How to convert a conventional engine into a steam engine. Steam Engine – Getting Started in Simulation
Have you ever seen how a steam engine works, not on video? Nowadays, it is not easy to find such a functioning model. Oil and gas have long replaced steam, taking a dominant position in the world of technical installations that set mechanisms in motion. However, this craft is not lost; you can find examples of successfully working engines installed by craftsmen on cars and motorcycles. Homemade samples more often resemble museum exhibits than elegant, laconic devices suitable for use, but they work! And people successfully drive steam cars and set various units in motion.
In this episode of the “Techno Rebel” channel you will see a steam two-cylinder machine. It all started with two pistons and the same number of cylinders.
Having removed all unnecessary things, the master increased the piston stroke and working volume. Which led to an increase in torque. The most difficult part of the project is the crankshaft. Consists of a pipe that has been bored for 3 bearings. 15 and 25 pipes. The pipe is cut down after welding. Prepared a pipe for the piston. After processing it will become a cylinder or spool.
Leave 1 centimeter from the edge on the pipe so that when the lid is welded, the metal may move to the side. The piston may get stuck. The video shows the modification of the timing cylinders. One of the holes is plugged and narrowed to a twenty tube. Steam will come in here. Steam outlet.
How the device works. Steam is supplied to the holes. It is distributed through the pipe and enters 2 cylinders. When the piston moves down, steam passes through and falls under pressure. The piston rises. Blocks the passage. Steam is released through the holes.
Next from 5 minutes
Source: youtu.be/EKdnCHNC0qU
How to make a working model of a steam engine at home
If you have been interested in model steam engines, you may have already checked them out online, the shocking thing is that they are very expensive. If you are not expecting the price range, then you can try to look for other options where you can have your own steam engine model. This doesn't mean that you only need to buy them, as you can make them yourself. You can watch the process of creating your own steam engine model at WoodiesTrainShop.com. There's nothing you can't do and find out without doing a little research of your own.
How to build your own steam engine?
It sounds amazing, but you can actually build a model steam engine from scratch. You can start by building a very simple tractor pulled by an engine. It can easily carry an adult and will take you about a hundred hours to complete construction. The great thing is that it is not that expensive and the process of making it is very simple and all you have to do is drill and work on the lathe all day. You can always check out your options at WoodiesTrainShop.com where you'll find more information on how you can get started making your own model steam engine.
The rear wheel rims are homemade, the steam engine model is made from gas cylinders, and you can buy ready-made gears as well as drive chains from the market. The simplicity of the DIY steam engine model is what makes it appealing to everyone as it offers you very simple instructions and quick assembly. You don't even need to learn anything technical to be able to do everything yourself. Simple drawings and pictures are enough to help you with your workload from start to finish.
The steam engine began its expansion at the dawn of the 19th century. At that time, large units intended for industrial use and small steam engines, sometimes performing purely decorative functions, were already being built. Such “toys” were purchased mainly by prominent nobles who wanted to please themselves and their children. When steam units became more firmly established in everyday life, decorative steam units were used only in educational institutions as aids.
Modern steam engines
At the beginning of the 20th century, the popularity of steam units began to decline. The British company Mamod remained one of the few companies that continued to produce miniature steam engines. A sample of such technology can be purchased even today. However, the cost of such devices exceeds two hundred pounds. Those who like to independently assemble and manufacture various mechanisms will certainly like the idea of creating a steam engine or others on their own.
Assembling a steam engine is quite simple. Under the influence of fire, a boiler with water heats up, the water, under the influence of high temperatures, turns into a gaseous state and pushes out the piston. The flywheel connected to the piston will rotate as long as there is water in the container. This is the standard design of a steam engine. It is possible to produce models with completely different configurations. Let's move from theory to practice. This article is devoted to methods of making a steam engine with your own hands.
Method one
Let's begin the process of manufacturing the simplest version of a heat engine. For this we do not need complex drawings and special skills. So, take a simple aluminum can and cut off the bottom third of it. The resulting sharp edges of the can must be bent inward using pliers. This must be done very carefully so as not to cut yourself. Since most aluminum cans have a slightly concave bottom, it is necessary to level it. To do this, simply press the bottom with your finger to a hard surface.
In the resulting glass, at a distance of 1.5 cm from the top edge, you need to make two holes opposite each other. It is necessary to make holes with a diameter of at least 3 mm. A regular hole punch is perfect for this purpose. Place a candle at the bottom of the jar. Now you need to take regular food foil, crumple it and wrap our mini burner. Then you need to take a piece of hollow copper tube 15-20 cm long. This will be the main mechanism of the engine, which will set the entire structure in motion. The central part of the tube is wrapped around the pencil two or three times to form a spiral.
Next, this element must be placed so that the curved section is directly above the candle wick. To do this, you can give the tube the shape of the letter M. The sections of the pipe that go down are taken out through specially made holes. As a result, we obtain a rigid fixation of the tube over the wick. The edges of the tube act as a kind of nozzles. In order for the entire structure to rotate, you need to bend the opposite ends of the M-shaped element in different directions at right angles.
Our steam engine is ready. To start it, the jar is placed in a container of water. It is necessary that the edges of the tube are above the surface of the water. If the nozzles are not long enough, a small weight can be placed at the bottom of the jar. However, you must be careful when doing this, otherwise you risk sinking the engine. We lower one end of the tube into the water, and with the other we draw in air and lower the jar into the water. The tube will fill with water. Now you can light the fuse. Some time later, the water that is in the spiral will turn into steam, which will fly out of the nozzles under pressure. The jar will begin to rotate fairly quickly in the container. 
