Quote:
Originally Posted by vteco
Exactly, Logic!
heh, now you see the need for a muffler on mine. You could maybe run the exhaust underwater, like a conventional outboard. I wasn't nearly at that point yet, though. Just building the engine.
I've been building up little bits and pieces of information about high speed flash steam engines for years. Best description of the history and mechanics etc (of both small and large) is the book "Experimental Flash Steam" by Benford.
I have tons of past issues of Model Engineer the British magazine, dating back to 1890's. These racing hydroplane engines are an amazing historical topic to me. Just a handful of people have ever pursued it, but their innovations down through the decades (well century, actually) are really awe inspiring.
Anyway, the one I was building was to be a detuned version -- I thought about it as both a small outboard motor (I was gioing to use an old Elgin outboard motor I have as the lower unit) and as a small stationary generator for camping.
An alternative plan for a boat motor was to do it as a generator for an electric trolling motor rig.
I was thinking it would be really cool if you could use a supply of twigs and pine cones etc, found on shore as fuel, as you went.
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If ICE are said to be 30% efficient; What kind of efficiency does one see from these small, high rpm steam engines?
I suppose it all depends heat insulation and using multi, 2nd piston bigger than 1st designs?
Google AI says; By the early 20th century, steam engines in factories, ships, and locomotives were around 25% efficient.
That's not bad and these are probably better?
I'm thinking a steam-electric hybrid might be interesting:
Now your outboard runs while the boiler is still warming up and you have a silent mode for most of your fishing.
You get somewhere to store power while the boiler is cooling down (after arrival etc)
You have your outboard/genset/motor combo.
ie: There are more advantages for 'light steam' when combined with electric than there are in petrol electric hybrid boats etc..? (where water and wood is plentiful)
Is there a site on the design and construction of these small high rpm boat etc engines?