Thank you for your reply Sam. Steam is such a useful source of energy for a myriad of processes including agricultural ones. Your use of it for killing weeds has reminded me that it can be used for sterilising soils and killing microbes harmful to commercial vegetable production as well as heating glasshouses. Relying on chemicals is another unsustainable practice. So although your boiler has potential for locos it also has all the advantages that stationary engines and boilers have for other uses. I trust that this is not lost in your thinking?
I also been thinking about trying to grow bamboo. As a fuel allow it to grow for qbout two years. The split and cut in about 12' long strips, plant about 3-4'from another plant. To allow plenty of sun. Hopefully it would ve 2-4" in diameter, and trim it off, so hopefully it will continue to grow. After tve strips dry, use pine resin to glue the strips together. Stack about 12" thick . Then use a press nade from 4"x4"x12' and clamps. Place in a plastic bag and leave in direct sun for a couple days, possibly pass over a fire to heat to about 250°f. Allow to cool then cut into 3"-4" cubes 4"x12" place in a barrel and heat and distill off the useful product, using the remaining coals to fire a boiler , possibly place in a press and compress into nuggets, possibly add waste oil to the coals, just enough for them to absorb, this should burn exceptionally hot. The fast growing bamboo, is a fairly dense and hard wood it just had a hole in it !😆 Splitting it and gluing it into solid chunks similar to bamboo flooring is made, glue under pressure should help with density,
just wondering, wouldn't it be more efficient to power a generator from the steam power and not the wheels directly? Using electrig Motors for the Wheelbase and a Steam powered Generator would allow Machine to run at highest steam efficiency at every time? However, love this Project, keep up your work!
Thanks! Certainly, a higher cycle efficiency may be possible. The simple reason for not adopting at this early stage is that the increase in drawbar thermal efficiency, once transmission losses are deducted, is not sufficient to justify the significantly increased equipment cost and complexity. But it may be an option in future!
How about heating wood in an oxigen-less environment to extract the gasses in the wood which can be used in existing ic engines? They do this a lot in eastern europe!
Hello, I am really interested in what you are doing and being a mech eng by profession, have a number of observations that you might like to comment on. By the way I design, forge, machine, fit and weld and have done since I served my apprenticeship with Westland Helicopters back in the 1970s. I think I understand that you are fabricating everything because it makes it possible to build as a one off and appreciate your skill and determination in doing so. However, whilst the design work that you do showcases your abilities as an engineer, it is a time consuming process that you may have to rethink for a production solution and I wondered what your thoughts might be in this regard. By far the most efficient process for manufacture of metal products is casting and wonder how this might fit into your vision.
greetings sir i remeber when i shared with y friend the idea of "Locomobiles" steam engines with truck wheels. They would have a differential steering instead of direct wheel arrangement, with the connections ade using a Flywheel with 2 pistons. Of which would fix the issue with slipping or anything alike. Plus it shares the power to both wheels instead of a single one.
Glad you asked. Burning biomass in a powerplant to power an electric tractor (or train) is no more efficient than burning that same biomass in a modern steam tractor/train...surprisingly. The electric option is also much more energy, resource and capital intensive to implement. Besides, while electric tractors have fun modern features, they don't have a steam whistle!
Yes! I've been interested in "off-grid" power generation of for no other reason than to have a ready power supply during winter storm outages which can last up to a week in my locale. I've been looking into steam for a few reasons, not least of which is connected to the whistle. :) Oh, and the fact that stream can also be harnessed for radiant heat, pumping water from cistern to tower in addition to generating electricity. There's a gent here in the states that builds boilers and refurbishes various engines, but his boilers do not boast zero near-zero carbon emissions. Would there be a boiler for home use on offer for those of us interested both in stationary home use and emissions reduction? Thanks! (You're dream is amazing - I'm excited to watch you bring it into reality!)