Method two
The proposed design is somewhat more complex than the first version of the engine. First of all, to create such a device we will need a paint can. Make sure it is clean enough. At a distance of 2 cm from the bottom, cut out a rectangle on the wall, the dimensions of which are 5X15 cm. The long side of the rectangle is placed parallel to the bottom.
From a metal mesh you need to cut a piece measuring 24x12 cm. We measure 6 cm from both ends from the long side of the piece. These sections must be bent at a right angle. As a result, we should get a small platform table with legs, 6 cm long. The resulting structure must be installed on the bottom of the jar. Several holes are made around the entire perimeter of the lid. They need to be placed in a semicircle shape only along one half of the lid. This is necessary to ensure ventilation: a steam engine will not work if there is no air access to the fire source.
To make the main element of the engine we need a copper tube. We bend it into a spiral shape. We retreat 30 cm from one end of the tube. From this point we make five turns of the spiral, the diameter of each turn should be 12 cm. The rest of the tube is bent in the shape of 15 rings, the diameter of which is 8 cm. 
There should be about 20 cm left at the opposite end of the tube. Both ends of the tube are passed through the ventilation holes made in the lid of the jar. Coal is placed on a pre-installed platform. The spiral should be placed directly above the platform. The coal must be spread out carefully between the turns of the spiral. Now you can close the jar. As a result, we received a firebox, which will drive our steam engine.
The ship model is propelled by a steam-water jet engine. A ship with this engine is not a progressive discovery (its system was patented 125 years ago by the Briton Perkins), but otherwise it clearly demonstrates the operation of a simple jet engine.
Rice. 1 Ship with a steam engine. 1 - steam-water engine, 2 - plate made of mica or asbestos; 3 - firebox; 4 - nozzle outlet with a diameter of 0.5 mm.
Instead of a boat, it would be possible to use a car model. The choice was made for the boat due to its greater fire protection. The experiment is carried out with a vessel with water at hand, for example, a bath or basin.
The body can be made of wood (for example, pine) or plastic (expanded polystyrene), using a ready-made body of a toy polyethylene boat. The engine will be a small tin can, which is filled 1/4 of the volume with water.
On board, under the engine, you need to place a firebox. It is known that heated water is converted into steam, which, expanding, presses on the walls of the motor housing and exits at high speed from the nozzle hole, as a result of which the thrust necessary for movement appears. On the back wall of the engine can you need to drill a hole no larger than 0.5 mm. If the hole is larger, the operating time of the motor will become quite short, and the exhaust speed will be small.
The optimal diameter of the nozzle opening can be determined experimentally. It will correspond to the fastest movement of the model. In this case, the thrust will be greatest. As a firebox, it is possible to use a duralumin or iron lid of a tin can (for example, from a can of ointment, cream or shoe paste).
We use “dry alcohol” in tablets as fuel.
To protect the ship from fire, we attach a layer of asbestos (1.5-2 mm) to the deck. If the boat's hull is made of wood, sand it thoroughly and coat it with nitro varnish several times. The smooth surface reduces resistance in the water and your boat will definitely float. The boat model should be as light as possible. The design and dimensions are shown in the figure.
After filling the tank with water, light the alcohol placed in the firebox lid (this should be done when the boat is on the surface of the water). After a few tens of seconds, the water in the tank will make noise, and a thin stream of steam will begin to escape from the nozzle. Now the steering wheel can be set in such a way that the boat moves in a circle, and within a few minutes (from 2 to 4) you will observe the operation of a simple jet engine.
Throughout its history, the steam engine has had many variations of embodiment in metal. One of these incarnations was the steam rotary engine of mechanical engineer N.N. Tverskoy. This steam rotary engine (steam engine) was actively used in various fields of technology and transport. In the Russian technical tradition of the 19th century, such a rotary engine was called a rotary machine.
The engine was characterized by durability, efficiency and high torque. But with the advent of steam turbines it was forgotten. Below are archival materials raised by the author of this site. The materials are very extensive, so only a part of them is presented here so far.
Steam rotary engine by N.N. Tverskoy
Test rotation of a steam rotary engine with compressed air (3.5 atm).
The model is designed for 10 kW of power at 1500 rpm at a steam pressure of 28-30 atm.
At the end of the 19th century, steam engines - “N. Tverskoy’s rotary engines” were forgotten because piston steam engines turned out to be simpler and more technologically advanced to manufacture (for the industries of that time), and steam turbines provided more power.
But the remark regarding steam turbines is true only in their large weight and overall dimensions. Indeed, with a power of more than 1.5-2 thousand kW, multi-cylinder steam turbines outperform steam rotary engines in all respects, even with the high cost of turbines. And at the beginning of the 20th century, when ship power plants and power units of power plants began to have a power of many tens of thousands of kilowatts, only turbines could provide such capabilities.
BUT - steam turbines have another drawback. When scaling their mass-dimensional parameters downward, the performance characteristics of steam turbines sharply deteriorate. The specific power is significantly reduced, the efficiency drops, while the high cost of manufacturing and high speeds of the main shaft (the need for a gearbox) remain. That is why - in the area of power less than 1.5 thousand kW (1.5 MW), it is almost impossible to find a steam turbine that is efficient in all respects, even for a lot of money...
That is why a whole “bouquet” of exotic and little-known designs appeared in this power range. But most often, they are also expensive and ineffective... Screw turbines, Tesla turbines, axial turbines, etc.
