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Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and steam
By DanB, Section Homebrewed Electricity Posted on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 02:55:03 PM MST
Very productive couple of days... Loads of fun with the steam engine.

A couple of weeks ago I posted about the steam engine project and we had put a wind turbine alternator on it. That was fun, but we needed to build a special alternator just for the steam engine. Pictured above are the coils in the stator mold. We wound these coils with 4 strands of #15 gage wire and 40 turns per coil. This is the same mold (and we'll use the same diameter rotors... 18") that we've used for the recent 17' wind turbines - but I cut part of the mold out so that we could mount this stator directly to the concrete pad.

Working the bubbles out of the mix... we spend a lot of time tapping/vibrating and pushing on the coils to try to get resin into them and air out before we put the lid on the mold.

There's the stator in the mold with a transparent plexiglass lid on it.

Tom turns brake rotors on the lathe..

Thursday Tim came up to work on his wind turbine. Pictured above he's putting on the magnets.

While Rich and Tim worked on his 17' machine, I worked on a 10' machine.

We shrank a stainless steel band around Tim's rotors and poured the resin in late morning. By mid afternoon the resin was hard enough for him to start assembling the alternator.

The frame for Tims 17' machine nicely powder coated.

It all went together nicely - by about 4 PM Tims wind turbine was finished except for fitting the blades to the hubs. It's taken about 4 'leisurely' days to build this.

Thursday at 5:00PM Matt came up with the new and freshly powder coated rotors for my steam engine project! These are 18" diameter and they fit over the smaller trailer hub (4 on 4) that I've bored out to fit the shaft on the engine.

Magnets on the rotor... Like the 17' machines, each rotor has 16 1.5" x 3" x 3/4" N40 grade NdFeB magnets.

We shrank a stainless band around them as usual.

There's the 'back' magnet rotor bolted to the hub.

We didn't get started on this whole project till about noon yesterday - but it came together very quickly. There's the back rotor/hub mounted to the engine.

George and Tom fit the 'stator bracket' (two pieces of angle iron bolted to either side of it) to the stator.

George and I fit the stator and bolted it to the concrete.

There it is all finished up.. Time to fill the boiler and light a fire!

Rich thought we should make a T shirt or bumper sticker... Otherpower.com: we get our electricity from the trees you hugged.

After about 35 min we have 80PSI in the boiler and everything is running well.

The alternator cuts in right at 120 rpm, at 200 rpm we get right at 2KW into the batteries. It's not hard to sustain 2KW output with fire wood - I could probably keep up with 2.5 KW. We ran at 3KW for a little while and I couldn't keep the pressure up though. At sustained 2KW output (and we ran that way for a couple hours) the alternator barely warms up noticeably at all.

Click here or on the above picture to see a short video of it all that I stuck on youtube. This has been loads of fun and exceeded my expectations in every way.

Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and steam | 39 comments (39 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: Sept 22 2007 (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by TomW on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 09:14:17 AM MST
(User Info)

Dan;

Not that I am the "safety officer" but, cookie cutter or not, shouldn't Tim be wearing gloves and glasses while doing the magnet stuff?

Just seems to be wise.

Nice looking stuff, by the way.

On a side note "&" in a subject kills replies unless they change it so I made it "and".

Cheers.

TomW

"Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."--Mark Twain

Re: Sept 22 2007 (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 09:17:31 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

I guess the safety stuff is up to tim! I prefer not to wear gloves when handling magnets actually. Odds are the worse thing you'd get would be a blood blister... the gloves really compromise a firm grip in my opinion.

Thanks for fixing the title!! I had not realized that...

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by Old F on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 04:41:03 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.oldf.homestead.com

Great job Dan.

You know how I am when it comes to steam safety you did it right.
Your did you home work and put together a nice set up.

You found a tested boiler
You had some one with some background on hand on the first fire

Believe or not I got flamed off another site for pointing out that it would take bit more than a old hot water tank with its safety valve an a fire under it to make a safe boiler.

The owner of the site told I was being to negative And safety with steam was a minor concern.
I mite be a bit of a safety troll but this scared the hell out of me . I never been back to that site And I hope to God they don't prove right.

Any one thinking of there own set up just take a page out of Dans book and do it right it should be a hobby not an Extreme sport.

