Dan Maloney
A quick Google has handily debunked the mummy-fuel idea, and traces it to Mark Twain.
With a steam engine say on a train, do they ever recapture the steam and re-introduce it into the machine, so you wouldn't need to fill up the water tank as much?
If you're burning solid fuel, firebox mess is no small thing. Firebox maintenance is an important skill in running a boiler. Fireman was an entire job on a locomotive for a reason. How and when to rake the coals, keeping proper grate surface area, ash management, etc, all dictate how well the engine will run.
It seems to me that a small Thorium reactor would be the ideal heat source for home steam engines.
@anfractuosity Absolutely! There's a thing called an Economizer which takes the exhaust gases, shakes the steam oil out them, recondenses the water, and puts it back in the water tank, ready to be pumped back into the boiler. It also uses the exhaust gas to pre-heat water being pumped into the boiler. Water consumption is a big problem on steam engines, so a lot of technology exists to recycle as much water as possible.
We're up against the top of the hour, and my guess is that Quinn still has a few boxes to unpack. We'll have to let her get back to it, and of course to making the videos we love to watch. A big thanks to Quinn for her time, and to everyone for coming along with some great questions. Thanks all!
@Andy Pugh All nuclear reactors are steam engines. Next time you see one, think "cool steam engine!". :D
Thank you @Quinn Dunki and everyone else for a 'stimulating' conversation!
My pleasure. Thanks for the great questions, all!
One last thing, Ms Dunki: Have you heard of "lathe files" ?
Steam never really left, it just went turbine rather than reciprocating and the transmissions became quite long and electric :)
@Andy Pugh Yep, I am familiar with lathe files
that was super interesting thanks! just looking at the prices of traction engines now ;)
Okay, take care everyone! Signing off now
I got one as I am a tool freak with more money than sense, but they do seem a little better than normal ones on the lathe.
thanks quinn!
Aye, thanks.
Thx bye!
Thanks!
Thanks all. Transcript coming up.
thanks dan
Thank you Quinn for the chat. Super fun. Love your machining and build videos. Keep up the great work.
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