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  • this guy is a genius...have seen some of his videos about engines and machines... cool...

  • The geometry of that bent-rod device is really interesting, I'd love measurements to replicate it in solidworks...

  • cool <3

  • hey, but, would air compresioned will freez all the cilindrer when it pass truh in high speed????

  • ur wrong not all steam engines have slide valves my b&s steam engines all have pop up valves controlled buy cam shafts (tweek much??)

  • Dan, you are an inspiration for humanity.. keep up the good work!!

  • I love science

  • just a random question would it be possible to make a go cart engine out of that

  • where can i get one of those air hog engines? and how much are they?

  • Dan does the air compressor move with vapor pressure? Thanks

  • thanks for the vid Dan.

  • I like it because i m Mechanical Engineer

  • what are u?? what is ur proffecion?? what did u study for?? please tell me i want to study that..and learn more about it...have u reaserched about antigravity???

  • its a wrist pin

  • So you take 120VAC wall power and at a huge loss, you use that power to compress air. Now you take that air and, again at ANOTHER huge loss you step advance a flywheel, then using that flywheel to turn (again at a loss) a generator to then run some device. Wow - if you only had some modern fancy thing called A POWER SUPPLY ! Wall power could do the work in the first place (much greener, far less Rube Goldberg losses, and much less noise) - oh well, thanks for trying anyway.

  • @smoothntallGWM

    Yep, he took a 1 hp (about 750 watts) compressor compressing air and managed to recover about 2 watts. Exactly how he defines efficiency, I don't know. I find these videos sad.

  • @samgm2 don't be a dolt....the idea would be to hook it up to a solar steam generator

  • Everyone always shows us an "AIR" motor and calls it a steam engine. Show us how to make a boiler that will run it for free. SOLAR, and not just a beer bottle full water that busts. Give me something I can use. Using a compressor and solenoid switche cost money...I want it FREE!

  • @dickmartn I hear you. It would be cool to see a waterwheel/windmill with a compressor with a storage tank to store the air (energy). Use the stored pressure to run a second compressor/engine to an alternator-battery-inverter.

    At least he gives us ideas and from there we can go forward and tinker. Scrap yards offer great pickings for rock bottom prices. Just need inspiration or a design to steal. :)

  • what kinda of engine is that? do you know the name?

  • thanks for posts. i love your videos. where are you based?

  • hi hi.. i want to ask, how does the turbine turn? as in, i knw the air turns the turbine, but, what causes the ir to turn the turbine? thx.

  • i can make video like this

  • Mack Giver=)

  • brao brao

  • HOW MUCH ENERGY CAN YOU GET OUT OF THAT?

  • Dude great stuff.

  • The air pump it self is like a oscillating steam engine but it not sealing the steam off but wasting steam out a large port this means there no power stoke on the exhaust side like a Traction engine that has a steam port on the back side that lets steam in to push the pistion back to the starting pont. This mean you have two power stokes. Oscillating steam engine are like 2cyc engine thay run at higher RPM but with less power and Traction engine are like 4stoke run at less Rpm with more power.

  • i know this is alot to ask.. but i really wanna make an engine for a bike.. is there anyway you could give me plans for it?

  • I belive your air pump engine is less powerfull thin the wilesco D10 on scale the air pump it self is like a oscillating steam engine like you D-6 this means there no power stoke on the exhaust side unlike the D10 that open a steam port on the back side that lets steam in to push the pistion back to the starting pont. Oscillating steam engine are like 2cyc engine thay run at higher RPM but with less power and Traction engine are like 4stokes run at less Rpm with more power and us 1/2 the steam.

  • I belive your air pump engine is less powerfull thin the wilesco D10 on scale the air pump it self is like a oscillating steam engine like you D-6 this means there no power stoke on the exhaust side unlike the D10 that open a steam port on the back side that lets steam in to push the pistion back to the starting pont. Oscillating steam engine are like 2cyc engine thay run at higher RPM but with less power and Traction engine are like 4stokes run at less Rpm with more power and us 1/2 the steam.