Safety troll going back under his bridge

Old F

PS
Great job Dan

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by JW on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 09:13:46 PM MST
(User Info)

Old F,

Glad to see your post. I remember in one of my diary entrys I was playing around with a convection boiler(less than 2 cup's capacity), And you noticed the pressure on my gauge in one of the pic's. I think it was, "3000 whatttt!" or something like that. :)

As I remember, we both argee'd that everybody who operates anytype of steam engine should be familar with "Barlow's Formula"(for measuring bursting pressures in any diameter pressure vessel heated or not). Then we went onto how to figure, loss of tensil strength with heat applied.

Don't call yourself a safety troll, your very realistic and practical. I often read thru the boiler opeator exam preperation books. What your saying makes alot of good sense. I would even go so far as to say, I does not hurt to have an[extra] guy running around while your running a steam engine, wearing a "SAFETY CREW" tee shirt. Its not hard to miss something, when so much is happening, with powerful machinery.

JW

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 (3.00 / 0) (#28)
by WXYZCIENCE on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 01:22:10 PM MST
(User Info)

Old F,
Your comments on steam safety are needed. I have been building DIY steam boilers for many years and follow a time tested procedure. Most people when they hear the word, steam boiler, they conjure up ideas in there minds of horrific boiler explosions. This is rare and Hollywood's way of doing something. My experience tells me these following things;

1. Steam under pressure is very hot!

A pipe can go from 100 degrees F to 600 degrees F in a matter of seconds, when steam passes through it. You can receive very serious burns by coming into contact with the piping.

2. Steam removes air available for your breathing!

Completely enclosed boiler sheds pose this threat. If you have ever been in a steam room it only takes a half a cup of water on the hot stones to make it hard to breath. Likewise in an enclosed boiler shed with a steam leak is dangerous.

Joseph.

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 (3.00 / 0) (#35)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 06:00:11 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

Yes, from what I understand all the stuff you say there is really the greatest risk. I'm running pretty low pressure (so things stay down around 300 degF which is lots tamer than 600 deg steam!).

I would love to hear/see more about boilers and systems you've built...

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 (3.00 / 0) (#36)
by BigBreaker on Mon Sep 24th, 2007 at 12:45:59 PM MST
(User Info)

Don't forget either than condensing steam delivers a huge amount of heat energy. If that steam hits your skin, the burn can be tremendous.

Water at 190 degrees and steam at 220 degrees are totally different!

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 (3.00 / 0) (#37)
by JW on Mon Sep 24th, 2007 at 06:47:04 PM MST
(User Info)

I hear that.

The best first aid for an actual 'steam burn' is a bathtub full of 6 or 7 bags of ice then filled with water. Time is of the essence with this type of thing. Get to ice water ABOSLUTLY as fast as possible. Remember your blood is circulating thru your body, this is why the burns are so deep with steam. The faster you can get that heat off of you the better. I wouldnt even take off clothing.

Its nice if you get all the engineering right and never have to deal with this type of thing.

But in reality, if things went bad, the only thing that would totally protect you, is a water cooled Space Suit.

The best first aid is 8 bags of ice in the freezer at all times, and a tub and water hose to fill the tub with. Dont ask any questions till that person is safe in the ice-water tub. Then go from there.

With todays alloys and material verification, its not nearly as bad as it was in the past. But anything can happen, always be weary of this.

Working with steam can be a fun and practical application. If everthing is worked out, chances are you'll never have to worry about such a thing. But the possible danger is quite real.

JW

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by JW on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 11:23:13 AM MST
(User Info)

"Otherpower.com: we get our electricity from the trees you hugged."

Wood blades or not, You guys are just to much.

Dan, Ive never seen a generator so perfectly matched to a low-psi steam engine before. I am very impressed with the whole system. Looks user friendly and quite safety redundant. Nice picture's and thanks for showing us that. I do most everything with bare hands, even weld or handle magnets. When I was working as an auto technition years ago an oldtimer that we worked with would state. If you got cuts or burns on your hands "you dont know what youre doing".

I think that machine deserves to be called to be a called an APU (auxillary power unit). I run some bio-diesel thru my back-up generator(6000w) but I think what you have done is way more advanced.

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 11:51:45 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

yes, it really does seem like the 'cutting edge of low technology' - I'm amazed how well this works and how practical it seems to be.

We've been flush with electricity lately. I think we made about 5KWH with the steam engine yesterday. Before that (its been breezy) the 20' wind turbine made about 20KWH in a 24 hour period (it beat 6KW at one point yesterday morning) - not counting whats coming in off the 17' machine and the solar panels...

I need to find ways to use this stuff... maybe an electric car or something.