But for some reason everyone forgot about steam “rotary machines” - rotary steam engines. Meanwhile, these steam engines are many times cheaper than any blade and screw mechanisms (I say this with knowledge of the matter, as a person who has already made more than a dozen such machines with his own money). At the same time, N. Tverskoy’s steam “rotary rotary machines” have powerful torque from very low speeds, and have an average speed of rotation of the main shaft at full speed from 1000 to 3000 rpm. Those. Such machines, whether for an electric generator or a steam car (truck, tractor, tractor), will not require a gearbox, clutch, etc., but will be directly connected with their shaft to the dynamo, wheels of the steam car, etc.
So, in the form of a steam rotary engine - the “N. Tverskoy rotary machine” system, we have a universal steam engine that will perfectly generate electricity powered by a solid fuel boiler in a remote forestry or taiga village, at a field camp, or generate electricity in a boiler room in a rural settlement or “spinning” on process heat waste (hot air) in a brick or cement factory, in a foundry, etc.
All such heat sources have a power of less than 1 mW, which is why conventional turbines are of little use here. But general technical practice does not yet know of other machines for recycling heat by converting the pressure of the resulting steam into work. So this heat is not utilized in any way - it is simply lost stupidly and irretrievably.
I have already created a “steam rotary machine” to drive an electric generator of 3.5 - 5 kW (depending on the steam pressure), if everything goes as planned, soon there will be a machine of both 25 and 40 kW. Just what is needed to provide cheap electricity from a solid fuel boiler or process heat waste to a rural estate, small farm, field camp, etc., etc.
In principle, rotary engines scale well upward, therefore, by placing many rotor sections on one shaft, it is easy to repeatedly increase the power of such machines by simply increasing the number of standard rotor modules. That is, it is quite possible to create steam rotary machines with a power of 80-160-240-320 kW or more...
But, in addition to medium and relatively large steam power plants, steam power circuits with small steam rotary engines will also be in demand in small power plants.
For example, one of my inventions is “Camping and tourist electric generator using local solid fuel.”
Below is a video where a simplified prototype of such a device is tested.
But the small steam engine is already cheerfully and energetically spinning its electric generator and producing electricity using wood and other pasture fuel.
The main direction of commercial and technical application of steam rotary engines (rotary steam engines) is the generation of cheap electricity using cheap solid fuel and combustible waste. Those. small-scale energy - distributed power generation using steam rotary engines. Imagine how a rotary steam engine would fit perfectly into the operation scheme of a sawmill, somewhere in the Russian North or Siberia (Far East) where there is no central power supply, electricity is provided at an expensive price by a diesel generator powered by diesel fuel imported from afar. But the sawmill itself produces at least half a ton of sawdust chips per day - a slab that has nowhere to put...
Such wood waste has a direct path into the boiler furnace, the boiler produces high-pressure steam, the steam drives a rotary steam engine and it spins an electric generator.
In the same way, it is possible to burn unlimited millions of tons of agricultural crop waste, etc. And there is also cheap peat, cheap thermal coal, and so on. The author of the site calculated that fuel costs when generating electricity through a small steam power plant (steam engine) with a steam rotary engine with a power of 500 kW will be from 0.8 to 1.
2 rubles per kilowatt.
Another interesting option for using a steam rotary engine is to install such a steam engine on a steam car. The truck is a tractor-steam vehicle, with powerful torque and using cheap solid fuel - a very necessary steam engine in agriculture and the forestry industry.
With the use of modern technologies and materials, as well as the use of the “Organic Rankine cycle” in the thermodynamic cycle, it will be possible to increase the effective efficiency to 26-28% using cheap solid fuel (or inexpensive liquid fuel, such as “furnace fuel” or used engine oil). Those. truck - tractor with a steam engine
Truck NAMI-012, with a steam engine. USSR, 1954
and a rotary steam engine with a power of about 100 kW, will consume about 25-28 kg of thermal coal per 100 km (cost 5-6 rubles per kg) or about 40-45 kg of sawdust chips (the price of which in the North is free)...
There are many more interesting and promising areas of application of the rotary steam engine, but the size of this page does not allow us to consider them all in detail. As a result, the steam engine can still occupy a very prominent place in many areas of modern technology and in many sectors of the national economy.
LAUNCHES OF AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF STEAM POWER ELECTRIC GENERATOR WITH STEAM ENGINE
May -2018 After lengthy experiments and prototypes, a small high-pressure boiler was made. The boiler is pressurized to 80 atm pressure, so it will maintain a working pressure of 40-60 atm without difficulty. Put into operation with a prototype model of a steam axial piston engine of my design. Works great - watch the video. In 12-14 minutes from ignition on wood it is ready to produce high pressure steam.
Now I am starting to prepare for the piece production of such units - a high-pressure boiler, a steam engine (rotary or axial piston), and a condenser. The installations will operate in a closed circuit with water-steam-condensate circulation.
The demand for such generators is very high, because 60% of the Russian territory does not have a central power supply and relies on diesel generation.
And the price of diesel fuel is growing all the time and has already reached 41-42 rubles per liter. And even where there is electricity, energy companies keep raising tariffs, and they demand a lot of money to connect new capacities.
Modern steam engines
The modern world forces many inventors to return again to the idea of using a steam plant in vehicles intended for transportation. The machines have the ability to use several options for power units running on steam.