Very interesting indeed! It’ll be quite the sight to see when modern steam hits the road. Maybe something worth considering is a Sentinel-esque lorry? Also, another question about your boiler (I find it really fascinating!): how do you keep the water level regulated? A few knowledgeable people I’ve talked to say that water tube boilers are hard to regulate with the normal two-person crew at the best of times. I could see the engine having a live feed that’s semi-supplemented by injectors, but I’d love to hear what your solution is!
I will keep Sentinel-esque lorry in mind! Yes, re water level, what you've heard is true. The way in which it is controlled on this boiler needs a detailed explanation in a future vid. Injectors are useful and if they can offer value then they'll definitely be included!
@@Mackwell-Co I haven't always liked injectors, but from what I've heard, it turns out they're much better than pumps when it comes to feedwater. If properly maintained some of the best injectors can still inject tender water that's as hot as 40 degrees C, alongside with having the ability to inject water through a feedwater heater and/or economizer and then into a boiler. What's better is that exhaust steam injectors essentially double as contact feedwater heaters. The only issue is that injectors rely on the steam feed to condense into the feedwater, so superheated steam would have to be cooled down into saturated steam before being introduced into the injector
Speaking of fire safety around dry crops, fireless steam locomotives are still being used today in certain places around the world. I was surprised to find out Germany still uses them for some industrial shunting. There's even a Baldwin 2-8-0 in Cuba that has been converted to fireless.
Sam, which arrangements have you in place for boiler water treatment? Its essential to combat the effects of corrosion , scale and carry-over thus avoiding a negative effect on the performance and longevity of your excellent steam loco/vehicle concept.
It certainly is! I'm using Porta Treatment in this boiler. Here are some details from Ep2: th-cam.com/video/ogpI7_qZeTA/w-d-xo.html and there's a little more about it in Ep5.
One other agricultural use for a modern steam boiler/engine would as a stationary plant driving shearing machines or turning a rotary milking shed and powering its milking machines.
It is my understanding that vegetable oils break down into acids when heated and this can affect the metal. Some vegetable oils will thicken enough to reduce or prevent flow. I think this is an oxidation effect. Mineral oils have been improved to reduce this happening to them. However, castor oil was used in the rotary engines on the sopwith camel and others. Total loss system and once through only. Canola has been used in compound oils where the oil or the surface it is lubricating are in contact with water Think I would be careful with small diameter pipes and high temperatures and places where it might lie for long periods. I'll try it on my chain saw.
The project speeds up as I receive more and more support, so I couldn't tell you except that it will be as soon as possible. It will be used as required, probably passenger as it is a bit light for freight.
Make wood alcohol/ methanol, and crude oils from wood / bio mass, pyrolysis using concentrated sun light, use tge oils and alcohol to burn in a boiler, a tractor burning the oils and or methanol, with a battery and/or a solar panel, to keep a blower going to get the fire started. Basically a propane forge to get the steam going, with only the actual steam going the closest the fire to super heat tge steam. A fairly small boiler. Should be capable of making 500 ftlbs TQ, and 50 plus hp, build a engine with 3 bores, 6 pistons double acting, with a 12-18"stroke, with a 6"-8" bore, two cranks connected by spur gears, to a central output shaft, id like to use this in a street driven truck, with the option to use propane, and make it a hybrid, include s 30 kw electric motor, with a 15 kwh battery, to get it down the road in low or no pressure occasions, it should get a minimum of 20-30 miles range at 50 mph. Use 4 small diameter flywheels, and a single large flywheel, in the 14"-16" range, 4-6" thick, made from a iron rings connected to a 1.500" steel hub, and 1.500" steel spokes, and use a radiator or pair of them, with a steam to water intercooler, to pre heat the stored water, condescending the steam. So it can be re injected, using a radiator to cool the stored water if neeed, the steam going from the pistons to a Tesla turbine to a radiator to a steam to water intercooler, then it dhoulc