Pneumatic motor success with pneumatic motors in the locomotive industry. In 1911 he designed a pneumatic locomotive and sold the patent to the H.K. Porter Company in Pittsburgh for use in coal mines. Because pneumatic motors do not use combustion they were a much safer option in the coal industry. Many companies claim to be developing Compressed air cars, but none are actually available for purchase or even independent testing. Impact wrenches, pulse tools, nutrunners, screwdrivers, drills, grinders, die grinders, sanders, dental drills and other pneumatic tools use a variety of air motors. These include vane type motors, turbines and piston motors.
Potential energy hydroelectricity. For example, in Dinorwig, Wales, there are two lakes, one at a higher elevation than the other. At times when surplus electricity is not required (and so is comparatively cheap), water is pumped up to the higher lake, thus converting the electrical energy (running the pump) to gravitational potential energy. At times of peak demand for electricity, the water flows back down through electrical generator turbines, converting the potential energy into kinetic energy and then back into electricity. The process is not completely efficient and some of the original energy from the surplus electricity is in fact lost to