Hi, boiling dry is not good for a nice comercial riveted boiler but no problem for a couple of trial runs. If it ran dry, steam would cease to be produced, the engine would stop and if I kept stoking I would end up with a redhot divecylinder. The engine has now been completely melted and Ive been casting parts for a custom engine of my own design, I am using the crank, rod, piston and liner , but making all other parts.Thanks for comments.
No problem, since your used a scuba tank there's less of a worry of a blowout. To those that are using a less durable improvised boiler, I worry for them as the risk is more likely. As you said, a riveted boiler would fail, old propane tanks and air compressor tanks would probably have the same problem in a dry situation. even at 40 psi, a 2 gallon tank popping would not be good. Keep on building man! Steam power is awesome!
i have always used compressor and propane tanks and never had a problem -mind you i always use a safety valve which is set at 130 psi-normal pressure is around 80 psi for my engines
exactly, by the way did you get your inspiration from my first steamengine made from a strimmer? That would be great, I could link your video in it with a text link below the video, if you want me to.
well it depends on the state of the piston and cylinder but if you have 3 rings and the bottom one is an oil-scraper (usually clearly different then the top ones), leaving it out means less friction and since pressure is so much lower compared to combustion, you can easily do without. Like I said, I only left one in!
Congratulations! well done and surprisingly smooth running at low rpm. Have you removed the oilseal-ring from the piston too? I only left one (in stead of three) pistonring sitting in the end. You've got a nice pulley there to put some load on it. Can't wait to see that. Good luck
No, Ive been engineering for 45 years and just did the logical thing, I did however veiw your channel last night and saw you had some good stuff there. It would be cool if you could link my vid, cheers.
15lbs, that's impressive for a four stoke conversion, most seem to need more pressure. You should make a sight glass for your water level within the boiler, boiling it dry is very dangerous.
I like your idea for the steam inlet cam control. Save your steam pressure and reduce stress on the exhaust stroke is brilliant. I was wondering if you incorporated a fuel injector timed on the upstroke to jet in cold water, would it create a vacuum to increase HP. Do you think it would work?
Hi, thanks for your interest in my engine.... Not sure your idea would be too beneficial,, the water injection could cause lower pressure on the upstroke , as you say,, but the steam charge on the next stroke will lose energy in the cooler than normal cylinder...Also, its nice to keep steam engines simple..
I've put a link to this vid on both my most popular vids 'scrap metal steam engin' and 'strimmer steam engin'. Hopefully this leads more people to you too. Would be great if you could do the same? Bye now, Ernie
Hi, boiling dry is not good for a nice comercial riveted boiler but no problem for a couple of trial runs. If it ran dry, steam would cease to be produced, the engine would stop and if I kept stoking I would end up with a redhot divecylinder.
The engine has now been completely melted and Ive been casting parts for a custom engine of my own design, I am using the crank, rod, piston and liner , but making all other parts.Thanks for comments.
Brilliant! Seems very smooth.
No problem, since your used a scuba tank there's less of a worry of a blowout. To those that are using a less durable improvised boiler, I worry for them as the risk is more likely. As you said, a riveted boiler would fail, old propane tanks and air compressor tanks would probably have the same problem in a dry situation. even at 40 psi, a 2 gallon tank popping would not be good. Keep on building man! Steam power is awesome!
i have always used compressor and propane tanks and never had a problem -mind you i always use a safety valve which is set at 130 psi-normal pressure is around 80 psi for my engines
exactly, by the way did you get your inspiration from my first steamengine made from a strimmer? That would be great, I could link your video in it with a text link below the video, if you want me to.
well it depends on the state of the piston and cylinder but if you have 3 rings and the bottom one is an oil-scraper (usually clearly different then the top ones), leaving it out means less friction and since pressure is so much lower compared to combustion, you can easily do without. Like I said, I only left one in!
did you insulate the cylinder?
nice unit.. put some magnets on the a wooden fly wheel and generate electricity.
Congratulations! well done and surprisingly smooth running at low rpm. Have you removed the oilseal-ring from the piston too? I only left one (in stead of three) pistonring sitting in the end. You've got a nice pulley there to put some load on it. Can't wait to see that. Good luck
No I didnt remove any rings, is it best to leave out the oil ring?. Thanks for watching.
Would it still work without any modifications to the valves and perhaps a condenser system so the steam can be recycled as water into the boiler?
ELPaso1990TX No
Sam Wall no you dont. I didnt. I did as in my description above.
Why not use both cams, twinned on both sides and have 2 cycles of steam on off?
that works
No, Ive been engineering for 45 years and just did the logical thing, I did however veiw your channel last night and saw you had some good stuff there. It would be cool if you could link my vid, cheers.
15lbs, that's impressive for a four stoke conversion, most seem to need more pressure. You should make a sight glass for your water level within the boiler, boiling it dry is very dangerous.
only danger is adding water to a dry boiler
Ok ,Ill try it, guess I dont need the oil ring now as its no longer a wet sump.
Ok will do, cheers.
Bravo we will need you when ww3 gets bad
I like your idea for the steam inlet cam control. Save your steam pressure and reduce stress on the exhaust stroke is brilliant. I was wondering if you incorporated a fuel injector timed on the upstroke to jet in cold water, would it create a vacuum to increase HP. Do you think it would work?
Hi, thanks for your interest in my engine.... Not sure your idea would be too beneficial,, the water injection could cause lower pressure on the upstroke , as you say,, but the steam charge on the next stroke will lose energy in the cooler than normal cylinder...Also, its nice to keep steam engines simple..
Your right I didn't think about that, Maybe a simple cooling condenser installed down line from the exhaust for the vacuum to happen.
how do you lube the engine?
I pre lube it , and only run it for a few minutes,
Because it wont work. It needs one stroke to expel the steam which has done work in driving the piston down
now that is what I call 'steam punk'!
I've put a link to this vid on both my most popular vids 'scrap metal steam engin' and 'strimmer steam engin'. Hopefully this leads more people to you too. Would be great if you could do the same? Bye now, Ernie
you can not, as you did, then with a boiler so small