Plasmoid Vortex System Retrofit a Sustainability and Efficiency Study on Internal Combustion Engines

<p>The thesis addresses the persistent inefficiency and environmental degradation caused by internal combustion engines in modern vehicles, a major issue as the automotive industry faces increasing pressure to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Internal combustion engines, which power most cars today, convert only about 20-30% of fuel energy into useful work, with the remainder lost as heat and exhaust waste, including carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). This inefficiency contributes to global carbon emissions, with transportation accounting for approximately 29% of U.S. greenhouse gases in 2021 [1]. As regulatory standards tighten (e.g., Euro 7, CAFE standards) and consumer demand shifts toward sustainability, traditional internal combustion engines require innovative retrofits to remain viable. The problem is compounded by the slow transition to electric vehicles (EVs), which face challenges like high costs, limited infrastructure, and battery production emissions, leaving a gap for improving existing internal combustion engine technology. This thesis investigates the feasibility and sustainability of a thunderstorm/plasmoid generator retrofit to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions in modern cars, offering a bridge between current internal combustion engine reliance and future zero-emission goals.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Systems Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical, Computer, Software, and Systems Engineering

Year

2026

Author dc:creator

• Hall, Walker

• Internal Combustion Engine
• Plasmoids
• Emissions
• Shipping
• Fuel-Efficiency
• Automotive Engineering
• Energy Systems
• Systems Science

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/edt/964

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:edt-2009