Gas turbine

In the 1950s there was a brief interest in using gas turbine (jet) engines and several makers including Rover and Chrysler produced prototypes. In spite of the power units being very compact, high fuel consumption, severe delay in throttle response, and lack of engine braking meant no cars reached production.

Rotary (Wankel) engines

Rotary Wankel engines were introduced into road cars by NSU with the Ro 80 and later were seen in the Citroën GS Birotor and several Mazda models. In spite of their impressive smoothness, poor reliability and fuel economy led to them largely disappearing. Mazda, beginning with the R100 then RX-2, has continued research on these engines, overcoming most of the earlier problems with the RX-7 and RX-8.

Rocket and jet cars

A rocket car holds the record in drag racing. However, the fastest of those cars are used to set the Land Speed Record, and are propelled by propulsive jets emitted from rocket, turbojet, or more recently and most successfully turbofan engines. The ThrustSSC car using two Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans with reheat was able to exceed the speed of sound at ground level.

4. Read and translate the following international words:

boiler, pressure, emission, process, control, production, electric, turbine, interest, prototype, compact, production, economy, problem, record

5. Answer the questions:

1. When was steam power, usually using an oil or gas heated boiler, in use?

2. What major disadvantages had steam power?

3. Was there a brief interest in using gas turbine (jet) engines in the 1950s?

4. Who produced prototypes?

5. What lacks of gas turbine (jet) engine prevent from production them?

6. What was introduced into road cars by NSU with the Ro 80?

7. A rocket car holds the record in drag racing, does not?

8. What was The ThrustSSC car using two Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans with reheat able to?

6. State what part of speech the following words belong to:

usually, oil, heated, to use, available, in spite of, later, impressive, largely, the fastest, to exceed, speed, level

7. Produce verbs from the nouns, translate them into Russian.

power, heat, use, production, introduction, emission, control, delay, lack, heat, use, appearance

8. Find Participles (1 and 2) in these texts and state its forms and functions in the sentences.

9. Ask questions to the underlined words and word combinations.

1. It has the advantage of being able to produce very low emissions.

2. The combustion process can be carefully controlled.

3. Several makers including Rover and Chrysler produced prototypes.

4. A rocket car holds the record in drag racing.

5. The fastest of those cars are used to set the Land Speed Record.

10. Translate the text «Rocket and jet cars» in writing.

Lesson 5

1.The words to be learnt:

injury (v) – повреждать

accident (n) – несчастный случай

fatality (n) – несчастье, смерть

acceleration (n) – ускорение

failure (n) – авария

roll (over) (v) – перекатываться, ворочаться

flammability (n) – воспламеняемость

vapor (n) – пар

vent (v) – выпускать

circuit (n) – (эл.) цепь

crash (n) – авария, поломка

reflect (v) – отражать

require (v) – требовать

restraint (n) – ограничение

mitigate (v) – смягчать, уменьшать

pedestrian (n) – пешеход

proximity (n) – близость

inevitable (adj) – неизбежный

toll (n) – количество потерь

tolerate (v) – позволять, допускать

wrecks (n) – аварии, гибели