be in the 100-180°F range capable if being re- injected. The water storage , using a piston pump to inject water into the boiler tubes, with the cool steam connecting in a 12" x 18" tank capable of 1000psi, then about 12x 1/4" i.d. tubes with a 3/4" o.d. to withstand the heat, ir possibly stainless steel, 9/16"-5/8"o.d. being they will be heated to 1000°f with steam passing through to a 12"x 18" manifold including relief valves, a small 1/2" and a larger 1.5" with a pressure about 50 psi higher, at 350-400 psi, the small valve at 300-350 psi, running the engine at 150-180psi minimum, to 200-280 psi normal , with 6" pistons, roughly equal to a 12 cylinder 2stroke engine, it should make decent power, use oil passing through the rods, under pressure, curcimulating between the rings and back down the rod, using gapless rings, with a oring to seal thd piston further, ubeing PTFE or nylone, to creayan additional seal from water from the oil, with 4 iron rings either using dual rings per groove, or rings that overlap, like a shiplap board, with oiling holes between the rings. About a .030" outlet 120° apart, with a return passage aboyt .060" 120° apart also, using approximately 1/8" passages in thd 1"-1.25 rod, thag uses a 4piece graphite seal, with orings and possibly mollibnium wire rings to further seal the rods from upwards of 250-300 psi , possibly using a hardened stainless tube over the rod, using iron rings, also getting a oil supply, with a return, with the oil hoing to the boiler, to allow it to be stored, aswell as heated to between 220°-230°F, to drive off any water, then pass through a small cooler tgen to the bearings and rings valves,. Use modified ball valves to control thf action of the engine, use graphite and or mollibnium as a self lunricating seal. Possibly use a 1.75" bar of stainless as a valve, controlling the steam, with two valves , per piston acting side, a large valve, to allow a 3/4"minimum passages to the piston from boiler, with 2" exhaust, possibly use 4"x 8" plate steel as a slide valve, using graphite seals, for the exhaust, Tge exhaust feeding a turnine spinning a generator, with possibly a 100:1 reduction, brung a tesla turbine can easily exceed 100k rpm, this would allow a 1k ti possibly 1200 rpm output, use a 3" output to a condenser, dropped to 220°f then yo a water to steam condenser, to drop further to 200° or less, the water storage tank using a normal car radiator to keep the water under 220°f tge pressure being 5- 10 psi, allowing 220° water to be liquid. With 20 gallons of water, the enginelproducing serious TQ, possibly use with a diesel transmission 5-6 speed manual, using a overdrive gear from the crank to output shaft, that will connect to the transmission, veing a 3:1 od ratio. The output shoujd equal a diesel engine speed and TQ, with a peak crank speed if 1000-1200, maybe 1500, thr transmission input Shaft would be 4500 rpm possibly. With the governor, set the throttle, and keep throwing gears at it, with the throttle connectef to a main steam valve, with the governor capable if closing it, it should output about 400-500 tq to the transmission. And possibly 100 hp+/- , with two cylinders "firing" at once every 120° with 6"-8" bore, a this equal to a singje 12"-16" piston every 120° or 60° being double acting? The valving will be complicated. Especially if the exhaust from one is feeding another, but im thinking not, use tge exhaust on the turbine only, to generate power, 2kwh should be easy , sorry to ramble, but a steam vehicle capable of 0-60 in 5-6 seconds or faster being hybrid E-Drive, with a couple ,20-30 kw motors! And 20kw+ battery, both should do 60 in 4 seconds, depending on the weight, making most parts from aluminum, with iron sleeves to resist wear, and hojd heat, so wrapping the boiler, and engine with insulation to hold in all the heat possible. Even yse ceramic insulation, to keep the engine heat in, with rockwool insulation. With the steam pressure reliefs aimed up, example in a pipe behind the cab, possibly a pair if 5" stacks up near the top of the cab, used as tgf output ofvtfe boilers , also the steam over pressure relief , allowing the steam to safely exit upwards, 300-500°f+ steamat 200 psi + is exceptionally dangerous, also use a pressure feedback system, tfe higher the pressure, the less fuel us burned , further reducing pressure, sorry to ramble, but i love alternative power and transportation !!✌️
Why don't you score an old stationary engine of the type used to drive a lay shaft and belt and pulley driven workshop? Would give you a very useful demo load for the boiler. Should work well around 150 PSI.
