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[surteanders]

I'm using 2 TVR1A ,and my question is
-do I need 2 condensers/oiltraps , or can I connect the engines to 1condenser?

// Anders

[kno3]

One is enough.

[Bunkerbarge]

Obviously kno3 is quite correct in so far as one may be enough but there is a few things to think about as well on the way.

All this device is doing is trying to remove the water vapour and oil residue in the steam exhaust from the engine so that what actually comes out of the end of the pipe doesn't make a mess of your boat or the water surface.  Two engines will put twice as much exhaust steam through the unit and so if you were to use a similar size seperator as you would for a single engine you would need to empty it in half the time so duration could be a consideration.  There is also the fact that having two engines going through one unit will put more heat into the separator and so the unit may not condense the vapour out as effectively.  I have actually connected mine via a heat shunt to the gas tank to A) Cool the separator and B) Warm the gas tank to try to help with this.   

To increase the duration you could simply make the tank bigger or you could consider using two tanks but then space may be an issue for either solution as well.  I am trying to organise the duration of my coaster to around half an hour so when I come into the bank I want to top up the boiler, top up the gas tank, top up the oiler and empty the separator.  I have tried leaving the separator but found it was getting too full and carrying over vapour into the exhaust.

If possible leave your options open and have a play with the plant on the pond without firmly fixing things down before attaching the decks so you can get an idea of what you are going to need in the hull and how things are going to work together before committing yourself.

[malcolmbeak]

Oil trap - yes, but certainly NOT condenser. The idea is to trap the oil and only the condensate produced when the engine starts. If you cool the tank, of course it will fill fairly quickly. Keep it as hot as possible. If you are using superheated steam, theres a good chance that the temperature of the oil trap will be high enough to boil off any condensate.
The picture shows part of the plant fitted to my steam pinnace. The engine is a 5/8" bore and stroke twin. The red cylinder is the trap and it has two horizontal outlets with the outlet valve in each coupled so that a quatrer turn of the pair opens either the exhaust up the funnel, or the drain. This has run for over 1 1/2 hours, and judging by the quantity of oil emulsion that comes out, it was barely 1/4 full.
Malcolm

[kno3]

What are the other "bits" of your steam plant, especially the long cylinder at top? Could you provide an explanation of all parts please?

[Bernhard]

Hi..Malcolm..........ohh today i did rember where i have see your boat and enginen before,,,,and looking on it many times
Model Boat Steam Book ,by  stan Bray  from 1988....,and the plan of your engines to,,,great ide to keap the trap real hot,,,after you sai that,,,i build it under the boiler,,and now wery littel water in it
regards Bernhard

[malcolmbeak]

Glad it works Bernhard

kno3  This will take us off the topic, so I've started a new one - Steam plant for picket boat

Malcolm

[Bunkerbarge]

That's a very good point Malcolm and just goes to show how individual these plants can be.  I have heard of a number of people who advocate cooling the seperator and a couple of magazine write ups, quite recently, that indicate the use of heat shunts to warm the gas tank by taking heat from the seperator but you obviously make a very valid point, particularly if you are using a superheater.

I do know that one of the problems I have is that my seperator is really too far away from the engine so since the last outing I have lagged the exhaust pipe and the plant will not be open either, both of which should improve the operation of the trap and perhaps reduce the amount of condensate removed.

I would always advocate as many trials under as close to completed conditions as possible to get an idea of how your plant is going to behave before committing to sticking the decks down.

[malcolmbeak]

I don't know about sticking the decks down. All my plants are made so that the whole lot can be taken out as a single unit. This does rule out a lot of prototypes, but then , that still leaves plenty that would be OK.
Malcolm