Otherpower Steam Generator

Here's another video of our steam powered back up generator on a snowy day producing 2KW. The fuel is lodge pole pine. The video shows the engine, and then a shot at the wall shows the 3 phase rectifer we use to rectify the 3 phase AC into DC for battery charging. I have a similar generator on my 'listeroid' 6/1 diesel engine, the knife switch allows me to select diesel, or steam - so the two systems share the same rectifier. The web page about the machine is at otherpower.com/steamengine.shtml

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• steam
• engine
• power
• otherpower
• DIY
• renewable
• energy

[otherpower]

raycheshire1: Steam engines are silent when they're not doing anything... this one is just about dead quiet. Till you make it 'work'. In this video it's running a generator and producing 3kW. So the noise is the 'exhaust' from the engine which we send up the stack to draft the fire. Locomotives do the same thing, and they make the same sort of sound when they're working hard.

[Boyntonstu]

Would this engine design be in the ballpark?

Steam Engine - New 2 Piston Single Cylinder Wood Prototype

youtube.com/watch?v=Kv26DkTMQO­k

[ozzirt]

@otherpower Sorry I missed this post earlier.

Having retired after 43 years experience in steam propulsion, I can tell you categorically that steam engines under load should not make "mechanical" noises like that.

Unless I have it wrong and we are hearing an open exhaust note.

[otherpower]

@partsproduction

The draft is not restricted but it's still coming off at pretty high pressure. The engine is 'rated' 6hp (at least thats what it says on it). Its a 6" bore if I recall, and 8" stroke. The boiler is much newer than the engine, it was built in the 1940's, the boiler is probably rated about 4hp based on the size of the fire box, and at 2-3kW output... that is about what we're getting back out in electricity. (746W=1hp)

[raycheshire1]

What is making that horrible noise? Steam engines are nearly silent.

[torodi1995]

is this like an old smokemachine or something?

[partsproduction]

@0812201 It's not like any exhaust steam sound I've heard. So your using the exhaust for forced draft, and it must be restricted to some degree to get velocity to move more air. There is very little back pressure? What is the nominal HP rating for the engine? Was the boiler built for the engine or did you find a boiler that met the engine's requirements. It's a great looking engine BTW, I hope to find one about that size soon.

[partsproduction]

@0812201 Is that what is causing the noise?

[Tuskengod]

Heh, that thing's really loud. Though it looks fucking awesome.

[thechurchofdave]

I think what I love about this most is that instead of an experimental toy making all sorts of ridiculous claims, there it is. Working under load and making usable electricity.

It's not some high priced eye candy full of expensive parts put out by some no answers website looking for investors, it's a useful, running machine with huge amounts of documented, working science behind it.

Not only do I love the windmills from these guys but I love this as well. Because it freakin works!