Author Topic: a tiny steam engine  (Read 1921 times)

Offline Zephyrin

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a tiny steam engine
« on: September 15, 2018, 10:47:47 PM »
This is a very basic steam plan I did a few years back.
This engine is pretty small, a single cylinder, 8mm bore and 11 mm stroke, i.e.  0.55 cm3, with a conventional piston valve...
The boiler is a plain tube, heated by an alcohol lamp with 3 wicks and the boiler pressure is about 1-2 bar usually.
some pictures on the build here : https://goo.gl/photos/hwc94ZgS8SigHKMfA
After some changes in the engine, I took a video of the steaming tests

this engine can run at a tremendous speed, and reaches 6000rpm off load, the boiler pressure up to 1.5-2 bar.

The noise is really high, surprising for such a little steam engine. Too much pressure in the cylinder as the exhaust open maybe, the valve could be modified to shorten steam admission and give a longer detent.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVJcXgxBGPE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVJcXgxBGPE</a>




Offline b.lindsey

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2018, 11:03:28 PM »
Wow, that thing really flies!! Sure does run well though and nice to see it doing some work too. Nicely done.

Bill

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2018, 11:11:20 PM »
Good grief! I would've been so scared that something would fly off. What an engine!
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
"To work. To work."
Zee-Another Thread Trasher.

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2018, 11:11:46 PM »
That little baby really winds up and still able to run very slow.

Have a great day,
Thomas
Thomas

Offline MJM460

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #4 on: September 15, 2018, 11:15:03 PM »
Hi Zephryn, a great little engine.  Shows what can be achieved with meths and a beautifully made engine.  And such a tiny piston valve too.

Can we have some photos to admire beside the video please?

MJM460
The more I learn, the more I find that I still have to learn!

Offline crueby

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #5 on: September 15, 2018, 11:49:24 PM »
Sounds like an angry bee running a big chain saw!  Hmmm... May be a new horror movie idea there...

Offline steam guy willy

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2018, 11:49:45 PM »
wow thats amazing ...i might get a tacho ..how high can they read too.. Mach 1, 2, 3 ??

Offline Zephyrin

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2018, 11:30:07 AM »
thanks for these comments...
I do have lot of fun with this engine.
I changed the piston (cast iron) for a lighter one, in stainless steel, to reduce vibrations, which are now at a much lower level and avoid the disintegration...
but the engine is still not fully balanced, and I have little room on the crankshaft to increase the counterweight, not that easy.
 MJM : I gave the link for the pictures...

If I found a proper hull, certainly that driving a propeller in water would keep it at a more reasonable pace.

Offline MJM460

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2018, 11:42:08 AM »
Hi Zephryn , sorry, I missed the link, yes, it is there.

Does it need a special app or something to open, I seem to only get to a title page.

Perhaps I will just watch the video again.

MJM460
The more I learn, the more I find that I still have to learn!

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2018, 11:46:45 AM »
Hello again Zephyrin,

Your photo file is very interesting, thanks for sharing.

Have a great day,
Thomas
Thomas

Offline gary.a.ayres

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Re: a tiny steam engine
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2018, 01:19:18 PM »
Wow!

What a humdinger!

Nice one...

 :) :ThumbsUp:

gary

 

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