Dear James after thinking about your steam boiler/eng,can i suggest you increase the valve and pipework to 1/4 or bigger to allow the steam to flow faster to them engine this should also allow the boiler to "boil up" during running producing more free steam to replaces that used.Another suggestion would be to build or buy a multi tube/wick meths burner,far hotter than gas and the fuel is pence compared to gas cyclinders.That boiler is no steaming during use,so all you have is the free steam
Actually, the pipe is already 1/4". As to the fuel - although ethanol has a higher energy density than butane/propane mix, burning it with a wick does not produce more heat than a ceramic burner because it does not combine efficiently with the air. A carburettor or similar would be needed to acheive the full potential of alcohol.
I assure you that the original or larger meths burners these boilers were designed to work with work a hell of alot better than any of the gas burners that came along later.The meths burners provide a vety hight heat that heats not only the bottom of the boiler but the sides and due to the tubular boiler some of the top,due purley to the long length of the flame.Did you engine come built from Stuarts?See if you can get a burner and try it,you must set it up properly though.
Ahh, no, it was not built by Stuart - it was built by somebody from whom I bought it over eBay. And are you sure that you are not confusing methylated spirits burners with paraffin burners (which *are* indeed *very* hot - too hot for a small boiler like this)?
So have you sorted your sloppy pistons by now?As for the burner I do mean meths,look up the original burner for your boiler,youll see its much bigger than your current one,it is a wick burner,a vapourising buner,you can get a meths pressurised burner that works like the old blow lamps,but they are me suited to horizontal tube boilers,they are really fierce.I do seriously suggest looking into getting the original Stuart burner though.
There does seem to be excessive bypassing of the slide valves when you did your exhaust test,more lappinh req?Also that boiler should keep that engine going easily,are you giving it enough heat,id try running it on max whilst engine is running,it should keep up with it,if not bigger burner may be req,food for thought.Stew.
thank you for your thoughts. As to slide valves - they have since been lapped. I've been rebuilding the engine since last year (including tighter pistons with packing). The boiler has the biggest burner that will fit get set to maximum.
A stepper motor won't give enough current for what I'm trying to do - they're good for high voltage, low current applications such as higher voltage LEDs or very simple electronics. A small computer would require a few amps, not just a few milliamps.
I think youd be surprised with these stepper motors,these are large,not you usual printer size ones,these are designed to drive machine tool bedways for CNC,as a gen they have a big output.Yet to do a current test on it though.but with four big coils/phases,should be impressive
I really want to see this steam plant running that eninge with a full head of excess dry steam,rather than the condensate drench puff through a straw it has at the moment,meths burner,please,please,buy one and increase the supply line bore to the engine!!That unit should thrash away until the boiler is nearlly empty on the glass!
The main problem with the engine was probably the fact that the pistons were far too small for the bores (about six thousandths of an inch smaller), and had no packing. I have been rebuilding the engine with better fitting pistons with proper packing, and also lapping the slide valves. I shall use water from a reverse osmosis machine and proper steam oil and hopefully things will be better. Will probably still need a new boiler, though.
ARC Eurotrade an online UK company sell the best and best priced stepper motors anywhere at the moment for £12.95,superb stepper motor,kicks out loads of power,ideal for steam electricity generation James.You'd be surprised how much power you get out of one! youll need some diodes (AC-DC) and a pulley with a 5mm hole.
Yes, I think that it is. I did buy a few accessories from there. I can't remember for sure whether the whistle was from there, but it sounds about right.
Glad that you enjoyed the video :-) The chain problem is actually the least of the concerns: the far greater problem is that the boiler does not generate enough steam to sustain the dynamo running for more than a few seconds at a time.
I am currently looking into building a larger boiler with help from my local club, and re-making the pistons to give a better seal.
