Model Engine Maker

Engines => Your Own Design => Topic started by: Zephyrin on September 15, 2018, 10:47:47 PM

Title: a tiny steam engine
Post by: Zephyrin 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVJcXgxBGPE

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: b.lindsey 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

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: zeeprogrammer on September 15, 2018, 11:11:20 PM

Good grief! I would've been so scared that something would fly off. What an engine!

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: Ye-Ole Steam Dude 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

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: MJM460 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

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: crueby 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...

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: steam guy willy 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 ??

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: Zephyrin 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.

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: MJM460 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

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: Ye-Ole Steam Dude 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

Title: Re: a tiny steam engine
Post by: gary.a.ayres on November 09, 2018, 01:19:18 PM

Wow!

What a humdinger!

Nice one...

 :) :ThumbsUp:

gary