- Piston motor
- Principle of operation
- Rules for operating steam-powered vehicles
- Advantages of the machine
Piston motor
Modern steam engines can be divided into several groups:
Structurally, the installation includes:
- starting device;
- two-cylinder power unit;
- steam generator in a special container equipped with a coil.
Principle of operation
The process goes as follows.
After turning on the ignition, power begins to flow from the battery of the three engines. From the first, a blower is put into operation, pumping air masses through the radiator and transferring them through air channels to a mixing device with a burner.
At the same time, the next electric motor activates the fuel transfer pump, which supplies condensate masses from the tank through the serpentine device of the heating element to the body part of the water separator and the heater located in the economizer to the steam generator.
Before starting, there is no way for steam to get to the cylinders, since its path is blocked by a throttle valve or spool, which is controlled by the rocker mechanics. By turning the handles in the direction necessary for movement and slightly opening the valve, the mechanic puts the steam mechanism into operation.
The exhaust vapors flow through a single collector to a distribution valve, where they are divided into a pair of unequal shares. The smaller part enters the nozzle of the mixing burner, mixes with the air mass, and is ignited by a candle.
The resulting flame begins to heat the container. After this, the combustion product passes into the water separator, and moisture condenses and flows into a special water tank. The remaining gas escapes out.
The second part of the steam, larger in volume, passes through the distributor valve into the turbine, which drives the rotor device of the electric generator.
Rules for operating steam-powered vehicles
The steam plant can be directly connected to the drive unit of the machine's transmission, and when it begins to operate, the machine begins to move. But in order to increase efficiency, experts recommend using clutch mechanics. This is convenient for towing operations and various inspection operations.
During the movement, the mechanic, taking into account the situation, can change the speed by manipulating the power of the steam piston. This can be done by throttling the steam with a valve, or by changing the steam supply with a rocker device. In practice, it is better to use the first option, since the actions resemble working with the gas pedal, but a more economical way is to use the rocker mechanism.
For short stops, the driver slows down and uses the rocker to stop the operation of the unit. For long-term parking, the electrical circuit that de-energizes the blower and fuel pump is turned off.
Advantages of the machine
The device is distinguished by its ability to work with virtually no restrictions, overloads are possible, and there is a wide range of adjustment of power indicators. It should be added that during any stop the steam engine stops working, which cannot be said about the motor.
The design does not require installing a gearbox, a starter device, an air purification filter, a carburetor, or a turbocharger. In addition, the ignition system is simplified, there is only one spark plug.
In conclusion, we can add that the production of such cars and their operation will be cheaper than cars with an internal combustion engine, since the fuel will be inexpensive and the materials used in production will be the cheapest.
Read also:
Steam engines were installed and powered most steam locomotives from the early 1800s until the 1950s.
I would like to note that the operating principle of these engines has always remained unchanged, despite changes in their design and dimensions.
The animated illustration shows the operating principle of a steam engine.
To generate steam supplied to the engine, boilers using both wood and coal, and liquid fuel were used.
First measure
Steam from the boiler enters the steam chamber, from which it enters the upper (front) part of the cylinder through a steam gate valve (indicated in blue). The pressure created by the steam pushes the piston down to BDC. As the piston moves from TDC to BDC, the wheel makes half a revolution.
Release
At the very end of the piston's movement toward BDC, the steam valve moves, releasing remaining steam through an outlet port located below the valve. The remaining steam escapes, creating the sound characteristic of steam engines.
Second measure
At the same time, moving the valve to release residual steam opens the steam inlet to the lower (rear) part of the cylinder. The pressure created by the steam in the cylinder forces the piston to move towards TDC. At this time, the wheel makes another half revolution.
Release
At the end of the piston's movement to TDC, the remaining steam is released through the same exhaust port.
The cycle repeats again.
The steam engine has a so-called dead center at the end of each stroke as the valve transitions from the expansion stroke to the exhaust stroke. For this reason, each steam engine has two cylinders, allowing the engine to be started from any position.