It would certainly be a neat and visual demo but it may not give that much in the way of test data. A pitot tube as fitted in the blast pipe currently is more useful in terms of assessing the boiler's capabilities while it is still on a test frame. I'll keep it in mind though!
I have heard the canola oil (rapeseed oil actually but I think there the same thing) makes a great additive to general lube on steam engines but I don't think you could use it for steam oil (I whould guess long term the organics whould gum up any cylinder)
I once read that canola was a variation of rapeseed developed for Canada (Can- (for Canada) -ola (for oil)). I'm not certain what the specific difference is. I have no data on its suitability for use as cylinder oil, but I do know (from experience) that when left for an extended period in the presence of moisture it may tend to attack iron!
Funny you should mention canola oil/rapeseed oil because that actually was a very common additive for axle bering during the steam era. However i don’t believe it made a good steam cylinder oil, the temperature may have been to much for it to retail its lubricant qualities
Yes, I recently learnt that the same was true on New Zealand's railways. I have no information on its suitability as a cylinder oil but it is the best performing cutting oil I have ever used.
They often used lard or beef tallow as an additive to steam oil. One old guy said he "ran lime milk over tallow", so I'm assuming he was using a fully saponified calcium (lime) soap of beef tallow. A homemade calcium-tallow grease/soap.
You are just reinventing the wheel, starting with fuel. Wood grows slowly, grass grows faster but is less dense, so pellets. Steam is not efficient, internal combustion is more effective in quick start and shutdown, diesel cycle better, lighter, wood/ biogas/ liquid fuel. Two cycle diesel style engine, any combustible solid or liquid fuel gasification. Been done. Pneumatic tires bad idea, solid rubber, longer lasting less failure. Been done. Carrying all that fuel and water and the start up time and losses and shut down losses, only feasible in continuous use like generators, long distance transportation. Castor oil is super sticky aka Castrol oil company. Reading old books would help you stop repeating the past. The internet is only so useful as what was uploaded. Go to a real library.
There's a lot wrong with the concepts you've listed While grasses do grow quicker, they tend to clinker, which can choke the firebox or a gas-producer. Combustion engines are very picky as far as fuel goes. For example, producer gas will accumulate soot as it burns slower than most combustion engines can sustainably turn over, and bio-fuels would require a low compression engine due to their water content - both cause inefficiencies far worse than an hour's start up. Solid rubber's been tried before - it was most popular in the 1930's. It's far too expensive to maintain, despite how well it can bear a load. Castor, Canola, and similar vegetable oils are actually good for a locomotive. They cling to the cylinders and keep said cylinders lubricated for longer. In fact, back during the steam era the most popular oil additive was rapeseed oil as it typically increased locomotive performance
Thanks for your feedback. I spent a number of years developing internal combustion technology prior to selecting steam. I quickly found that the devil is in the detail. Nothing beats old books, I have an extensive collection!
Positive displacement Brayton engines could be an effective solution for burning biomass in heavy equipment, considering their operational characteristics. Implementing a nozzle to direct the intake air through the combustion chamber could potentially alleviate both the loading and clinker production issues.
Thank you for your reply Sam. Steam is such a useful source of energy for a myriad of processes including agricultural ones. Your use of it for killing weeds has reminded me that it can be used for sterilising soils and killing microbes harmful to commercial vegetable production as well as heating glasshouses. Relying on chemicals is another unsustainable practice. So although your boiler has potential for locos it also has all the advantages that stationary engines and boilers have for other uses. I trust that this is not lost in your thinking?