  • Four identical cylinders, four journal crankshaft with each journal exactly 1/4 turn off, and you'd be making real power. This would emulate a steam locomotive ;)

  • @dgr8zod Yes usable power! I just want 1000 watts to recharge my batterys.

  • very cool. would be nice to have solar power from thermal to avoid the costly solar panels. if cheap.

    you might want to do an efficiency experiment. measure the mechanical power vs the air power. a pressure sensor and flow gauge should tell the power used in the air.

    mechanical power can be done with newtonmeter coupling, radius value and rpm measure. do that for various loads and pressures to map out the efficiency.

    also I hunch that a large piston is more efficient. rotating ball valve

  • cool video! but correct me if i'm wrong: aren't you burning more power running the air compressor than you're actually generating from it in return...???

  • @007tallguy of course but I imagine he has solar heating in mind for the power.

  • Sounds just like an old steam locomotive - good stuff!

  • Hey, cool video. I'd learnt a lot, will subscribe.

  • I really like most of your videos.

  • thanks, i know this is kinda old but i was looking around for how a air hogs motor works a few days ago and today i found this randomly looking at your other engine videos! your videos are a big help and bigger influence in my future "experiments" and projects. please keep it up

    btw what is the name of the vintage compressor with the bent rod?

  • Ur vids R the best m8 !

  • Thanks for all your videos. Very entertaining :)

  • FINNELY!!! I FREAKEN FIGURED IT OUT YESS THAN KYOU!!!!WOOOT [finnely i figure out how the pisten work! WOOOOTTT]

  • Great video!

    Thanks.

    Bill

  • Dan, Thanks for the info on other ways to make power. I look forward to more of your videos, To bad you weren't around when I was in school..LOL

  • :-) Thank you!

  • at 10:13 what are you useing as a genorator???

  • @superfunnyman123 it is a "treadmill motor" They are DC.

  • Air-compressed engines are more efficient than steam engines at small scales: They're very efficient in turning gaseous energy into work, but they don't have comparable power to steam engines.

    At larger scales this becomes clearer, one could not power a train using a compressed air engine that was of equal size to a steam engine.

  • if you are looking for a powerfull air moter try a impack gun tool they flow a lot of air but if you get one that is adjustable thats good, at 100lbs of air you can get 115foot lbs tork, depends on mfg.

  • I notice that the engine goes weak when you close a circuit. I seen the generater it was attached to and that it did a good job turning it, but why would a closed circuit create its own mechanical load?

  • Because the amount of amps it needs to deliver to a closed circuit, is much larger, than other loads (like the fan, and the light bulb)

    If you ever come across a dynamo (e.i. a bike light with a wheeldriven dynamo) try to short-circuit it, and se how much more power is needed.

  • No steam or solar in vid. Misleading title.

  • would like to see you do a video on the other engine that is beside you at the 6:55 mark in this video.

  • u should hook those things up to ur nipples

  • Pretty cool.

  • Thanks for the video, it's very interesting. I've enjoyed it.

  • I am not sure how you are figuring your efficiency. Why not run your steam engines and air engines on a fixed volume/pressure of air and see which one can lift a weight the highest?

    A Stirling engine by definition works on a fixed volume of air, so if you are using a venting cylinder you are by definition making something other than a Stirling engine.

  • whe

    re the solar  part

  • I'm very intersting about steam engines. Could u please, tell me how to create the bore and the piston. What metal are suitable for that.... Thanks.

  • dude, shut your pie hole. Your the reason this country is so screwed up, your public e-ja-ma-ca-shun never taught you to think outside the box... IT IS NOT WHAT HE IS SHOWING YOU... IT IS WHAT YOU DO WITH IT!

  • @dapfury Actualy its much worse then that! Most people cant build anything even with explicit instructions! So just to be practical you have to not only design the solar engine you MUST manufacture it for the average solar wannabee.

