Fieldlines.com || Steam Power

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Reviews - Diaries - Our Products

Steam Power
By LEXX, Section Homebrewed Electricity Posted on Sun Sep 19, 2004 at 04:11:14 PM MST
Has anyone HERE ever tried this, or thought about it?

I would really like to build a small (1500 watt) steam generator, my idea would revolve around a barrel type wood stove with a water jacket covering all of the top half of it. I was thinking of a steam engine like this http://www.mikebrownsolutions.com/mbsteam.htm or this http://www.cabinfeverexpo.com/Crescent/Crescent_5HP.htm Obviously the second one would be a lot bigger than 1500 watts but there very few steam engine sites out there other than hobby type sites. If any one has done this and has some advice, favorite tricks or just has an opinion thanks.
LEXX

Steam Power | 12 comments (12 topical)

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by JW on Sun Sep 19, 2004 at 04:46:05 PM MST

I think your best bet might be to locate someone who has succesfully done something simular. Its always easyier to copy someone eleses working system. This prepares you the best for a complete look at the type of things involed with such an endeaver. The steam folks are a dying breed today. Generally steam engine systems are to much work and commitment for most people. I quess the main reason why people consider such an option is cheap fuel.

I dont know, the more I look around at things, a plain old live steam engine looks better and better, there cheaper and easier(by steam standards) than the other alternative options.

Id seachout and find somebody that has something you would consider ideal. A good and efficiently designed live steam engine can operate quite well on steam pressures as low as 40lbs but with lots of volume. Also you may want to consider a mono-tube steam type of generator. These have no reserve capacity and are harder to regulate then boilers, but they have some design advantages, you do have the relative consisency of engine speed working for you, turning a generator.

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by elvin1949 on Sun Sep 19, 2004 at 08:32:21 PM MST

LEXX
www.tinypower.com
best small steam page i know of.
1/2 hp to 5 hp if i remember right
later
elvin

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by arc on Sun Sep 19, 2004 at 10:15:02 PM MST

I think this is one of Mike Brown's projects too.

http://www.dangerouslaboratories.org/genset.html

arc

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by JW on Sun Sep 19, 2004 at 10:38:09 PM MST

From what I understand Mike Brown has been manufacturing engines for quite some time. I remember years ago seeing his ad's in popularmechanics. I understand he's got a v-twin engine going now, pretty sure thats over ten horsepower. For 1500watts you wouldnt need that much steam, and a one or 2 horsepower turn key engine would due nicely for such a small load.

JW

[ Parent ]

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by RobD on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:28:02 AM MST

I think the engine is not the problem the boiler is. So I would be very careful about how I built it.

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by jacquesm on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:10:58 AM MST

second that, don't go and blow youself up. Steam is DANGEROUS. it's very corrossive and will degrade your lines/tank pdq, if you're not aware of that happening you could have a burst line or exploded tank.
www.greenbits.com
[ Parent ]

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by JW on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 12:30:57 PM MST

Yes Steam is dangerous,

In my (local)area there is an outfit that makes custom boilers to code, with safety valves installed that are rated properly. I think there called Indian River something or other. This is one way you can get steam. Another is a monotube steam generator. The only thing you must consider is long term maintenance, and possible winter conditions. But steam can be done reasonably.

JW

[ Parent ]

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by DanB on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 12:35:15 PM MST

I've got a little 1hp Mike Brown engine... it's nice!
I've not got a boiler together for it yet.

I think it certainly has merit - but I think a steam power system that you could leave running without fairly constant attention would be quite complicated. I think, in order to go there... half the reason would have to be 'for fun'. (When I put mine together it will be for fun mostly - because power from diesel or gasoline is a lot cheaper and easier)

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by troy on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 03:52:36 PM MST

Live steam is both extremely fun and extremely dangerous. As you are no doubt aware, a single gallon of superheated steam (the good efficient kind) contains the same potential energy as approximately one stick of dynamite. Back in the day when steam was commonplace in light industial and commercial settings, you typically wanted two people to run a stationary power plant. One could do it, but that guy would be very busy. If you don't watch it that close, or automate those functions, you or somebody you love will get killed.

I have a little experience with tinypower and they are a first class outfit.

As an aside, I have run across several legitimate references to the qualities and attributes of live steam, one of which is, tasteless. Now how would they know that???????????????

Good luck and play safe!

troy

[ Parent ]

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by LEXX on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 07:29:07 PM MST

I guess a well-done tongue doen't taste very much!? Thenks for the links everybody.
LEXX

[ Parent ]

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by LEXX on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 07:46:39 PM MST

Is that the single piston engine that you can still buy? What did you pay for it? I can see why you'd think that steam power is expensive because of initial cost but the engine supposedly will last for a very long time with very little upkeep, or do you not agree? I read that there was a steam engine that ran 24/7 from 1800 to 1950 in england so it would probably outlast any diesel motor that you could think of. Or are you thinking about the time of constantly taking care of the boiler, because that does sound like a time consuming thing? I was actually thinking that it would be a back-up generator, only used at peak times, but then I see the point of the comment about winter freeze-up probs.
thanks,
LEXX

[ Parent ]

Re: Steam Power (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by DanB on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 09:40:47 AM MST

I got a bargain on mine... traded a used solar panel for it. Normally I think theyre around $700 - $1000 for a 1hp Mike Brown engine.

Then theres the boiler, if you buy a good one... probably $1500 give or take a bit.

And a boiler feed pump...

good safety valve - and all the other tubings and hardwares required.

Once all thats together, it could be cheap to run if you have a nice water supply and a free fuel source - but my guess is it should be time consuming.

Like wind turbines, i suspect there is an economy of scale here... on or two folks can probably run a huge steam engine as easily (almost) as they could run a small one - so the "labor" cost gets a bit high for a 500 watt generator Id think. Im certainly no expert, ive not done anything other than a bit of reading so far. Ill get to playing with it one day here soon I hope - I think it's super fun stuff.

[ Parent ]

Steam Power | 12 comments (12 topical)

Menu

� create account
� How to use the board
� FAQs
� search the board
� Google search the board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

Total Views

��118 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

Related Links

� Also by LEXX

You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest � 2009 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!