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[essex2visuvesi]

http://www.forest-classics.co.uk/ministeam_turbine_50.htm

Has anyone seen one of these in action?
Like the look of it and also the sound it makes in the video

[Martin (Admin)]

I don't know anything about steam... except it scolds!... don't turbines consume massive amounts of steam compared to pistons?

[KBIO]

Hello!
I'd like to know, what kind of torque & the behaviour pushing a boat in the water!
Cheers!

[boatmadman]

very nice bit of kit.

This is a simple atmospheric type turbine (exhausts to atmosphere rather than vacuum) and so will be inefficient (yes Martin - it will use a lot of steam).

I dont think the video demo's the turbine at full speed although the specs on the website state revs up to 460rpm at 2.5b. If that is the max working pressure then it may be suitable for a largish relatively slow turning prop. The worm drive gearing is interesting, that will give a prop a bit of torque at the expense of several thousand turbine rpm's!.

What you would need for it to operate on load is a large boiler as they do use a lot of steam - right again Martin - go to the top of the class.

A friend has built a single stage turbine and put it in a boat. What we find is that as soon as the prop goes in the water, the revs drop right off, often stalling the rotor. His is direct drive though, so a geared drive should be better.

Personally, I think it makes a great display item.

Ian

[essex2visuvesi]

been put on the old christmas list.... not sure if I will put it in anything yet tho

I'm wondering if there is any way to redirect the exhaust steam back into the system to improve efficiency

[boatmadman]

Redirecting the steam back around is always possible, but, and its a BIG BUT, it could be expensive and complicated.

Probably the easiest and cheapest way (but not the most efficient by a long mile) is to exhaust the steam into a closed vessel, condense it somehow and use the warm condensate to feed the boiler - result, less overall water consumption and lower fuel usage as you are not feeding cold water.

Now the downside, you will have difficulty controlling the level in the condensate tank, you will need a constantly running pump that matches the water demand exactly or you will either overfill the boiler, or lose the water level in it. The way around that is to have flow control on the pump - expensive and difficult at this scale.

You would also need some form of cooling in the condensate tank in order to turn the exhaust steam to water. Simplest is a coil with cold water running through it - another pump required.

Fancy having a go?

Ian

[essex2visuvesi]

I think some reseach is required.
As for something to put it in maybe HMS viper (1899). Anyone have any plans for it?

[pettyofficernick]

I think some reseach is required.
As for something to put it in maybe HMS viper (1899). Anyone have any plans for it?

Or a Turbinia......

[logoman]

have a look at the turbine boat in this video at 1:14
It's a WADA turbine (gearing also 10:1 - i think) which is bigger than the Heilscher, but still very useable with a boiler that isn't excessively large.

http://youtu.be/x0vin_RZ-3E