The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

redryder

Take a good look at this fascinating technology.

article:

http://www.popsci.com/node/21610

video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFIbB97HcgY

the company:

www.cyclonepower.com

Enjoy !!!!

Gil
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Steam on,
redryder

alan2525 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 10:22 pm Post subject:

Most of the worlds electricity is probably generated by steam power, submarines and ships are steam powered too. Large ships and nuclear powerplants use steam turbines to generate electricity.

I guess steam never really went away...just use different fuels to make it out of water.

bessytractor · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject:

hmm quite interesting that, basically a flash steam boiler driving a high performance, high speed engine. Would be interesting to see how this takes off (if it can compete with the oil companies that is)
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Steve_S · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 11:24 pm Post subject:

Very interesting. It seems to have lots of advantages... I hope we see more of it in future.

seven.mpd · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

Very interesting !
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cam-steaman · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:43 am Post subject:

saweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

Les Marsh · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject:

That's interesting.

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Les - Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternatives.

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Cedge · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject:

I read that article in the Popular Science magazine the other night. It's good to see steam engines finally getting a bit of attention again. Steam never died, it just evolved in a direction that left our favorite motors behind. I hope this guy makes it to market and gets rich.

As technically high and mighty as Nuclear Plower sounds, it still revolves around steam. All those atoms are excited to boil water to make enough steam to power ... you got it.... steam Turbines.

It's been fun to watch the interest in steam technology wax and wane in direct relationship to the rise in cost of fuels. Every time the price takes a jump, I get more inquiries asking where to find relatively large steam engines, from 5 - 20 horsepower. The typical inquiry begins with a complaint about foreign fuel dependence or the power company bumping their power bill. Then the writer invariably tells me he/she has large amounts of trees, wooden pallets, sawdust, an idea for a solar boiler or they have a friend who has such things.

It's also amazing to hear the incredulity in their voices when they learn that no one in the US is manufacturing them anymore. Then they launch into how foreign labor is destroying the manufacturing base in the country. I usually let them wind down before letting them know we killed the steam engines all by ourselves, when electric motors and internal combustion became cheaper and more portable than steam engines. Yup... that one usually reignites the foreign fuel dependence complaint.... and so it goes...LOL

Only the most astute finally come to realize that you quickly run out of trees, sawdust or pallets if you run boiler fro very long. None are aware that, assuming that they can even get local and state governmental approval to install one, the required training and operators license, local and state inspection certificates, EPA approval for the pollutants, DEHEC approval for disposal of the waste ash...you might eventually break even with the power company..... in the year 2120 or so. Few realize a steam engine was never really a consumer item to begin with and not everyone is up to the job of running them.

Nope...I'm not being a wet blanket for these guys. They are usually very serious and honestly want to move to a greener alternative to the status quo. I'm simply making them look at the requirements, both from a safety and real cost stand point before they go investing large sums of hard earned and usually scarce cash.
In the past 15 years, I've seen exactly 3 such projects make it to a successful and economical completion. 2 were in Alaska at saw mills and the third was in an agricultural application burning bagass from farm crops.

I hope this guy makes it...BIG!!
Steve
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madeinenglang · Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 92 Location: uk/Englang

Very interesting

redryder · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject:

It appears this system has done away with much of the constant maintainence and attention normally devoted to operating a steam engine. I hope it works in the real world.

Gil
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Steam on,
redryder

rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 1:14 am Post subject:

My prayers have been working........

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