I also been thinking about trying to grow bamboo. As a fuel allow it to grow for qbout two years. The split and cut in about 12' long strips, plant about 3-4'from another plant. To allow plenty of sun. Hopefully it would ve 2-4" in diameter, and trim it off, so hopefully it will continue to grow. After tve strips dry, use pine resin to glue the strips together. Stack about 12" thick . Then use a press nade from 4"x4"x12' and clamps. Place in a plastic bag and leave in direct sun for a couple days, possibly pass over a fire to heat to about 250°f. Allow to cool then cut into 3"-4" cubes 4"x12" place in a barrel and heat and distill off the useful product, using the remaining coals to fire a boiler , possibly place in a press and compress into nuggets, possibly add waste oil to the coals, just enough for them to absorb, this should burn exceptionally hot. The fast growing bamboo, is a fairly dense and hard wood it just had a hole in it !😆 Splitting it and gluing it into solid chunks similar to bamboo flooring is made, glue under pressure should help with density,
just wondering, wouldn't it be more efficient to power a generator from the steam power and not the wheels directly? Using electrig Motors for the Wheelbase and a Steam powered Generator would allow Machine to run at highest steam efficiency at every time?
However, love this Project, keep up your work!
Thanks! Certainly, a higher cycle efficiency may be possible. The simple reason for not adopting at this early stage is that the increase in drawbar thermal efficiency, once transmission losses are deducted, is not sufficient to justify the significantly increased equipment cost and complexity. But it may be an option in future!
@@Mackwell-Co Thanks for your reply and the Explanation.
How about heating wood in an oxigen-less environment to extract the gasses in the wood which can be used in existing ic engines? They do this a lot in eastern europe!
Hello, I am really interested in what you are doing and being a mech eng by profession, have a number of observations that you might like to comment on. By the way I design, forge, machine, fit and weld and have done since I served my apprenticeship with Westland Helicopters back in the 1970s. I think I understand that you are fabricating everything because it makes it possible to build as a one off and appreciate your skill and determination in doing so. However, whilst the design work that you do showcases your abilities as an engineer, it is a time consuming process that you may have to rethink for a production solution and I wondered what your thoughts might be in this regard. By far the most efficient process for manufacture of metal products is casting and wonder how this might fit into your vision.
Thanks, Mark! Absolutely we will cast components when it makes sense to do so, which, as you say, is likely to be when we begin production.
greetings sir
i remeber when i shared with y friend the idea of "Locomobiles"
steam engines with truck wheels.
They would have a differential steering instead of direct wheel arrangement, with the connections ade using a Flywheel with 2 pistons.
Of which would fix the issue with slipping or anything alike.
Plus it shares the power to both wheels instead of a single one.
Why not make a steam powerplant? Enjoy all the fun modern features with electric power form a efficient generation system
Glad you asked. Burning biomass in a powerplant to power an electric tractor (or train) is no more efficient than burning that same biomass in a modern steam tractor/train...surprisingly. The electric option is also much more energy, resource and capital intensive to implement. Besides, while electric tractors have fun modern features, they don't have a steam whistle!
Yes!
I've been interested in "off-grid" power generation of for no other reason than to have a ready power supply during winter storm outages which can last up to a week in my locale.
I've been looking into steam for a few reasons, not least of which is connected to the whistle. :)
Oh, and the fact that stream can also be harnessed for radiant heat, pumping water from cistern to tower in addition to generating electricity.
There's a gent here in the states that builds boilers and refurbishes various engines, but his boilers do not boast zero near-zero carbon emissions.
Would there be a boiler for home use on offer for those of us interested both in stationary home use and emissions reduction?
Thanks!
(You're dream is amazing - I'm excited to watch you bring it into reality!)
Very interesting indeed! It’ll be quite the sight to see when modern steam hits the road. Maybe something worth considering is a Sentinel-esque lorry?
Also, another question about your boiler (I find it really fascinating!): how do you keep the water level regulated?
A few knowledgeable people I’ve talked to say that water tube boilers are hard to regulate with the normal two-person crew at the best of times. I could see the engine having a live feed that’s semi-supplemented by injectors, but I’d love to hear what your solution is!
I will keep Sentinel-esque lorry in mind!