  • Yes indeed. It should be called "ExecutiveDeskToysScience (without maths)" For Gods sake lets see some numbers, so we know if you've actually made anything work. Round and round does not equal usable power.

  • your crazy dan! that was a fun video.

  • You are such a funny guy and very educational, you could be at oprah every day, like dr OZ. I keep learning and learning from your videos. Thanks

  • STEAMPUNK FTW

  • delivery of all yes yes valve open when not much to tell anyway ter for more than that I want maimult

    search

  • nice ive been trying to make a steam engine

  • were do you get ALL ur stuff?

  • EBAY

  • @GREENPOWERSCIENCE

    wat if you used a baloon on the air motor rather than a solid plastic tube

  • HA! I always wondered why in the old cowboy movies - you see the steam escaping on the return stroke out of the rod shaft - it's probably the same function as your antique compressor/motor.

  • The last compressor, without a check valve, is exhausting full pressure air, as well as the air that was used for the power stroke, when in the exhaust stroke. This would make it LESS efficient then engines with a check valve which close off the air source during the exhaust stroke. Adding a check valve would indeed make it more efficient.

  • I do get what Dan is saying though. He means that slide valves are generally small and make SOME resistance during the exhaust stroke. This resistance could be circumvented by simply making a larger check valve/exhaust port, at which point it would no longer detract from efficiency.

  • With all the energy and passion you have for green solutions we could all hook up cables from our tv's, cars ,heaters ,ipods to your wonderful green spirit and power the entire planet. lol :P awesome! great work!

  • Your running the large engines on air. Steam is alot different than air...... the small engines are not really effected by the principles of steam. However as you get into bigger engines and higher pressures, things start to happen. Single acting engines (like your compressor engine and air hogs) are not near as efficient as the double acting slide valve engines. Double acting engines have one giant advantage Torque and low RPM, this means less wear and more power.

  • The engine @ 1:40 is either an empire or IND-X steam engine assembly. Can I buy it from you??

  • for the big air engine,can i use a steam to turn it?

  • Yes, that is the goal, we are working on steam and expanded hot air hybrid.

    Dan

  • neat stuff thanks dan

  • WEEK!

  • SEVEN DAYS!

  • you jack that little air engine out of one of those air hogs airplanes on tv?

  • thats so efficient, you used a mains power air compressor to run another compressor backwards to run a alternator to light up a little globe......... have you ever made anything that actually does something useful? or do you just spend all your time playing with tiny motors in you shed and saying the word efficient? maybe you should go spend some time with your wife or something

  • Why not?

  • hi dan! i have a boxer motor here! can i convert to a air motor? will be efficient?

  • lol i have one of those. works good. i'm not sure how many psi those steam tanks put out, but as far as air motors my pneumatic wrench is strong enough for me to break loose the lug nuts on my tires.

  • pls combine steam engine and compress air technology... get a new engine... joe 014 8113598 , malaysia...

  • THANKS A LOT... EXCELLENT LESSONN !!

  • Hmm I think that a two cycle engine would able to do it!

    Hook up the air true the spark plug hole preferably with a solenoid valve. When the pistol gets before the bottom turning point it opens the exhaust and intake channels in that order.

    Now you probably need to block the intake channel because that is connected to the crank chamber but it maybe even better to leave at open ...

    If you look up how this engines work u see why..!:)

  • Why not use a Tesla Turbine connected to a generator? You could focus the sun on a copper coil which water is running through. Paint it black for more heat absorption. The water turns to steam and then runs the Tesla Turbine. Check out some videos on Youtube showing a Tesla Turbine.

  • I also wondered about that. Would seem to be more efficient. Also, I had thought about using alcohol or acetone (possibly even ether and all with Nitrogen atmosphere in a closed loop) versus water (steam) in a Tesla Turbine and using ground temperature for condensation. The unit may have to be underground but may not be a big problem. I love the Internet and throwing ideas back and forth. Great video Dan. We need more like you in the world. Visionquest is thinking as well. Great thoughts.

