Some concepts for a Serpollet little putts-around-buggy. This would use standard tires, flash boiler and condenser on the front (latest version). I like the 52 inch wheelbase the best.by Rick.H - SteamStuff
Thank you Rolly...sorry about your good friend. A nice story. Burt, I have a starting point for you. You are welcome to modify from this concept provided you stay within the parameters identified above. I provide a rough calculation of what your expected Hp rating will be. However, I believe that the Ofeldt coil will perform better. I use 5 Sq ft / BoHP as the main value. The attachedby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Hi Burt, A couple of things I wanted to cover before rolling out an Ofeldt Design recommendation. First thing is safety and boiler pressure rating. For a condensing Stanley that uses a piano wire wound drum, I suggest we stay within comfortable limits on the drum size. If you want to exceed an eight inch diameter drum, I would suggest going with steel bands welded on the drum much like what's pby Rick.H - SteamStuff
I was hoping that someone could provide the steam rate on a Serpollet Engine (Pounds per hour)? My guess or assumption is that the standard engine used ~ 1,000 lb/hr. Also, can one provide a confirmation on some information I ferreted out on the internet? The Serpollet boiler was capabile to produce 17 lb/ft^2 hr (pounds per square foot per hour)...is this a good number? This number comes frby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Burt, Correction on boiler water capacity...Ron's boiler would be .8 gallons and mine is .65 gallons. The point is that less is more. I'm still working a recommendation. Hope to have more by the weekend. To all (hope it's interesting), A couple of experiences of how to improve boiler steam generation ability. Doble (according to the Jim Crank book) increased Model E from 17.4 lb/ft**2 hby Rick.H - SteamStuff
A quick calculation of Horsepower. This HP relates to an internal combustion engine. HP is dependent on RPM and the steam engine is much lower in values, i.e. 30 Hp Stanley is a mountain wagon. The Beckett Burner will need to put out at least a 1/2 million BTU. Can it do that? Hope this helps, Very best, Rickby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Hi Burt, No problem for the delay...always nice to hear from you. You know I've been doing some deep thinking about boiler design and convective heat transfer. The equation that is applied for getting the heat transfer coefficient on an Ofeldt is the Grashof number. It takes into account gravity along with the velocity of the fluid through the tubes. Here is the skinny on what the equationby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Very nice news...thank you for sharing! I know that I'll be pulling my copy out and re-reading it over the holidays. I already read it cover-to-cover once. If someone doesn't have a copy, I would suggest joining SACA for the discount and ordering theirs. I highly recommend the book, for what ever my opinion is worth. Happy Holidays to all!by Rick.H - SteamStuff
A nice article about mono-tubes as considered as a flash boiler. Flying Steam Engines This article talks about the key element to steam generation is the velocity of the water through the tubes.by Rick.H - SteamStuff
Good point Rolly, On a steam locomotive and on some Stanley Cars, they incorporated a Steam Blower. This uses the steam from the boiler to draw the hot gases through the boiler fire tubes. I use a steam blower on my Steam Scooter. Here is the concept that sometimes is hard to grasp. Even when the system expires steam and the pressure should be going down, what actually happens is the preby Rick.H - SteamStuff
I wanted to add to this thought and relate it to the Model Boat speed record and the mono-tube boiler that powered it. The Reynolds number is very high. In other words, the flow through the small copper tubing is very turbulent. Also, the flow velocity is very fast for a little tube. Gentle reminder: higher the turbulent flow, the greater the convective heat transfer. This relationship isby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Hi Owen, I like your buggy and engine. Have you purchased any articles from the SACA Storeroom? I would recommend items 2070 and 2080, Richard Smith's mono-tube generator designs. Hope this helps, Rick P.S. have fun at this ... hope to see it running at a future SACA meet.by Rick.H - SteamStuff
Hi Novice, Again, I enjoy this thread. I see some real genius with Belsler regarding the Aircraft Steam Engine. I'm going to take a shot understanding his thinking on boundary layer theory. His secret paper to the US government identifies his boundary layer theory and really is talking about convective heat transfer. In order to achieve the highest convective heat transfer, he resolved to hby Rick.H - SteamStuff
