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Steam related discussions.
Re: NASA analysis of a steam car from 1970 - 9 years ago
I would love to see your analysis. The Gelbart power plant above used the feed water tank as the condenser. If that would work, it looks like a good solution for the model sized engines I'm interested in. There's lots of cooling water in a pond, so I picture running some copper tube through the feed water tank for cooling. Lohring Millerby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: NASA analysis of a steam car from 1970 - 9 years ago
Brian McMorran Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Lohring > > Not a bump valve but electric coil operated poppet > valve uniflow. > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC3p3ci5XoM > > Brian I think you misunderstand the operation. The pin in the piston opens the valve at the same point before TDC and the electromagnet holds the valve oby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: NASA analysis of a steam car from 1970 - 9 years ago
Even more off topic is this interesting engine on Tom Kimmel's site. Among other things it has a direct water contact condenser operating at the boiling point of water and atmospheric pressure. This is claimed to improve efficiency by acting as a feed water heater. It seems to me that there would still need to be considerable waste heat rejection as well. Has anyone else investigated the eby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: NASA analysis of a steam car from 1970 - 9 years ago
Bill Gatlin Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------ > > I'm getting long winded. > > Best, > > Bill G. Not at all. I'm in learning mode when it comes to steam, and the people on this forum seem to be the last of the knowledgable small steam power people. Lohring Millerby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: NASA analysis of a steam car from 1970 - 9 years ago
From your post and the paper, it seems like condenser design is the biggest problem for a steam car. The NASA paper suggests running at higher condenser temperatures when needed, but it seems to me that there should be better solutions. Higher cycle efficience with higher input temperatures and a more efficient expander should make smaller condensers possible. Does a different design like thaby lohring - SteamStuff
NASA analysis of a steam car from 1970 - 9 years ago
NASA tech note D-5813 is an analysis of a "conventional" (Doble style) boiler and condenser. I was interested in the calculations in the appendex, but the conclusion was interesting as well. The report found that it would be possible to build a steam car that could compete with IC powered cars, but they had no advantage in weight or economy. There would need to be some other reason, lby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: P fired boilers - 9 years ago
I'm considering a 50 mm diameter axial flow fan with a spinning cup burner on the output end for a model size burner. It should be very throttleable with modern radio equipment that would allow a variable needle valve to be mixed electronically with the fan speed. The fan speed could be linked to the intake valve that controls engine admission. The fuel flow could also be linked to steam pressuby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: steam turbine car prototype on youtube - 9 years ago
I'm not sure I understand specific speed as applied to steam engines. It is a pump and compressor concept in my experience. Could you give me an example of its calculation for a steam engine with a specific input steam condition? Lohring Millerby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: 1954 Besler airplane steam generator output - 9 years ago
Fredrosse, I'm also very interested in the details of your boiler. I assume this is the same as the one you referred to in my flash steam thread. A diagram would help explain how the orfice control system works. Could you add a superheater section after the steam separator? Lohring Millerby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: 1954 Besler airplane steam generator output - 9 years ago
Model and full size high pressure, high output combustion chambers have been around for years. They're called turbojets. Model versions start on propane, run on kerosine, and have very sophisticated automatic start and control systems. Both plans and assembled versions are available for models. I keep thinking that some coils in the nozzle area would make a great steam generator. See http://by lohring - SteamStuff
Re: 1954 Besler airplane steam generator output - 9 years ago
Rolly Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bill > The thickness of the metal or the type makes no > difference, it’s such a small item in the heat > transfer from one side to the other. It only > relates to time from startup. Once up to operating > temperature its insignificant. > It’s how much heat you have on one side and how > fast yby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: Model boat Flash Steam Power Plant - 9 years ago
I'm not sure I fully understand your system, but I think that's part of the basis of the Waterman steam pump system. There the orfice between the pump and the boiler output along with a relief valve is part of the output regulating system. Are you are saying that the orfice alone in a bypass circuit would adjust the output to the super heater coils depending on the state of the steam in the coilby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: Model boat Flash Steam Power Plant - 9 years ago
You built a very nice duplex pump. I'm putting together the engine currently. I spent a lot of time thinking about variable stroke pumps before I stumbled on the Waterman concept. I still don't see why the Waterman system won't work exactly as you described with a monotube boiler. The steam cylinder of the pump is connected to the wet section of the boiler with the superheater coils connectedby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: Model boat Flash Steam Power Plant - 9 years ago
I have that book as well as articles by Bob Kirk on his tetherboat and George Thompson on his radio controlled, flash steam mono. Paul Windross, the current steam tetherboat record holder, also sent me details of his engine. They all used fixed displacement, engine driven pumps. George's boat only had on - off engine control, though. The engines are pretty standard at this point. I only needby lohring - SteamStuff
Model boat Flash Steam Power Plant - 9 years ago
I'm considering building a steam powered radio controlled model boat with a monotube boiler. I've built many internal combustion engined boats and have held the 109+ mph gasoline engine powered speed record with my partner since 2004. Unlike the flash steam tetherboats, this new boat will need a control system. These engines probably have steam at about 1000 psi and run around 10,000 rpm. Theby lohring - SteamStuff
Re: low pressure lamont - 9 years ago
Rolly Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Jim > Hear is my ¼ scale model of the late 1907 white > generator. All screwed together with right and > left hand threads. > Rolly I'm very interested in your scale boiler. How was it fired? How did you control the temperature and pressure? Lohring Millerby lohring - SteamStuff