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by JW on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 01:08:09 PM MST
(User Info)

Last month my electric bill shot up by 100 dollars. I just couldnt take the heat and humidity. Down here in South Florida you could easily use the surplus power on air-conditioning. But I bet you are not running your clothes drier with your invertor. That would be one way to draw down your batt bank.

you should look in to a storage device that uses a superconductor. That way you can store the power indefinitly and constantly run a liguid nitrogen cooling system.

By the way, are you running a steam-jacket on the working cylinder?

JW

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 01:55:14 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

The cylinder is insulated.... I'm not sure what else I could do better without really changing things a bunch.

Kind of fun - if you watch the video you notice sometimes the engine slows down/speeds up - that's in response to my batteries being fairly full and my heaters in the shop kicking on and off. When they come on, the voltage drops and the load increases slightly. It's very responsive to that stuff.... I have no doubt that if a good gust of wind came up the engine would speed up a bit.

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by bob golding (photoman290 at yahoo dot com) on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 03:53:08 PM MST
(User Info)

hi dan, nice setup,
couldnt get away with something like that here in the UK. the boiler inspector would have to pass it first then come and test it every year. as regards using your spare electricity,you could create a couple of lakes and pump it up to the top one then run it though a francis turbine when you need it, and pump it back up when you have spare power. something like this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinorwig_Power_Station

maybe not quite as big ;-)).... but you get the idea.

tom w: i know wikipedeia is not the definative answer to everything, but this entry is accurate at least.

cheers
bob golding

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 09:20:24 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

"couldnt get away with something like that here in the UK. the boiler inspector would have to pass it first then come and test it every year"

I hate to sound too much like a rebel but geez.. on your own land I think you can /should be able to do whatever you please. they cannot possibly afford (even in the UK) enough black helicopters to prevent you from lighting a fire in a boiler that you personally feel - and have tested... to be safe.

I have limited tolerance for local government and they don't seem to bother me too much yet. I tend to think govt. tends to get involved when real problems show up - or neighbors complain etc.. they don't have the time or money to really enforce all the rules.

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#16)
by Ungrounded Lightning Rod on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 10:59:37 PM MST
(User Info)

Hey: Boiler inspections are required in most (if not all) states in the US also. (Ask any steam railroader.)

They're not that onerus and if you're nice to the inspector you may end up with a helping hand later on - or at least some good advice and war stories.

Inspecting a home power system with a friendly owner would probably be a lot more fun than anything else he does that month. B-)

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#17)
by Ungrounded Lightning Rod on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 11:00:55 PM MST
(User Info)

Also: It's not a yes/no inspection: He'll qualify your boiler for a particular pressure. You may find he'll OK it for more pressure than you thought it would take.

And he might find a flaw that would have blown the garage off your house.

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#19)
by tecker on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 05:44:59 AM MST
(User Info)

I would fill the boiler up with water every week pressurize to twice the working pressure and let remain at that pressure to look for leaks .

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#25)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 08:33:23 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

I wouldn't ;-)
An inspector would test it at 50% over rated pressure - if you go too high you could actually create leaks (cause damage) which would've otherwise not existed.

A lot of old boilers actually do leak (weep) and such boilers can still pass certification. Especiallly cold boilers - such leaks often go away when they're hot.

One of my freinds who operates steam locomotives in England has told me stories about some old boilers (certified - but near the ends of their lives) that leaked so badly they could barely keep the fire going.

I do keep an air fitting on this one so that I can easily test it frequently though. I am more concerned to check the pop off valve fairly frequently than I am about finding leaks in the boiler though.

I think with steam one needs to be careful/pay attention - but I don't believe this stuff is nearly as dangerous as lots of people think if it's done right. Steam got a real bad rap when internal combustion engines came along. Lots and lots of engines like mine (and much larger and in much worse condition) were run by 'farmers' (my freind Gary calls people who are not mechanics but play with mechanical things 'farmers') and accidents were uncommon.

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#29)
by tecker on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 02:07:29 PM MST
(User Info)

I don't know Dan cooling and heating I'd want to see the problem and fix it . Your right twice the pressure is too much .