  • The air hog was based on compressed air engines used to power model airplanes as far back as 1933. Gasparin still produces small "co2" engines for model airplanes powerd with a co2 cartridge.

  • In physics, the law of conservation of energy states that the total amount of energy in an isolated system remains constant. A consequence of this law is that energy cannot be created or destroyed. The only thing that can happen with energy in an isolated system is that it can change form, that is to say for instance kinetic energy can become thermal energy.

  • early April. At the Seagate Center Toledo. North American Model Engineering Society. Well worth a visit ! Amazing what you can learn at these shows.

  • Interesting design compressor. Suggest attending Model engineering Exhibitions? You will see numerous steam, hot air , hit or miss engines, hot bulb engines air engines and of course internal combustion . The folks who build them are experimenters with boundless knowledge of engineering Heard of the soloniod valve IC engine? Examples are powering air planes and boat models! Very efficient. Try the "NAMES" show in

  • I like this Concept. I've been doing a little researching on green energy lately. I recently have become attracted to the Idea of steam engines running on solar energy using a Fresnel Lens to heat up water. This could be a cool way to get more energy using these air engines connected to a Fresnel Lens Generator. Or possibly use External Combustion Engine Generator. Many possibilities, everyone keep up their good work of knowledge and and we can save money and the planet.

  • Hey... I got a new compressor concept. i call it (magnatic compressor) i think might in use for your air engine...

  • could u do that exact same thing with a modern day compresser pump

  • Yes, but it needs an exhaust like a steam engine. All compressors now have a regular piston rod setup.

  • i was wondering could u tell me how to make a steam engine

  • I think I know what you are trying to do. are you trying to make steam at a heat source then convert to air pressure. then you can run air engine which runs a generator

  • What a pleasure it is to watch somebody doing something they truly love. Thank you for this with everyone.

  • I was wondering what kind of valve design steam engines used. Thanks for the explanation of them. Great video very informative.

  • Most use a simple slide valve that basically opens, closes then vents. Others use a more efficient piston valve. There is a big loss of efficiency in both on the venting side.

  • i a litle confused :? on a steam locomotive, they have two pistons but 3 cylinders, can anyone explain?

  • awesome but long

  • Hahaha

    11:16

    There's something about running an air compressor to run an air compressor backwards to run a generator to run an air compressor that just doesn't seem right.

    Kudos on the set up! I'm going to try to start making something like that soon. I'm also going to buy an "air hog"

  • how can somthing be efficent in your oppinion, thats a factual thing, not an oppinion question. take actual mesurements next time please.

  • i loved this video. I always wondered how those air hog engines were designed. What brand was the compressor from the 30's?

  • Thank you for the comment. The air hogs are simple plastic with a rubber gasket. The compressor is unknown, only a number. I have searched for hours and could not find anything.

  • OK, just food for thought. Why not put a fly wheel on the "air hog" instead of a propeller and place small magnets on the fly wheel--then place the magnetic fly wheel inside a copper coil and use the high rpm to generate electricity? That seems like a no brainer to me, I just wish I had the time to put it together.

  • Looks like you're having fun.

    I see "Green Power Science" and it begs the question, what does this afford us over a much more efficient and controllable combustion engine?

  • Combustion engines do not run off of the sun:-) Actually they can, but it requires a lot more concentrated solar energy to accomplish the same task.

  • Thank you for this demo, you accurately demonstrated how a large output port would increase the units efficiency. How do you add lubrication to extend the life of the piston

  • Dan forgive my suggestion of the two stroke reed ( type intake reed  into google images and you will get the idea) they are used to stop the intake gases being pumped back into the carby of two stroke engines , on reevaluation it is flawed , but there is /was a company in Australia w w w ,rossen,ch/solar/images/wcfig4­2.jpg that converted a Lister diesel to run on steam and the way he controls the intake flow is shear genius ,

  • it uses pins strategically screwed into the piston crown to lift ball bearings in the entry port and hold it open until the desired crank rotation has been achieved , they may fit into the check vale holes you all ready have .

