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Steam related discussions.
Re: First attempt at a LaMont, I need of a little help. - 17 days ago
Thanks Ken. As I mentioned, if I got something off I could expect some words from the more knowledgeable. I do appreciate it. I was going on some tests that someone on the board had done. I definitely should have looked further. I'm still planning on a higher pressure recirculation boiler somewhere between 800 and 1200 psi. If I can supply enough steam this should give our expander plenty of getby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: First attempt at a LaMont, I need of a little help. - 8 weeks ago
Glad to see someone new especially working on a forced recirculation, Lamont, steam generator. Rick knows a heck of a lot more about steam than I do but if you want to talk I would enjoy it. I might learn something. I will say this. From reading all the information in the forum up to about 2 years ago the one thing that stands out to me was that a Lamont is a higher pressure steam generator and doby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: New Steam Project - 10 months ago
Steve, where did you get 300 feet of tubing and if you don't mind how much did it cost? I'm looking to use seamless carbon steel for all but the superheated due to better conductivity but for the superheat stainless is what I'm looking for. Thanks SteveWby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Steam Cars Safer in Water Accidents? - 1 year ago
At least they won't have batteries exploding like many electric cars did in Florida after a major hurricane.by SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Willie the Turtle - 1 year ago
My condolences to his family. I never got to meet him in person but he was always polite and helpful online. I'll miss him.by SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Dusty's Experimental Boiler - 1 year ago
Dusty, thanks for the correction on the wires. I understand about winding finned tubing If I find an easy way way to do so I'll let you know. As for the compression to increase heat density I am looking into the sam thing however I'm looking at trying to do so where the gasses have cooled enough to keep from producing Nox. All the best on your project. SteveWby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Dusty's Experimental Boiler - 1 year ago
Dusty, Have you considered using some sort of finned tubing inside instead of wires? There are a lot of designs that might work well for you. Of course wire should be much less expensive. Just a thought. SteveWby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Dusty's Experimental Boiler - 1 year ago
Dusty, while I'm looking at around 800 to 1000 psi I am not planning on using what you are. I can see that what you plan may work For your application. For my feedwater pump it shouldn't see temperatures Reaching 212 F. The circulation pump will but its will be designed For high temperatures. The engine itself is radically different and can use very high expansion. Or I should say is expecteby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Dusty's Experimental Boiler - 1 year ago
Dusty, good looking design. I've been dithering along for years myself. I have a question though. What temperature do you expect to encounter with your pump? The system I'm working on will reach over 500F . Your burner really is interesting. I am looking forward to seeing your system fully working SteveWby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: breaks land speed record by hitting 163mph on steam - 1 year ago
So, something like a monotube but with recirculation to make it more compact and light. And a method for separating the wet steam from the water? That would make it faster to get to full pressure and lower the weight. Controlling the water so neither too much or too little would be the main problem. I think I see ways to do this If I'm understanding this correctly. SteveWby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Dusty's Experimental Boiler - 1 year ago
Dusty, very impressive looking! I'm far behind on deciding exactly how my boiler will end up. Too many ideas , too little time, and most of my time has gone toward overall design especially the expander. Thanks for posting. I look forward to seeing your finished design. SteveWby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Alternative engines - 2 years ago
Rick, nice tubes! That is similar to the latest concept I had using a water tube surrounding a baffled fire tube where the baffling prevents the heat from passing too rapidly through the tubing. The outer water tube would be similar and would use forced recirculation for better efficiency. That was what my brother and I were working on before he had his strokes I'll try to get drawings up to shoby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Engine Materials - 2 years ago
Bill, from what I have read over the years is that yes, hydrodynamic oil lubrication is the best but isn't always achieved. What I personally am looking at for my design is a ceramic type coating that actually bonds with the metal like case hardening. It's coefficient of friction ranges form .02 to .08 depending on the various formulations. But my question is how often in a steam engine do you atby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Uniflow steamengine at 20% efficiency in a car project - 2 years ago
William, you need lubrication whether using wet or dry steam Water is not a good lubricant but there are oils that can take moderate heat and don't emulsify so that you can separate it out of the condensed steam. Then there is Krytox which can withstand higher temperatures and is supposed to adhere to metal better than oil. It is expensive however. But as for using wet steam don't take my word.by SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Uniflow steamengine at 20% efficiency in a car project - 2 years ago
