Quote:
Originally Posted by Daox
Well, apparently youtube isn't liking my video file. I've uploaded it a few times now and I just don't get sound.
Anyway, the die grinder could not spin the alternator fast enough with the field coil powered up. As you can see, the voltage slowly drops on the battery as the video progresses. So, we need something capable of flowing more air or higher pressure, or both.
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Ok, well, you can use an air ratchet, impact gun, a larger air grinder, air drill, or any of several other tools.
You can also try porting the die grinder to allow cleaner air flow (requires a flow meter and a good, constant stream of air). It's like porting a head, only on an air tool.
Are you sure your compressor and hoses were capable of flowing the required CFM for the tool to operate at the max PSI?
120PSI at 30CFM is far different than the same at 60CFM. It's not really the pressure that matters in the equations, as much as the mix of pressure and flow volume.
You probably won't want to use an impact wrench, because of the impact part. When it gets loaded at all, it will start to slap. You'd more than likely want to try out an air drill or air orbital sander, both of which are capable of the 10k RPM that may be needed, and are normally required to produce fair amounts of power from compressed air.
Also, keep in mind that steam flowing is much more dense than air, and heated water (still in water form) is much more dense than either... density = more potential to produce power.
Mix your steam water 50/50 with coolant. The coolant has a lubricant in it that might protect the air tool so you don't have to remove it, oil it and reinstall it every time you run to the store.
Capturing the "exhaust" from the air tool will prove somewhat difficult, since most of them vent randomly through a series of holes in the body. You'll probably have to break it apart and change the discharge area so you can recapture the steam to recondense it into coolant/water using a condensor (radiator) in the system. This would be an example of a closed system that could be effectively used, as well. As the coolant mix in the heating area is heated, it will build pressure, and move away from the heat element, flowing through the air tool, creating power. As it flows through the exhaust port of the air tool, some of the energy of the mix has been extracted, so it's going to cool some there alone, but then, to further cool it, you install a radiator in the circuit to waste off the excess heat that wasn't used in the production of electricity. Directional flow control comes via a simple check valve, like those used in coffee pots, only much larger. The check valve's spring face would also ensure that the water is sufficiently heated before being allowed to flow, ensuring that any movement in the fluid is due to pressure created from heating it.
Running an alternator at it's peak efficiency all the time will net more power production than is actually necessary, as well... it would be great to have the battery capacity to store it all, but in the event that we don't, the excess power should go where? Do we just turn off the alternator field and allow free rotation when power generation isn't necessary? I don't personally like that idea, but it may help to get the project started, then fix the minor follies as they are addressable.