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[Pat-K]

Hi


I am currently in the process of buying a ready made live steam model that currently burns Meths - what are the pros and cons of converting it to burn gas - is it a big expensive job and at the end of the day is it worth while.


I understand a new build would be best to go for gas but is it work converting and old model.


Many thanks




Pat

[DBS88]

The short answer is yes it can be done and has been done. Should you do it or can it be done safely are also worth considering.
The issue is that the gas burns hotter than Meths, it gives out a lot more heat, meths is 30kj/g Butane is 49 kj/g So understanding whether or not the boiler was designed for the lower heat input you probably need answers to the following sort of questions, what is the boiler constructed from (brass or copper or steel), is the boiler silver soldered, does it have a safety valve, does it have a sight glass, what pressure was the boiler designed to run at, less than 2 Bar, or does it fall in the under 3 Bar litre class or is it in the more than 3 Bar Litre Class of Boiler. Photos of the boiler or the manufacturers details will enable others who are better qualified than myself to advise you correctly

[KNO3]

Why don't you show us a picture of the model in question or tell us the model name?
Generally speaking is it not very complicated to convert a boiler from alcohol firing to gas and there are sometimes advantages to doing that. But it depends on the model and intended use to decide which firing method is most useful.

[Pat-K]

Not getting it till Friday will post some pictures then

[1967Brutus]

The issue is that the gas burns hotter than Meths, it gives out a lot more heat, meths is 30kj/g Butane is 49 kj/g

That is not the full story... Methanol is about 0,8g/cm3, Butane and propane (near identical density and specific heat) are approx 0,5 g/cm3

This means that a litre of methanol gives approximately the same amount of heat as 0,98 litre of Butane or propane...

BUT the litre of Methanol can be stored in a thin walled tank of 1 litre with a simple screw-on cap and a piece of silicone tubing as the fuel line, the litre of Butane or Propane HAS to be stored in a 1,25 litre pressurevessel, with associated piping, valving and filling equipment...
The methanol remains in place if the cap is unscrewed, the liquified gas won't...

Does not mean it can't be done, but it does mean a lot has to be considered.

[1967Brutus]

Not getting it till Friday will post some pictures then

Friday has come and gone... We're curious....