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G.S. Zhiritsky. Steam engines. Moscow: Gosenergoizdat, 1951. The book discusses ideal processes in steam engines, real processes in a steam engine, study of the machine's working process using an indicator diagram, multiple expansion machines, spool steam distribution, valve steam distribution, steam distribution in once-through machines, reversing mechanisms, dynamics of a steam engine, etc. Sent me a book Stankevich Leonid. |
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A.A. Radzig. James Watt and the invention of the steam engine. Petrograd: Scientific Chemical and Technical Publishing House, 1924. The improvement of the steam engine made by Watt at the end of the 18th century is one of the largest events in the history of technology. It had incalculable economic consequences, since it was the last and decisive link in a number of important inventions made in England in the second half of the 18th century and which led to the rapid and complete development of large capitalist industry both in England itself and then in other European countries. Sent me a book Stankevich Leonid. |
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M. Lesnikov. James Watt. Moscow: Publisher “Journal Association”, 1935. This edition presents a biographical novel about James Watt (1736-1819), an English inventor and creator of a universal heat engine. Invented (1774-84) a steam engine with a double-acting cylinder, in which he used a centrifugal regulator, a transmission from the cylinder rod to a balancer with a parallelogram, etc. Watt's machine played a big role in the transition to machine production. Sent me a book Stankevich Leonid. |
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A.S. Yastrzhembsky. Technical thermodynamics. Moscow-Leningrad: State Energy Publishing House, 1933. General theoretical principles are presented in the light of the two basic laws of thermodynamics. Since technical thermodynamics provides the basis for the study of steam boilers and heat engines, this course studies, as fully as possible, the processes of transforming thermal energy into mechanical energy in steam engines and internal combustion engines. In the second part, when studying the ideal cycle of a steam engine, the collapse of steam and the outflow of vapor from the holes, the importance of the i-S diagram of water vapor is noted, the use of which simplifies the research task. Particular attention is paid to the presentation of the thermodynamics of gas flow and the cycles of internal combustion engines. |
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Installation of boiler systems. Scientific Editor Eng. Yu.M. Rivkin. Moscow: GosStroyIzdat, 1961. This book is intended to improve the skills of fitters who install boiler installations of low and medium power and are familiar with the techniques of metalwork. |
9.9 Mb |
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E.Ya.Sokolov. District heating and heating networks. Moscow-Leningrad: State Energy Publishing House, 1963. The book outlines the energy fundamentals of district heating, describes heat supply systems, gives the theory and methodology for calculating heating networks, discusses methods for regulating heat supply, provides designs and methods for calculating equipment for heat treatment plants, heating networks and subscriber inputs, provides basic information on the methodology of technical and economic calculations and on organizing the operation of heating networks. |
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A.I.Abramov, A.V.Ivanov-Smolensky. Calculation and design of hydrogenerators In modern electrical systems, electrical energy is generated mainly at thermal power plants using turbogenerators, and at hydroelectric power plants using hydrogenerators. Therefore, hydrogenerators and turbogenerators occupy a leading place in the subject of coursework and diploma design of electromechanical and electrical power specialties in colleges. This manual provides a description of the design of hydrogenerators, justifies the choice of their sizes and outlines the methodology for electromagnetic, thermal, ventilation and mechanical calculations with brief explanations of the calculation formulas. To facilitate the study of the material, an example of the calculation of a hydrogenerator is given. When compiling the manual, the authors used modern literature on manufacturing technology, design and calculation of hydrogenerators, an abbreviated list of which is given at the end of the book. |
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F.L. Liventsev. Power plants with internal combustion engines. Leningrad: Publishing House "Machine Building", 1969. The book examines modern standard power plants for various purposes with internal combustion engines. Recommendations are given for the selection of parameters and calculation of elements of fuel preparation, fuel supply and cooling systems, oil and air-starting systems, and gas-air ducts. An analysis of the requirements for internal combustion engine installations is given, ensuring their high efficiency, reliability and durability. |
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M.I.Kamsky. Steam hero. Drawings by V.V. Spassky. Moscow: 7th printing house "Mospechat", 1922. ...In Watt’s homeland, in the city council of the town of Greenock, there is a monument to him with the inscription: “Born in Greenock in 1736, died in 1819.” Here, there still exists a library named after him, founded by him during his lifetime, and at the University of Glasgow, prizes for the best scientific works in Mechanics, Physics and Chemistry are issued annually from the capital donated by Watt. But James Watt, in essence, does not need any other monuments than those countless steam engines that, in all corners of the earth, make noise, knock and hum, working on the yardarm of humanity. |
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A.S. Abramov and B.I. Sheinin. Fuel, furnaces and boiler systems. Moscow: Publishing House of the Ministry of Communal Services of the RSFSR, 1953. The book discusses the basic properties of fuels and their combustion processes. A method for determining the heat balance of a boiler installation is presented. Various designs of combustion devices are given. The designs of various boilers are described - hot water and steam, from water tube to fire tube and with smoke tubes. Information is provided on the installation and operation of boilers, their piping - fittings, instrumentation. Issues of fuel supply, gas supply, fuel depots, ash removal, chemical treatment of water at stations, auxiliary equipment (pumps, fans, pipelines...) are also discussed in the book. Information is given on layout solutions and the cost of calculating heat supply. |
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V. Dombrovsky, A. Shmulyan. Victory of Prometheus. Stories about electricity. Leningrad: Publishing House "Children's Literature", 1966. This book is about electricity. It does not contain a complete exposition of the theory of electricity or a description of all the possible uses of electricity. Ten such books would not be enough for this. When people mastered electricity, unprecedented opportunities opened up for them to facilitate and mechanize physical labor. The machines that made it possible to do this and the use of electricity as a motive force are described in this book. But electricity makes it possible not only to increase the strength of human hands, but also the strength of the human mind, to mechanize not only physical, but also mental labor. We also tried to talk about how this can be done. If this book helps young readers even a little to imagine the great path that technology has taken from the first discoveries to the present day, and to see the breadth of the horizon that tomorrow opens before us, we can consider our task completed. |