Yes, re water level, what you've heard is true. The way in which it is controlled on this boiler needs a detailed explanation in a future vid. Injectors are useful and if they can offer value then they'll definitely be included!
@@Mackwell-Co I haven't always liked injectors, but from what I've heard, it turns out they're much better than pumps when it comes to feedwater.
If properly maintained some of the best injectors can still inject tender water that's as hot as 40 degrees C, alongside with having the ability to inject water through a feedwater heater and/or economizer and then into a boiler. What's better is that exhaust steam injectors essentially double as contact feedwater heaters.
The only issue is that injectors rely on the steam feed to condense into the feedwater, so superheated steam would have to be cooled down into saturated steam before being introduced into the injector
Speaking of fire safety around dry crops, fireless steam locomotives are still being used today in certain places around the world. I was surprised to find out Germany still uses them for some industrial shunting. There's even a Baldwin 2-8-0 in Cuba that has been converted to fireless.
Sam, which arrangements have you in place for boiler water treatment? Its essential to combat the effects of corrosion , scale and carry-over thus avoiding a negative effect on the performance and longevity of your excellent steam loco/vehicle concept.
Effective water treatment is the single most important aspect of boiler maintenance.
It certainly is! I'm using Porta Treatment in this boiler. Here are some details from Ep2: th-cam.com/video/ogpI7_qZeTA/w-d-xo.html
and there's a little more about it in Ep5.
A natural gas boiler using methane from cows would be an achievement in sustainability
One other agricultural use for a modern steam boiler/engine would as a stationary plant driving shearing machines or turning a rotary milking shed and powering its milking machines.
Yes! that is the plan.
@@Mackwell-Co I can't wait!
Where did you get the rouler from?
It is my understanding that vegetable oils break down into acids when heated and this can affect the metal. Some vegetable oils will thicken enough to reduce or prevent flow. I think this is an oxidation effect. Mineral oils have been improved to reduce this happening to them. However, castor oil was used in the rotary engines on the sopwith camel and others. Total loss system and once through only. Canola has been used in compound oils where the oil or the surface it is lubricating are in contact with water Think I would be careful with small diameter pipes and high temperatures and places where it might lie for long periods. I'll try it on my chain saw.
So when this whole project be completed, will it be used for revenue freight or just passenger excursions?
The project speeds up as I receive more and more support, so I couldn't tell you except that it will be as soon as possible. It will be used as required, probably passenger as it is a bit light for freight.
@@Mackwell-Co You know you can use that boiler for heating your house with steam and to power your own electric with that boiler
Make wood alcohol/ methanol, and crude oils from wood / bio mass, pyrolysis using concentrated sun light, use tge oils and alcohol to burn in a boiler, a tractor burning the oils and or methanol, with a battery and/or a solar panel, to keep a blower going to get the fire started. Basically a propane forge to get the steam going, with only the actual steam going the closest the fire to super heat tge steam. A fairly small boiler. Should be capable of making 500 ftlbs TQ, and 50 plus hp, build a engine with 3 bores, 6 pistons double acting, with a 12-18"stroke, with a 6"-8" bore, two cranks connected by spur gears, to a central output shaft, id like to use this in a street driven truck, with the option to use propane, and make it a hybrid, include s 30 kw electric motor, with a 15 kwh battery, to get it down the road in low or no pressure occasions, it should get a minimum of 20-30 miles range at 50 mph. Use 4 small diameter flywheels, and a single large flywheel, in the 14"-16" range, 4-6" thick, made from a iron rings connected to a 1.500" steel hub, and 1.500" steel spokes, and use a radiator or pair of them, with a steam to water intercooler, to pre heat the stored water, condescending the steam. So it can be re injected, using a radiator to cool the stored water if neeed, the steam going from the pistons to a Tesla turbine to a radiator to a steam to water