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#20)
by bob golding (photoman290 at yahoo dot com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 05:47:04 AM MST
(User Info)

agreed boiler inspections are needed. what kills steam for the home constructor is the paperwork, the insurance liability, having to register with the man,ect. the boiler inspector himself might be fine, and is usually an enthusiast anyway. i worked for a while as a volanteer at a local museum. they have a big boiler. it has to be pressure tested every year and stripped down every 10 years. a leak developed in the mudbox so the whole thing and to be stripped down to repair it. special tools made ect. this was in year 7 of the 10 year cycle. we put it all back together and it was fully inspected and passed as ok. this took 2 years to complete come . the next year,year 10, we had to strip the whole darn thing down again for its 10 year inspection by the same inspector who passed it 1 year before!!! this sort of inflexablity would totally kill it for the little guy. ok this was a place open to the public, be still a bit over the top in my opinion.

cheers
bob golding

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#24)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 08:21:53 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

Hi ungrounded...
while I probably don't worry about certain laws as much as I should - I have read the rules. A bit from the colorado boiler inspection statutes:

'9-4-104 - Exemptions.

(1) The following are exempt from the provisions of this article:

(a) Boilers located in private residences;

So long as I keep this here and don't bring it to fairs or public places I am not required to have it inspected.

I have tested it to 150 psi hydrostatically which is one of the tests and inspector would perform (and it passed that). I've also had folks who are 'experts' (at least more than I am) look it over and the concensus is that it's in very good condition all around. This boiler is also of 'better than average' design and construction.

With a good safety valve (which I have) this is a pretty safe type of boiler. As these wear out they tend to leak - so far this one is tight. Perhaps I should be more paranoid but I am worried about having this inspected. It was inspected within the last decade (Because it was shown in public places) and it was certified for it's rated pressure (100PSI) at that time.

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#39)
by Ungrounded Lightning Rod on Wed Sep 26th, 2007 at 04:31:35 PM MST
(User Info)

Sounds like you're all set then. Good luck with it.

[ Parent ]

Re: - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#21)
by tecker on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 05:52:37 AM MST
(User Info)

Having steam power for" on demand electric power" opens up some really interestring developments .

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and st (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by tecker on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 01:21:12 PM MST
(User Info)

Yes an electric car or an X Y plasma cutter .

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and st (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by TomW on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 02:10:52 PM MST
(User Info)

I say an electric arc furnace for melting iron so they can cast windmill parts.

Just another way to soak up excess and have fun.

Cheers.

TomW.

"Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."--Mark Twain
[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and st (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by FrankG (frank@theworkshop.ca) on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 07:24:50 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.theworkshop.ca

DanB,

Just awesome... I'm headed back to the board to huntdown your earlier posts on how the steam engine came together...
FrankG www.theworkshop.ca frank@theworkshop.ca
[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and st (3.00 / 0) (#18)
by LeissKG on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 03:36:20 AM MST
(User Info)

Given the level of envy i see here, you are correct about melting iron, but then he should cast STEAM engine parts.

Klaus Leiss

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and st (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by elvin1949 (elvin1949@yahoo.com) on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 09:45:41 PM MST
(User Info)

DanB
I am green.Need a boiler like yours,I have the parts to build the engine.
Realy nice setup. Keep on having FUN.
later
Elvin

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and st (3.00 / 0) (#15)
by PHinker on Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 at 10:05:17 PM MST
(User Info)

This is just plain cool. Another job well done guys.

Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#22)
by Gary D on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 07:54:02 AM MST
(User Info)

Hi Dan, wonderful workmanship as usual! I'm curious as to the ease of draining (winterizing). The nighttime temps are dropping fairly fast, even down here in the lowlands od Pa. Will you be able to use this much longer? Can it be fired to heat up a bit and then add water safely? If so, you all could get an oven and bake your turkey, cherdunkin(sp?) and such with no lp needed... would take a coil added on your inverter to up it to 220 tho... Went to a steam show just down the road from me the same weekend you all had your RE fair. Low tech is still alive and some are passing it along to future generations... Cheers Gary D.

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and s (3.00 / 0) (#23)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 08:06:54 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

Everything is easy to drain - I drain it when its still hot (usually still at low pressure) and then everything actually dries itself off quickly. The only part I cannot drain is the 'siphon' under the pressure gage. On cold nights I have to remove that. I don't see any problem running the engine when it's cold though...

You definitely should never light a fire in a boiler that's not full of water. Best to always fill it all the way (over fill it so the boiler is completely full of water) - then light a fire. Once pressure starts to come up a bit then I drain it down to the top of the site glass. This way - all the steel in the boiler stays at the same temp. Lighting a fire in an empty or partially full boiler allows parts of the boiler to get very hot while other parts are cold...