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V.N. Bogoslovsky, V.P. Shcheglov. Heating and ventilation. Moscow: Publishing House of Construction Literature, 1970. This textbook is intended for students of the “Water Supply and Sewerage” faculty of construction universities. It was written in accordance with the program for the course “Heating and Ventilation” approved by the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education of the USSR. The purpose of the textbook is to give students basic information about the design, calculation, installation, testing and operation of heating and ventilation systems. Reference materials are provided to the extent necessary to complete the course project on heating and ventilation. |
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A.S.Orlin, M.G.Kruglov. Combined two-stroke engines. Moscow: Publishing House "Machine Building", 1968. The book contains the fundamentals of the theory of gas exchange processes in the cylinder and in adjacent systems of two-stroke combined engines. Approximate dependencies related to the influence of unsteady motion during gas exchange and the results of experimental work in this area are presented. |
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M.K.Weisbein. Heat engines. Steam engines, rotary machines, steam turbines, air engines and internal combustion engines. Theory, design, installation, testing of heat engines and their care. A guide for chemists, technicians and owners of thermal machines. St. Petersburg: Publication by K.L. Ricker, 1910. The purpose of this work is to acquaint persons who have not received a systematic technical education with the theory of heat engines, their design, installation, care and testing. Sent me a book Stankevich Leonid. |
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Nikolay Bozheryanov Theory of steam engines, with a detailed description of the double-action machine according to the Watt and Bolton system. Approved by the Marine Scientific Committee and printed with the Highest permission. St. Petersburg: Printing house of the naval cadet corps, 1849. |
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VC. Bogomazov, A.D. Berkuta, P.P. Kulikovsky. Steam engines. Kyiv: State Publishing House of Technical Literature of the Ukrainian SSR, 1952. The book examines the theory, design and operation of steam engines, steam turbines and condensing plants and provides the basics of calculation of steam engines and their parts. Sent me a book Stankevich Leonid. |
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Lopatin P.I. Victory couple. Moscow: New Moscow, 1925. “Tell me - do you know who created our factories and plants for us, who was the first to give a person the opportunity to race on trains by rail and boldly sail across the oceans? Do you know who was the first to create a car and that same tractor that now so diligently and obediently does hard work in our agriculture? Are you familiar with the one who defeated the horse and the ox and was the first to conquer the air, allowing a person not only to stay in the air, but also to control his flying machine, to send it where he wants, and not the capricious wind? All this was done by steam, the simplest water vapor that plays with the lid of your kettle, “sings” in the samovar and rises in white puffs above the surface of boiling water. You’ve never paid attention to it before, and it never occurred to you that useless water vapor could do such enormous work, conquer land, water and air and create almost all of modern industry.” Sent me a book Stankevich Leonid. |
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Shchurov M.V. Guide to Internal Combustion Engines. Moscow-Leningrad: State Energy Publishing House, 1955. The book examines the design and operating principles of engines of common types in the USSR, instructions for caring for engines, organizing their repairs, basic repair work, provides information on the economics of engines and assessing their power and load, and covers issues of organizing the workplace and the driver’s work. Sent me a book Stankevich Leonid. |
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Technological engineer Serebrennikov A. Foundations of the theory of steam engines and boilers. St. Petersburg: Printed in the printing house of Karl Wulff, 1860. Currently, the science of working in pairs is one of the types of knowledge that arouses keen interest. Indeed, hardly any other science, in practical terms, has made such advances in such a short time as the use of steam for all kinds of applications. Sent me a book Stankevich Leonid. |
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High-speed diesel engines 4Ch 10.5/13-2 and 6Ch 10.5/13-2. Description and maintenance instructions. Editor-in-Chief Eng. V.K.Serdyuk. Moscow - Kyiv: MASHGIZ, 1960. The book describes the designs and sets out the basic rules for maintenance and care of diesel engines 4Ch 10.5/13-2 and 6Ch 10.5/13-2. The book is intended for mechanics and mechanics servicing these diesel engines. Sent me a book Stankevich Leonid. |
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Hi all! Kompik92 is with you again!
And today we will make a steam engine!
I think everyone at one time or another wanted to make a steam engine!
Well, let's make your dreams come true!
I have two options for making it: easy and difficult. Both options are very cool and interesting, and if you think that there will be only one option, then you are right. I'll post the second option a little later!
And let's get straight to the instructions!
But first....
Safety regulations:
- When the engine is running and you want to move it, use tongs, thick gloves or non-heat-conducting material!
- If you want to make an engine more complex or more powerful, it is better to learn from someone than to experiment! Incorrect assembly may cause the boiler to explode!
- If you want to take a running engine, do not point the steam at people!
- Do not block the steam in the can or tube, or the steam engine may explode!
And here are the instructions for option No. 1:
We will need:
- Aluminum Coke or Pepsi can
- Pliers
- Metal scissors
- Paper hole punch (not to be confused with a wood crusher)
- small candle
- Aluminum foil
- 3mm copper tube
- Pencil
- Salad bowl or large bowl
Let's get started!
1. You need to cut the bottom of the jar with a height of 6.35 cm. For a better cut, first draw a line with a pencil and then cut the bottom of the jar exactly along it. This is how we get our engine housing.
2. Remove sharp edges. For safety, remove the sharp edges of the bottom using pliers. Wrap no more than 5mm! This will help us further work with the engine.
3. Push down the bottom. If the jar does not have a flat bottom, press it down with your finger. This is necessary for our engine to float well; if this is not done, then air will remain there which can heat up and overturn the platform. This will also help our candle stand.
4. Make two holes. Make two holes as shown in the picture. There should be 1.27cm between the edge and the hole and the hole itself should be at least 3.2mm in diameter. The holes should be opposite each other! We will insert our copper tube into these holes.
5. Light a candle. Using foil, place the candle so that it does not move in the body. The candle itself should be on a metal stand. We installed a boiler that will heat our water, thereby ensuring the operation of the engine.
6. Create a coil. Make three to four skeins in the middle of the tube using a pencil. There should be at least 5 cm on each side. We made a coil. Don't know what it is?
Here's a quote from Wikipedia.
A coil is a long metal, glass, porcelain (ceramic) or plastic tube, bent in some regular or irregular way, designed to ensure maximum heat transfer in a minimum volume of space between two media separated by the walls of the coil. Historically, such heat exchange was originally used to condense vapors passing through a coil.
I think it has become easier, but if it still hasn’t become easier, I will explain it myself. A coil is a tube through which liquid flows to be heated or cooled.