intercooler, then it dhoulc be in the 100-180°F range capable if being re- injected. The water storage , using a piston pump to inject water into the boiler tubes, with the cool steam connecting in a 12" x 18" tank capable of 1000psi, then about 12x 1/4" i.d. tubes with a 3/4" o.d. to withstand the heat, ir possibly stainless steel, 9/16"-5/8"o.d. being they will be heated to 1000°f with steam passing through to a 12"x 18" manifold including relief valves, a small 1/2" and a larger 1.5" with a pressure about 50 psi higher, at 350-400 psi, the small valve at 300-350 psi, running the engine at 150-180psi minimum, to 200-280 psi normal , with 6" pistons, roughly equal to a 12 cylinder 2stroke engine, it should make decent power, use oil passing through the rods, under pressure, curcimulating between the rings and back down the rod, using gapless rings, with a oring to seal thd piston further, ubeing PTFE or nylone, to creayan additional seal from water from the oil, with 4 iron rings either using dual rings per groove, or rings that overlap, like a shiplap board, with oiling holes between the rings. About a .030" outlet 120° apart, with a return passage aboyt .060" 120° apart also, using approximately 1/8" passages in thd 1"-1.25 rod, thag uses a 4piece graphite seal, with orings and possibly mollibnium wire rings to further seal the rods from upwards of 250-300 psi , possibly using a hardened stainless tube over the rod, using iron rings, also getting a oil supply, with a return, with the oil hoing to the boiler, to allow it to be stored, aswell as heated to between 220°-230°F, to drive off any water, then pass through a small cooler tgen to the bearings and rings valves,. Use modified ball valves to control thf action of the engine, use graphite and or mollibnium as a self lunricating seal. Possibly use a 1.75" bar of stainless as a valve, controlling the steam, with two valves , per piston acting side, a large valve, to allow a 3/4"minimum passages to the piston from boiler, with 2" exhaust, possibly use 4"x 8" plate steel as a slide valve, using graphite seals, for the exhaust,
Tge exhaust feeding a turnine spinning a generator, with possibly a 100:1 reduction, brung a tesla turbine can easily exceed 100k rpm, this would allow a 1k ti possibly 1200 rpm output, use a 3" output to a condenser, dropped to 220°f then yo a water to steam condenser, to drop further to 200° or less, the water storage tank using a normal car radiator to keep the water under 220°f tge pressure being 5- 10 psi, allowing 220° water to be liquid. With 20 gallons of water, the enginelproducing serious TQ, possibly use with a diesel transmission 5-6 speed manual, using a overdrive gear from the crank to output shaft, that will connect to the transmission, veing a 3:1 od ratio. The output shoujd equal a diesel engine speed and TQ, with a peak crank speed if 1000-1200, maybe 1500, thr transmission input Shaft would be 4500 rpm possibly. With the governor, set the throttle, and keep throwing gears at it, with the throttle connectef to a main steam valve, with the governor capable if closing it, it should output about 400-500 tq to the transmission. And possibly 100 hp+/- , with two cylinders "firing" at once every 120° with 6"-8" bore, a this equal to a singje 12"-16" piston every 120° or 60° being double acting? The valving will be complicated. Especially if the exhaust from one is feeding another, but im thinking not, use tge exhaust on the turbine only, to generate power, 2kwh should be easy , sorry to ramble, but a steam vehicle capable of 0-60 in 5-6 seconds or faster being hybrid E-Drive, with a couple ,20-30 kw
motors! And 20kw+ battery, both should do 60 in 4 seconds, depending on the weight, making most parts from aluminum, with iron sleeves to resist wear, and hojd heat, so wrapping the boiler, and engine with insulation to hold in all the heat possible. Even yse ceramic insulation, to keep the engine heat in, with rockwool insulation. With the steam pressure reliefs aimed up, example in a pipe behind the cab, possibly a pair if 5" stacks up near the top of the cab, used as tgf output ofvtfe boilers , also the steam over pressure relief , allowing the steam to safely exit upwards, 300-500°f+ steamat 200 psi + is exceptionally dangerous, also use a pressure feedback system, tfe higher the pressure, the less fuel us burned , further reducing pressure, sorry to ramble, but i love alternative power and transportation !!✌️
Hi Sam would it be worth giving the pump bores a hone with a cylinder ball hone.