Dear James after thinking about your steam boiler/eng,can i suggest you increase the valve and pipework to 1/4 or bigger to allow the steam to flow faster to them engine this should also allow the boiler to "boil up" during running producing more free steam to replaces that used.Another suggestion would be to build or buy a multi tube/wick meths burner,far hotter than gas and the fuel is pence compared to gas cyclinders.That boiler is no steaming during use,so all you have is the free steam
silver760 2 years ago
Actually, the pipe is already 1/4". As to the fuel - although ethanol has a higher energy density than butane/propane mix, burning it with a wick does not produce more heat than a ceramic burner because it does not combine efficiently with the air. A carburettor or similar would be needed to acheive the full potential of alcohol.
jamespetts2 2 years ago
I assure you that the original or larger meths burners these boilers were designed to work with work a hell of alot better than any of the gas burners that came along later.The meths burners provide a vety hight heat that heats not only the bottom of the boiler but the sides and due to the tubular boiler some of the top,due purley to the long length of the flame.Did you engine come built from Stuarts?See if you can get a burner and try it,you must set it up properly though.
silver760 2 years ago
Ahh, no, it was not built by Stuart - it was built by somebody from whom I bought it over eBay. And are you sure that you are not confusing methylated spirits burners with paraffin burners (which *are* indeed *very* hot - too hot for a small boiler like this)?
jamespetts2 2 years ago
So have you sorted your sloppy pistons by now?As for the burner I do mean meths,look up the original burner for your boiler,youll see its much bigger than your current one,it is a wick burner,a vapourising buner,you can get a meths pressurised burner that works like the old blow lamps,but they are me suited to horizontal tube boilers,they are really fierce.I do seriously suggest looking into getting the original Stuart burner though.
silver760 2 years ago
I already have the original wick burner that came with my boiler - but a wick burner is far less efficient than a ceramic gas burner.
jamespetts2 2 years ago
Great vid, love them!!
Axbent 2 years ago
There does seem to be excessive bypassing of the slide valves when you did your exhaust test,more lappinh req?Also that boiler should keep that engine going easily,are you giving it enough heat,id try running it on max whilst engine is running,it should keep up with it,if not bigger burner may be req,food for thought.Stew.
silver760 2 years ago
Stew,
thank you for your thoughts. As to slide valves - they have since been lapped. I've been rebuilding the engine since last year (including tighter pistons with packing). The boiler has the biggest burner that will fit get set to maximum.
A stepper motor won't give enough current for what I'm trying to do - they're good for high voltage, low current applications such as higher voltage LEDs or very simple electronics. A small computer would require a few amps, not just a few milliamps.
jamespetts2 2 years ago
I think youd be surprised with these stepper motors,these are large,not you usual printer size ones,these are designed to drive machine tool bedways for CNC,as a gen they have a big output.Yet to do a current test on it though.but with four big coils/phases,should be impressive
silver760 2 years ago
I really want to see this steam plant running that eninge with a full head of excess dry steam,rather than the condensate drench puff through a straw it has at the moment,meths burner,please,please,buy one and increase the supply line bore to the engine!!That unit should thrash away until the boiler is nearlly empty on the glass!
silver760 2 years ago
The main problem with the engine was probably the fact that the pistons were far too small for the bores (about six thousandths of an inch smaller), and had no packing. I have been rebuilding the engine with better fitting pistons with proper packing, and also lapping the slide valves. I shall use water from a reverse osmosis machine and proper steam oil and hopefully things will be better. Will probably still need a new boiler, though.
jamespetts2 2 years ago
ARC Eurotrade an online UK company sell the best and best priced stepper motors anywhere at the moment for £12.95,superb stepper motor,kicks out loads of power,ideal for steam electricity generation James.You'd be surprised how much power you get out of one! youll need some diodes (AC-DC) and a pulley with a 5mm hole.
silver760 2 years ago
thx for info!
Axbent 2 years ago
Very entertaining display of high end engine and boiler!
RamonaSteam 3 years ago 2
Thank you - I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
jamespetts2 3 years ago
thx! very nice vid
thewebmaster93 3 years ago
good luck with your future endeavours. I too enjoyed the vid.
is that a whistle from Mainsteam Models?
steamyman 3 years ago
Thank you :-)
Yes, I think that it is. I did buy a few accessories from there. I can't remember for sure whether the whistle was from there, but it sounds about right.
jamespetts2 3 years ago
Enjoyed the video. Shame chain came off. It can be frustrating, but very enjoyable, getting displays to run properly. Good luck.
Basset669 3 years ago
Glad that you enjoyed the video :-) The chain problem is actually the least of the concerns: the far greater problem is that the boiler does not generate enough steam to sustain the dynamo running for more than a few seconds at a time.
I am currently looking into building a larger boiler with help from my local club, and re-making the pistons to give a better seal.
jamespetts2 3 years ago