7. Place the handset. Place the tube using the holes you made, and make sure that the coil is exactly next to the candle wick! Thus, we are almost finished with the engine; the heating can already work.
8. Bend the tube. Bend the ends of the tube using pliers so that they point in different directions and are bent 90 degrees from the coil. We got outlets for our hot air.
9. Preparation for work. Lower our engine into the water. It should float well on the surface, and if the tubes are not submerged at least 1 cm in water, then weigh down the body. We made tubes exit into the water so that it could move.
10. A little more. Fill our tube, dip one tube in water, and pull the other like through a cocktail straw. We're almost done with the engine!
A wood-fired power plant is one of the alternative ways to supply consumers with electricity.
Such a device is capable of generating electricity at minimal energy costs, even in places where there is no power supply at all.
A power plant using firewood can be an excellent option for owners of summer cottages and country houses.
There are also miniature versions that are suitable for lovers of long hikes and spending time in nature. But first things first.
Peculiarities
A wood-fired power plant is not a new invention, but modern technologies have made it possible to somewhat improve previously developed devices. Moreover, several different technologies are used to generate electricity.
In addition, the concept of “wood-burning” is somewhat inaccurate, since any solid fuel (wood, wood chips, pallets, coal, coke), in general, anything that can burn, is suitable for the operation of such a station.
Let us immediately note that firewood, or rather the process of its combustion, acts only as an energy source that ensures the functioning of the device in which electricity is generated.
The main advantages of such power plants are:
- The ability to use a wide variety of solid fuels and their availability;
- Receive electricity anywhere;
- The use of different technologies makes it possible to obtain electricity with a variety of parameters (sufficient only for regular phone recharging and up to powering industrial equipment);
- It can also act as an alternative if power outages are common, as well as the main source of electricity.
Classic version
As noted, a wood-fired power plant uses several technologies to produce electricity. The classic one among them is steam power, or simply the steam engine.
Everything is simple here - wood or any other fuel, when burned, heats up the water, as a result of which it turns into a gaseous state - steam.
The resulting steam is supplied to the turbine of the generating set, and due to rotation, the generator generates electricity.
Since the steam engine and generator set are connected in a single closed circuit, after passing through the turbine the steam is cooled, fed back into the boiler, and the whole process is repeated.
This power plant scheme is one of the simplest, but it has a number of significant disadvantages, one of which is the danger of explosion.
After water passes into a gaseous state, the pressure in the circuit increases significantly, and if it is not regulated, there is a high probability of rupture of the pipelines.
And although modern systems use a whole set of valves that regulate pressure, the operation of a steam engine still requires constant monitoring.
In addition, ordinary water used in this engine can cause scale to form on the walls of the pipes, which reduces the efficiency of the station (scale impairs heat transfer and reduces the throughput of the pipes).
But now this problem is solved by using distilled water, liquids, purified impurities that precipitate, or special gases.
But on the other hand, this power plant can perform another function - to heat the room.
Everything is simple here - after performing its function (rotation of the turbine), the steam must be cooled so that it turns into a liquid state again, which requires a cooling system or, simply, a radiator.
And if you place this radiator indoors, then in the end we will receive not only electricity from such a station, but also heat.
Other options
But the steam engine is only one of the technologies that is used in solid fuel power plants, and is not the most suitable for use in domestic conditions.
Also used to generate electricity are:
- Thermoelectric generators (using the Peltier principle);
- Gas generators.
Thermoelectric generators
Power plants with generators built according to the Peltier principle are quite an interesting option.
Physicist Peltier discovered an effect that boils down to the fact that when electricity is passed through conductors consisting of two dissimilar materials, heat is absorbed at one of the contacts, and heat is released at the other.
Moreover, this effect is the opposite - if the conductor is heated on one side and cooled on the other, then electricity will be generated in it.
It is the opposite effect that is used in wood-fired power plants. When burned, they heat up one half of the plate (it is a thermoelectric generator), consisting of cubes made of different metals, and the second part is cooled (for which heat exchangers are used), as a result of which electricity appears at the terminals of the plate.
But such a generator has several nuances. One of them is that the parameters of the released energy directly depend on the temperature difference at the ends of the plate, therefore, to equalize and stabilize them, it is necessary to use a voltage regulator.
The second nuance is that the energy released is just a side effect; most of the energy when burning wood is simply converted into heat. Because of this, the efficiency of this type of station is not very high.
The advantages of power plants with thermoelectric generators include:
- Long service life (no moving parts);
- At the same time, not only energy is generated, but also heat, which can be used for heating or cooking;
- Quiet operation.
Wood-burning power plants using the Peltier principle are a fairly common option, and they produce both portable devices that can only release electricity to charge low-power consumers (phones, flashlights), and industrial ones that can power powerful units.
Gas generators
The second type is gas generators. Such a device can be used in several directions, including generating electricity.
It is worth noting here that such a generator itself has nothing to do with electricity, since its main task is to produce flammable gas.
The essence of the operation of such a device is that during the oxidation of solid fuel (its combustion), gases are released, including flammable ones - hydrogen, methane, CO, which can be used for a variety of purposes.
For example, such generators were previously used in cars, where conventional internal combustion engines worked perfectly on the emitted gas.
Due to the constant jitter of the fuel, some motorists and motorcyclists have already begun installing these devices on their cars.
That is, to get a power plant, it is enough to have a gas generator, an internal combustion engine and a regular generator.
The first element will release gas, which will become fuel for the engine, which in turn will rotate the generator rotor to produce electricity as output.
