a nitrous system is to cram more oxygen into the engine for a faster more complete combustion of gasoline. If that is the plan, then why don't people just inject pure oxygen into their engines? Contrary to popular belief too, pure oxygen gas doesn't burn. Oxygen is classified as a rapid oxidizer, which basically means that it makes fires bigger, but that oxygen itself doesn't burn. So I'm debating in my head, I think that either pure oxygen will corrode your engine... (doesn't make that much sense, because a turboed engine receives extra oxygen and it doesn't corrode excessively) Or that people don't want tanks of oxygen chilling in their trunk in case their car catches on fire, because that tank will cause the fire in your trunk to be really huge lol. I dunno, but if anybody can give me a good reason why I shouldn't pipe pure O2 gas into my car I would greatly appreciate hearing the answer before I blow myself up.

 

dont rocket ships run on pure O2? if it hasnt been done now, im sure theres a reason. but i dont know it

 

Rocket Ships run off of LOx (Liquid oxygen O2, O3) Mixed with either LH2, (Liquid Hydrogen)RP-1, (Kerosene) Nitrogen Tetraoxide, (N2O4) or Hydrazine (N2H4.) Basically all of these other liquids are highly flamable, and in order to generate enough thrust to propel a spacecraft, they are mixed with liquid oxyegn to promote rapid oxidation. That being said, Oxygen itself still doesn't burn lol, just helps other things burn. But yeah, I know that there is a reason that they don't run pure O2 in car engines, otherwise at least drag racing cars would run it lol. I dunno...

 

perhaps the power to weight ratio isnt worth the bost. perhaps the amount of pressure it creates is too great for a 2.4-3.0 liter engine to handle. could be that its dangerous

 

Maybe, but I mean oxygen in a tank shouldn't weigh much different than Nitrous in a tank... It could be that it's too much I guess, but I mean honestly it makes sense to me to just have a tank of pressurized air in your tunk lol. It's like a one time use insta-turbocharger lol. I dunno, I'm just spouting nonsense now...

 

I think the reason is because its more unstable then n2o and is it as cost effective? But im pretty sure it can ignite before it even reaches the cyclinders

 

wohoo time for a nitrous lesson...

Nitrous and Oxygen combine in a 3 atom molecule 2 Nitrogen Atoms and 1 Oxygen Atom... This is a unstable atomic bond and thus at 400-500 degrees Oxygen leaves the Nitrogen and both are liberated...

In a normal ICE Nitrogen actualy provides most of the force for the car to move by being expanded by the heat of the explosion... (nitrogen is roughly 70% of the air you are breathing) Oxygen and HydroCarbons combine and burn creating CO CO2 and H2O...

How Nitrous Works...
When nitrous oxide is injected into the engine the engine should be at operating temperature and preferably WOT... When N2O enters the cylinder the heat inside of there splits the Nitrogen and the Oxygen... the oxygen burns and the Nitrogen expands... At the molecular level N2O is exactly 1/3rd Oxygen and 2/3rds Nitrogen... Natural Air is roughly 7/10ths Nitrogen 2/10ths Oxygen and 1/10th Other... This doesent provide much Oxygen to burn... When The N2O is injected the splitting occurs and much more oxygen is brought into the cylinder... more HC's (HydroCarbons Aka fuel) are then added to compensate for the added oxygen... the extra nitrogen inside the cylinder creates more expansion and the ammount of force applied to the piston is multiplied...

Why Oxygen Injection Wouldent Work

First... Pure oxygen is powerfull enough to make the most inflameable materials ignight so a very unstable invironment is created...
Second... With just the injection of pure oxygen there wouldent be any extra nitrogen to expand... the heat would just be multiplied and the nitrogen would burn... (creating NOX)
Third... The ammount of Oxygen that N2O adds is almost to much already for most engines... with that much oxygen the mixture would go extreamly lean and create a HydroOxygen torch basicly inside the cylinder thus burning a hole strait threw the top of the piston...

N2O in conclusion is a perfect balance... run it... tune it... love it!

 

That sounds cool though! I need a garbage engine to try that out on lol.

 

Okay sweet lol, that was a very good explaination. I won't try it anytime soon, because I don't want my pistons welded to the insides of the cylinder walls lol. The nitrogen expansion makes pretty good sense, and I agree that Nitrous gereates almost too much oxygen for most engines anyway. Thanks for the clarification haha.