  • In theory, one could even use the last piston design with a gravity fed water supply. I'm interested to see the stirling application.

  • Dan , for a check valve I was thinking of the reed valve setups the seventies / eighties motto crossers used to run , they may do the job without the need for a solenoid .

  • Great work Dan , keep it up . I just visited your website , it doesnt seem to have all this great stuff your doing here , will you keep posting here ? I for one cant wait for your next episode. I find this fixed piston idea very sound but I wonder how much torque is obtained, considering the factor of crank pin offset . Also have you thought of covering the fins ? it may help keep the expansion working on the piston crown for longer.

  • Hi Robbosdog, I used a regular Reed and Solenoid with AMAZING RESULTS!!!! UNSCIENTIFIC: The torque is unstoppable by hand down to 25 PSI. It runs 4 minutes on a 10 gallon tank at 110 PSI. Top RPM 600 At 2 PSI it still runs, 60 RPMs but it still turns. This piston, the more torque the more air that fills the piston. I will have a video soon. Do you know the name of the motocross valves? Thank you for the comment.
  • Is that a low RPM alternator you have attached to your 30s air compressor? Where did you get that?

  • Great video and what an amazing steam engine collection you have there.

  • I'd be interested to see you test that against a slide/piston valve engine of similar size to get a scientific comparison of the relative efficiency of both: I saw that you had a rather large vertical steam engine in the background while talking about the smaller steam engines, which might be a good comparator.

    Incidentally, you refer at some instances incorrectly to a "slide valve". The Wilesco D10 and that little red engine do not have slide valves, but piston valves.

  • You are correct about the piston valve:-0 Thank you for catching it. I will add an annotation. The large vertical engine works good on high pressure but rough. I think the flywheel may have a problem? I love your channel. You have some great stuff:-) I have a few questions I will be sending you soon. Thank you again.

  • I should love to see your large steam engine running. Roughness might be caused by an imbalanced flywheel, or it could be bad timing.

    I'm not the world's greatest expert on steam, but I will help where I can :-)

  • nice very nice but not very good explain

  • Do you know what make the air compressor is??

    Thanks:-)!!

  • the feedback of the tested devices , reduced the rpm , i that if you put a coil between the alternator and the out put device you will reduce(even eliminate) the resistance inducted to the alternator by the feedback

    therefore keeping speed and power.

    Good luck keep the good work !

  • I Love engines!!

  • Awesome! I'm a teacher in florida. You are an inspiration i'm working on some DIY videos of my own so that my students can learn relevant information. The times they are a changing. Keep up the great work.

  • Thank you for being a teacher. I admire what you do! Please keep me updated when you get some videos together.

  • I realy enjoy your videos. and i like the way you go into detail about how it works. THANKS!

  • Thank you for the nice comment:-)

  • sweet! those things are awesome! thanks for sharing!

  • Just read your info on your channel. It says you were in some movies. I thought you looked familiar. Would you care to share with us what movies?

    Also, I think previously you stated as a goal creating ideas that small startups could build for customers, is this still a goal? A very worthy goal. How do you feel about the progress in this direction?

  • Hi,

    The movie I got my SAG Card from (card eligibility expired) was In The Line of Duty "FBI Murders" directed by Dick Lowry 1988. Tampa once had a thriving movie scene. We both had several Extra and Principal Extra Stuff. National commercials (when Chevrolet rolled out the Lumina at the newly built Universal Studios in Orlando) it has been a while:-) We also did a bunch of Regional work and Local.

  • RE: START UPS

    Most of the information I share is open source so many ideas could have a commercial application for a business. I have consulted a few companies on ideas and given input about their projects.

    I think what holds a lot of entrepreneurs back is the patent process. I understand the need to protect an idea, but I think the delay, expense and "GOING BIG" approach is a lotto concept. They way to keep ideas fresh, evolution of the idea. Just my opinion:-)

  • The patent process and all of the things that need to be done to get an idea into a marketable state seems a bit overwhelming. I like your way of looking at things, keep the videos coming.