The advantages of power plants using gas generators include:
- Reliability of the design of the gas generator itself;
- The resulting gas can be used to operate an internal combustion engine (which will drive an electric generator), a gas boiler, a furnace;
- Depending on the internal combustion engine and electric generator involved, electricity can be obtained even for industrial purposes.
The main disadvantage of the gas generator is the bulkiness of the design, since it must include a boiler where all the processes for producing gas take place, a system for its cooling and purification.
And if this device is used to generate electricity, then the station must also include an internal combustion engine and an electric generator.
Representatives of factory-made power plants
Let us note that the indicated options – a thermoelectric generator and a gas generator – are now a priority, therefore ready-made stations are produced for use, both domestic and industrial.
Below are a few of them:
- “Indigirka” stove;
- Tourist stove “BioLite CampStove”;
- Power plant "BioKIBOR";
- Power station "Eco" with gas generator "Cube".
Stove "Indigirka".
An ordinary household solid fuel stove (made like a Burzhaika stove), equipped with a Peltier thermoelectric generator.
Perfect for summer cottages and small houses, as it is quite compact and can be transported in a car.
The main energy from burning wood is used for heating, but the available generator also allows you to obtain electricity with a voltage of 12 V and a power of 60 W.
BioLite CampStove stove.
It also uses the Peltier principle, but it is even more compact (weighs only 1 kg), which allows you to take it on hiking trips, but the amount of energy generated by the generator is even less, but it will be enough to charge a flashlight or phone.
Power plant "BioKIBOR".
A thermoelectric generator is also used, but this is an industrial version.
The manufacturer, upon request, can produce a device that provides output electricity with a power of 5 kW to 1 MW. But this affects the size of the station, as well as the amount of fuel consumed.
For example, an installation that produces 100 kW consumes 200 kg of wood per hour.
But the Eco power plant is a gas generator. Its design uses a “Cube” gas generator, a gasoline internal combustion engine and a 15 kW electric generator.
In addition to ready-made industrial solutions, you can separately buy the same Peltier thermoelectric generators, but without a stove, and use it with any heat source.
Homemade stations
Also, many craftsmen create homemade stations (usually based on a gas generator), which they then sell.
All this indicates that you can independently make a power plant from available materials and use it for your own purposes.
Based on a thermoelectric generator.
The first option is a power plant based on a Peltier plate. Let us immediately note that a device made at home is only suitable for charging a phone, a flashlight, or for lighting using LED lamps.
For production you will need:
- A metal body that will play the role of a furnace;
- Peltier plate (purchased separately);
- Voltage regulator with installed USB output;
- A heat exchanger or just a fan to provide cooling (you can take a computer cooler).
Making a power plant is very simple:
- We make a stove. We take a metal box (for example, a computer case) and unfold it so that the oven does not have a bottom. We make holes in the walls below for air supply. At the top you can install a grate on which you can place a kettle, etc.
- We mount the plate on the back wall;
- We mount the cooler on top of the plate;
- We connect a voltage regulator to the terminals from the plate, from which we power the cooler, and also draw terminals for connecting consumers.
It works simply: we light the wood, and as the plate heats up, electricity will begin to be generated at its terminals, which will be supplied to the voltage regulator. The cooler will start working from it, providing cooling of the plate.
All that remains is to connect the consumers and monitor the combustion process in the stove (add firewood in a timely manner).
Based on a gas generator.
The second way to make a power plant is to make a gas generator. Such a device is much more difficult to manufacture, but the energy output is much greater.
To make it you will need:
- Cylindrical container (for example, a disassembled gas cylinder). It will play the role of a stove, so hatches should be provided for loading fuel and cleaning solid combustion products, as well as an air supply (a fan will be required for forced supply to ensure a better combustion process) and an outlet for gas;
- A cooling radiator (can be made in the form of a coil) in which the gas will be cooled;
- Container for creating a “Cyclone” type filter;
- Container for creating a fine gas filter;
- Gasoline generator set (but you can just take any gasoline engine, as well as a regular 220 V asynchronous electric motor).
After this, everything must be connected into a single structure. From the boiler, gas should flow to the cooling radiator, and then to the “Cyclone” and a fine filter. And only after that the resulting gas is supplied to the engine.
This is a schematic diagram of the manufacture of a gas generator. Execution can be very different.
For example, it is possible to install a mechanism for forced supply of solid fuel from a bunker, which, by the way, will also be powered by a generator, as well as all kinds of control devices.
When creating a power plant based on the Peltier effect, no special problems will arise, since the circuit is simple. The only thing is that you should take some safety measures, since the fire in such a stove is practically open.
But when creating a gas generator, many nuances should be taken into account, among them is ensuring tightness at all connections of the system through which gas passes.
In order for the internal combustion engine to operate normally, you should take care of high-quality gas purification (the presence of impurities in it is unacceptable).
The gas generator is a bulky design, so it is necessary to choose the right place for it, as well as ensure normal ventilation if it is installed indoors.
Since such power plants are not new, and they have been manufactured by amateurs for a relatively long time, a lot of reviews have accumulated about them.
Basically, they are all positive. Even a homemade stove with a Peltier element is noted to completely cope with the task. As for gas generators, a clear example here is the installation of such devices even on modern cars, which indicates their effectiveness.
Pros and cons of a wood-fired power plant
A wood-fired power plant is:
- Fuel availability;
- Possibility to get electricity anywhere;
3 / 5 ( 2 votes)