May well be, cheers
Do you know where I can find information on water pick up gear fitted to Garratts?
Any Garratts in particular? As in lifting water from wayside streams etc.?
Is it possible to make a vertical fire tube boiler that could be fitted into a traditional steam lorry
Certainly is! Although, the Sentinel style firing through the centre of the boiler may not be possible.
Exited
Why don't you score an old stationary engine of the type used to drive a lay shaft and belt and pulley driven workshop? Would give you a very useful demo load for the boiler. Should work well around 150 PSI.
It would certainly be a neat and visual demo but it may not give that much in the way of test data. A pitot tube as fitted in the blast pipe currently is more useful in terms of assessing the boiler's capabilities while it is still on a test frame. I'll keep it in mind though!
I have heard the canola oil (rapeseed oil actually but I think there the same thing) makes a great additive to general lube on steam engines but I don't think you could use it for steam oil (I whould guess long term the organics whould gum up any cylinder)
I once read that canola was a variation of rapeseed developed for Canada (Can- (for Canada) -ola (for oil)). I'm not certain what the specific difference is. I have no data on its suitability for use as cylinder oil, but I do know (from experience) that when left for an extended period in the presence of moisture it may tend to attack iron!
What will be the wheel arrangement of your locomotive?
2-6-0 Tender Loco. Here's some more info: mackwelloco.com/locomotives/
Funny you should mention canola oil/rapeseed oil because that actually was a very common additive for axle bering during the steam era. However i don’t believe it made a good steam cylinder oil, the temperature may have been to much for it to retail its lubricant qualities
Yes, I recently learnt that the same was true on New Zealand's railways. I have no information on its suitability as a cylinder oil but it is the best performing cutting oil I have ever used.
They often used lard or beef tallow as an additive to steam oil. One old guy said he "ran lime milk over tallow", so I'm assuming he was using a fully saponified calcium (lime) soap of beef tallow. A homemade calcium-tallow grease/soap.
You are just reinventing the wheel, starting with fuel. Wood grows slowly, grass grows faster but is less dense, so pellets. Steam is not efficient, internal combustion is more effective in quick start and shutdown, diesel cycle better, lighter, wood/ biogas/ liquid fuel. Two cycle diesel style engine, any combustible solid or liquid fuel gasification. Been done. Pneumatic tires bad idea, solid rubber, longer lasting less failure. Been done. Carrying all that fuel and water and the start up time and losses and shut down losses, only feasible in continuous use like generators, long distance transportation. Castor oil is super sticky aka Castrol oil company. Reading old books would help you stop repeating the past. The internet is only so useful as what was uploaded. Go to a real library.
There's a lot wrong with the concepts you've listed
While grasses do grow quicker, they tend to clinker, which can choke the firebox or a gas-producer.
Combustion engines are very picky as far as fuel goes. For example, producer gas will accumulate soot as it burns slower than most combustion engines can sustainably turn over, and bio-fuels would require a low compression engine due to their water content - both cause inefficiencies far worse than an hour's start up.
Solid rubber's been tried before - it was most popular in the 1930's. It's far too expensive to maintain, despite how well it can bear a load.
Castor, Canola, and similar vegetable oils are actually good for a locomotive. They cling to the cylinders and keep said cylinders lubricated for longer. In fact, back during the steam era the most popular oil additive was rapeseed oil as it typically increased locomotive performance
Thanks for your feedback. I spent a number of years developing internal combustion technology prior to selecting steam. I quickly found that the devil is in the detail. Nothing beats old books, I have an extensive collection!
@@Mackwell-Co
Please consider scanning the old books! We would love to be able to read them!
Positive displacement Brayton engines could be an effective solution for burning biomass in heavy equipment, considering their operational characteristics. Implementing a nozzle to direct the intake air through the combustion chamber could potentially alleviate both the loading and clinker production issues.