  • More great stuff from green power science. Thanx

  • :-)

  • Hey Dan, great video. What's that generator that your using?

  • 2-1/2 HP 130 VDC MOTOR

    New, ARGORD CORP.

    Ebay $35

    "Permanent Magnet Motor"

    Thank you for the comment!

  • Isn't it less efficient than using the power you would use to compress that air to run a generator directly. I can't think of a practical way of creating compressed air that couldn't directly turn a generator... Plus your stated assumptions that one engine is more efficient than another kinda raises my eyebrows... How about an energy in vs. energy out comparison?

  • The end goal is steam which can run this directly from the sun. The air compressor is just a stand-in. Once I have the valves worked out, the solar part will be tested.

    The efficiency estimates are based on what they can do with the same volume of air. Also, no 2 inch bore can run on 5 psi like the converted compressor/engine can especially without a slide valve. Thank you for the comment:-)

  • energy in vs energy out is always the same. if the source energy is free then you can hook it up to a 1% efficient motor and still be up

  • actually, no. The main energy losses are going to be due to friction (piston, belts, bearings, etc) and heat (compressed air heats up and when that air is expelled so is that energy) and even acoustic energy if the motor is clunky... And these are not all minimal either. Google for "electric motor efficiency" and you can read a lot more about inefficiencies in engines.

  • To be extra clear, energy is always conserved, but "lost" energy leaves the system framework and cannot be recovered. Calculating this amount of lost energy gives us the efficiency of the motor.

  • thats pretty cool. Hope ta see this in future videos.

  • Dan, will your modified compressor run on steam? If so you could half fill a used-up propane bottle with water (remove the valve) and copper piped to your compressor. The heavier steel of the propane bottle should hold up well as target of your parabolic mirror.

  • Hi,

    It should as it seems to work fine on a very low PSI and volume. Thank you for the idea. I will be using the big dish and I actually have a bunch of empty OLD STYLE VALVES.

    I will also be trying some home made solar evacuated boilers.

  • "I will also be trying some home made solar evacuated boilers."

    Is there a video for those?

  • glad to see you put a load on your engine

    hope you can show a practical use for this

    engine

  • Agreed, simply testing voltage is pointless. I am curious what this can do with a valve. Thank you for the comment.

  • Cool. You seem to be getting a nice collection of engines in your shop!

  • :-) I have about 20 now. I am making a few larger ones too.

  • What is that style of fixed piston rod called? I checked every search possible and could not find anything?

  • How many watts was that making?

  • Cool, I saw your store, as I was looking for some Fresnel Lenses, which I ordered. Thank you for sharing information on how to be more self sufficient. +5

  • Check out books at the library it will show you some of the things the Amish do to provide power. They use compressed air solar panels and diesel generators they dont want any wires attached to their home some use computers for accounting Amish are interesting people they do use some tech but there has to be a reason to use it. They build air pressure with generator and it is a way to store energy rather than a battery.

  • i don't understand whats the point in turning pressure into mechanical energy nothing to do with green power????

  • You can make pressure with heat... heat can be made with the sun (light). You can then use the mechanical energy to make electricity... to make light.

  • the wil run it on steam made from the sun.

    the compressed are was just to try it.

  • GE4L,

    Ahhhh thanks for commenting on it. I was wondering where they might be going with this. We do know that they have ways of harnessing the sun so that could be one way of powering this.

    Looking forward to the next installments, Dan and Denise!

  • Reminds me of the car they built that runs on compressed air.Little air motor was very cool too.Thanks

  • Keep it coming.

  • Thank you:-)

  • Also, the plane, is that at stores? Or internets. Does it have a slide or check valve.

  • This came from a store. Just make sure there is a pump. Some "Air Hogs" use batteries and that is a totally different motor.

  • What is the difference between a check valve and a slide valve.