William, that is the basic concept for a recirculating steam generator. I do highly recommend using a superheat coil. Rolly has in the past mentioned the added efficiency as have others. What I also remember is that after the dry steam is heated you get to a point where you add more heat but get less additional benefit. This is around 200 degrees F above the dry steam heat. I have read the chartsby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Uniflow steamengine at 20% efficiency in a car project - 2 years ago
Interesting design Rick.by SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Building help - 2 years ago
What we have that will make this design work better is from the use of a bonded ceramic that infiltrates the metal like case hardening but is almost diamond hard, high temperature, and has a max coefficient of friction of .02 . The inlet valve will allow for as close to 0 space as possible. With the extended chamber that a rotary gives along with extremely low friction the steam can be expandedby SteveW - SteamStuff
Building help - 2 years ago
For a long time now my brother and I have been designing a rotary steam engine. We think we have the major problems fixed however as the saying goes, "The proof is in the pudding" . If any members with machining capabilities, or just interested in this project, is willing to help it would be appreciated. We aren't looking for free work and expect to pay for materials and time. Anyone inby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: start up times - 2 years ago
Just to add my 2 cents in. The best hybrid solution I've ever seen using an IC hybrid has the IC running at a set (most efficient) speed to run a motor/generator system. IC engines at least in the past had one speed that was most efficient with the rest of the time being a compromise between efficiency and power. example my 73 240z got 20 mpg up to around 65 mph. At 70 to 75 mph it got 24 mpg. Youby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
Zmirkin, sounds like an interesting design for the pump. Right now what I'm looking at is a pump that is internal and uses high temperature magnets with an electrical field to rotate the shaft. This will work around the problem of pressure while the magnets will take the heat or so the company claims. As soon as my brother has corrected drawings we will see about putting them up. It's slow goingby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Trackless Locomotive - 2 years ago
Interesting there. Over on the recirculating steam generator thread there is discussion going on . My brother and I are doing the math work slowly but steadily towards a larger system. We will be posting as we go so we can get useful critique on things. Once we are sure of the math we'll build and test. Your input would be appreciated if you have the time and interest. Hopefully we will get sometby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
So even a monotube has to be certified now? The recirculating system I'm working on was trying to stay away from a pressure "vessel " by using pipes or tubes.by SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
I have a question about code requirements for the forced boiler. At what point is certification required. Is there currently a minimum volume or is any amount ?by SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
Rick, What you, Rolly and Ken have suggested is the direction we have been taking. The design is a burner on top with the hottest flame with the hottest water or steam in the super heater area. I gave my brother a different design idea which we are looking at right now. Would you mind some time talking over phone with us about it sometime? If it sounds reasonable then we can take it to theby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
Thank you for all this information. I agree with Rick that you have put a lot of work into it. Right now I'm standing back while my brother does calculations for the steam generator. He is a bit better on the math and I just don't have enough free time to work full time on this. SteveWby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
Neat isn't it. My brother has been looking at the Tesla valve.by SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
Ken, Currently the feed water will be measured in the side tank with an upper and lower limit.. as we are planning on a closed system we will have a small tank where a feed water will draw from depending on results from the limit switches. For this test boiler the recirculating tubes will be around 1/2 inch and the superheat to be determined as I'm not sure what is needed. To start with I'by SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
Ken, I have a copy that I had forgotten about. Many of my books got stored during a fast move from my previous residence. I'll pull it out and go over it again. Internal resistance is something that we had not forgotten about and IF we can figure a way to reduce it I'll bounce it off the phorum members. I'll be working with my brother most of the day on this. Finally have a day off with free timby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
Ken, so far you and rolly are both correcting anything we may have wrong and confirming other information. The. Drawing was just meant to show a general layout to get input on the basic design. Your input is a definite help. For the initial radiant coils what formula would you use to figure the radiant output of the flam and the absorption of the coils My brother is already doing calculationsby SteveW - SteamStuff
Re: Force circulation steam generator design - 2 years ago
Rolly, I think my drawings need to be better as it sounds like what we are trying for is a turbulent flow. I understand what you are saying and I agree that that is what we need. Since we are wanting to use natural gas we will need to size the chamber for that fuel. Unless there is something better to use than ss310 then that is what we will use. I've asked an acquaintance who is a metalluby SteveW - SteamStuff