You know Ken, I had this vary discussion with club and board member Tim N. As you know, he is a PH D in Mechanical Engineering. Our synopsis is that the calculation you are contemplating is a vary difficult one to simulate. I also had a discussion with George N., who designed a Lamont type of system. He too agrees that the calculation is very difficult. George being a BSME from MIT. Theby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Serge, I wanted to get back to you about the BTU and Horsepower calculator posted above. If you would like the Excel version, I'll be happy to send it to you? Any other requests are welcome along with an explanation as to how it works. It is based on the steam boat fellows who have estimated the square foot of a type of boiler; mono tube, fire tube and multi-tube to produce boiler horsepowerby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Novice, Rolly brings up a good point that all current nuclear reactors are PWR (pressure water reactors). You do not want transition of water to steam next to the heat rods. At Northeaster University (Boston) I took Nuclear Engineering I and II. At that time, my class visited the MIT nuclear PWR facility. This is where the above concept was actually seen and demonstrated. If the water wereby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Chuk, I agree, finned economizer tubing is the way-to-go. I remember you showing me the tubing at your shop in Florida. Also, you got me thinking ... about using condensation in the hot well being supplied by feed water heater. I estimate a temperature rise of 50 Deg F. Attached is the new calculation w/finned tube and condensed water...up to 240 Hp. Prototype concept drawing attached.by Rick.H - SteamStuff
Hi Serge, I attached a picture of the excel sheet for one of my many calculations. Note that when Fill is mentioned, it refers to the attached concept that I'm developing. Take a look at it and ask any questions. Note that this is my latest cut for ~200 Hp machine (same as Besler's Airplane). For that matter, anyone may ask questions. Hi Novice, To stay on task, I just read Besler waby Rick.H - SteamStuff
I don't think the involute is correct. The pressure angle appears too low. What was ordered? I'm going to order the attached gear for outside my differential. It is a 14-1/2 Deg angle. Could you need a 20 degree angle to match your set up? I know that old gears were typically 14-1/2 Deg. That's why I need to go with this gear. Just a thought, I would think that the spider gears would beby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Hey Guys, I'm actually going to take a stab at making the LSR boiler. Prior to covid I had several emails back and forth with Tim (ME PHD in Canada). I was bouncing some concepts off of him along with a new tube, steam generator calculator in excel. The target heat required is 5m BTU/hr. This posses a serious challenge to make these boiler(s) and fit it into an LSR car. Kind regards, Rickby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Rolly, Any information on Jim Crank turbine and the associated LSR attempt? Didn't that come from Doble or Besler? Thanks, Rickby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Hi Ken, I can fill in the blanks. The first ASME presentation is a 2-sided, Pelton Wheel. It has 2-DeLaval nozzles impinging on the wheel at 90 degree apart. The British LSR is 2-axial turbines with a stator in between. The turbine wheels were 8" in diameter. Don't know what is the impinging method. My guess is that it is a centrifugal flow in, through a nozzle, turbine 1, nozzle aby Rick.H - SteamStuff
We are on the same page...condenser performance is paramount. Let us add to this or enhance it. η = Wout / Qin Wout = Qfeed pump + Qshaft η = (Qfp + Qs) / Qin Qin = Qburner + Qfeedwater heater η = 1 - [(Qfp + Qs) / (Qb + Qfh)] So often I see patents and peoples steam engine designs ignore one of the most influential components to steam engine design. I attached some examplesby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Thanks for all the input. I think that there is some monumental tasks to a successful steam turbine aircraft engine. It would be a world class achievement with significant recognition. Also up for grabs are an Indy Formula S and one can always improve on the Land Speed Record. All are related with steam and I believe the condensation of the steam to minimize loss is the most challenging. Myby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Hi Novice, Note that I enjoy your research into the area of a steam turbine applied to an aircraft engine. So far we have looked at nuclear and super critical steam systems for turbo prop and turbo jet. I even suggest a combined cycle (picture re-attached). Out of all these steam turbine studies and work, what is the main stopping point for the realization of such a concept? Note that I'm fby Rick.H - SteamStuff
when done it will look like a cross of a stanley and a ford. I know the valve will be low but it will look OEM I agree because I'm using a model T frame that I altered, shortened to 84 inches and will make this car look like a Gentleman Speed Roadster (H5). Also, It won't have the value. However, I hope it to be very function-able, give lots of rides and if something breaks; we'll just fiby Rick.H - SteamStuff
I asked for some pictures of the engine on this Home-made Steam Vehicle. The pictures look like a Mason Engine. It could be a 6-1/2 Hp or an 8 Hp...my guess is it's a 6-1/2. These kind of vehicles are not worth very much because it does not have any originality or made from an elderly production source like a Stanley or White, etc. Pretty much I would say the value is the Locomobile Engine aby Rick.H - SteamStuff
Never mind...I see it at my work computer. My lovely wife has my computer tied up in knots when it comes to social media, i.e. facebook and others.by Rick.H - SteamStuff