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and s (3.00 / 0) (#26)
by Old F on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 12:09:52 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.oldf.homestead.com

Dan
I think what every one is saying is we should lean toward the side of safety.
When working with steam safety is 20% equipment an 80% operator.

Most accidents you hear of are due to complacency or getting in to big of a hurry .

Like I said you got it right you did your home work and you like and respect old iron.

You will give that Grand old Gal all the respect and TLC she deserves .

And if not there are a lot of folks here would gladly give her a good home : )

Have fun

Old F

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and s (3.00 / 0) (#27)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 12:17:35 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

Thank you OldF! Yes - I agree.... with this stuff safety is very important. Beurocracy is not though... I avoid that whenever possible ;-) You are right - accidents are almost always operator error. It's much more likely to happen with horizontal boilers - especially mobile horizontal boilers! (Tractors and locomotives) This type of boiler is very safe and forgiving actually. My biggest concern at this point is a steam pipe breaking... safety glass breaking... engine running away, that sort of thing. I believe this is all a pretty safe setup at this point though.

[ Parent ]

Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#30)
by richhagen (richhagen (a t) Juno.com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 02:22:25 PM MST
(User Info)

Beautiful job, and a great additional redundant power source. I think you may need still bigger batteries :-)

I did notice that the stator, unlike when mounted on a wind turbine, appears to be only supported at the bottom of the stator. Is this an illusion? The stator for the 17' turbine pictured above is supported at six equally spaced points by comparison. Might fatigue of the resin near the bottom of the stator be an issue later on, or will it be more vulnerable to warping? There sould be some reasonable forces and hence vibration in the stator from the magnetic forces.

The job looks beautiful, you guys are quite the craftsmen out there.
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'

7 - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#31)
by JW on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 02:49:53 PM MST
(User Info)

I sent this to my email to get the link.

Personal message: Scroll down to see bottom of page to see safety Valves that
meet ASME Code Section 1 for Steam. Notice these are not temperature activated
valve's like you will find on a water heater safety valve...
http://www.mcmaster.com/nav/enter.asp?pagenum=444

Give this link a minute to load the catalog page.

JW

[ Parent ]

Re: 7 - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#33)
by JW on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 03:21:14 PM MST
(User Info)

I checked the link, it seems to work okay. Once you hit it, just dont touch anything for a minuite or two and wait for it to fully load, that way, you can scroll down to the bottom of the catolog page.

Ive bought a couple of these, at various pressures. I cannot get my(very) high pressure safety relief valve's from them. They have to be certified thru a third party.

Dan,

Make sure the exhaust from the safety valve is 'hard piped' to your boiler exhaust stack. Im not worried, since I feel you are all ready doing this. I have two 'staged' safety valve's on my machine. Where the exhaust plumbing leads to, from the safety valves' nobody can be, while the unit is in operation.

These (lift-check)Pop-Safety Valves, come with a (hard wired tag)certification, that meets all county requirements everywhere....

JW

[ Parent ]

Re: 7 - cookie cutter windmills and steam (3.00 / 0) (#34)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 03:22:22 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

Good link - thank you JW! I do have a suitable safety valve now, but I expect it would be better to have a new one and the prices are certainly reasonable there.

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and st (3.00 / 0) (#32)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 03:18:20 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

Yes, this is only supported at the base. I'm not sure if that will work or not - so far it seems rigid and fine. When current is flowing (which is all the time if the engine is running) the stator wants to center itself between the rotors. It also doesn't heat up at all - and it's out of the sun so I don't expect it should warp. I am inclined to put one more point of support at the top - we'll see if it's needed.

The wind turbines are supported at 6 points on nuts/washers/allthread. This one is 'clamped' between two pieces of 1/4 thick angle iron at the base (lots more surface area than bolts). So long as it doesn't crack at the bottom I think it will be OK. I did put a ton of fiberglass in the base of this stator to add strength...

[ Parent ]

Re: Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter wind (3.00 / 0) (#38)
by domwild (domwild at hotmail dot com) on Tue Sep 25th, 2007 at 08:21:24 PM MST
(User Info)

Great job! Many thanks. This is the first time I have seen a turner/fitter sitting down on the job!

The belt-driven lathe without safety covers on the belt? Better not to have long hair! Reminds me of the times when a large steam engine drove the whole factory via ceiling mounted pulleys and belts.

Regards,
dom There is one thing money cannot buy: POVERTY!

Sept 22 2007 - cookie cutter windmills and steam | 39 comments (39 topical, 0 editorial)

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