Steam Engine Specifications

Summary:

• Deliverable: a one cylinder prototype module with scalability, to constitute a single stage of a stageable system (compound or 3 stage) which uses the same module that is scaled to make other stages
• System consists of cyliner, crank arm, mechanical valve, automatically adjusted cutoff ratio, and constitutes a Steam Engine Construction Set
  • Cutoff ratio controlled by closed loop electronic feedback with some type of linear actuator
• Applications to stationary, mobile, and solar power

Cost-Related Features:

• Lowest materials cost for a given performance
• Simplest to fabricate, therefore lowest fabrication cost
• Advanced techniques of fabrication utilized only when necessary to achieve cost
• Fabrication tooling preferably simple, but secondary to fabrication cost
• Uses commonly available parts
• Replicable
• Materials cost of $50/hp

Materials calculations:

• 20 pounds of weigh per horsepower

Flexibility and Performance:

• Scalable in power output from 1 - 100 hp by scaling or adding modules
• Power density of 1 hp/10 lb
• Pressure up to 500 psi
• Scalable cylinder dimensions, uncoupled staging, and tandem operation allows scaling of power and eficiency from 1-100 hp and up to 25% efficiency
  • Multiple cylinder, in-line configuration is possible by bolting several cylinders together

Lifecycle

• Long lifetime under continuous use (50 years)

Ecology:

• Compatible with stationary, solar, and mobile power applications
  • LifeTrac power source
  • Solar Power Generator heat engine
  • CHP with space heating

Fabrication:

• Casting used for body
• Stock parts wherever feasible
• Lathing for bore

Other:

• Safe in case of failure