Does this exist?

[MANGOFORTH]

This is something I don't know alot about, but seems like it could work in my peabrain?.

If such a thing existed.... Could a reeeeealy small steam engine sit on top of a log burner, spin an alternator that then charged a battery?

Im just brainstorming ?

 

[pappajohn]

Im just brainstorming ?

Close... You're crackers.

 

[Gellyneck]

I would say extremely doubtful that it would generate sufficient torque to drive the alternator.

 

[HandyAndy]

The word you are looking for is a sterling engine

 

[pappajohn]

Still haven't worked out why it has to sit on a log burner?

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[HandyAndy]

Well it needs a heat source or how do you make the steam for the steam engine

 

[Campervan_man]

No because the very small steam engine driver will be burned to death { assuming the driver is not on strike }

 

[HandyAndy]

or you could build a full on gasifier.. I've got plans for one I designed somewhere..

Goes off to look on YT for seriously old videos about them.....

 

[Macca1954]

Still haven't worked out why it has to sit on a log burner?

Because he hasn’t got a coal fire?

 

[pappajohn]

Well it needs a heat source or how do you make the steam for the steam engine

Well you certainly won't get the heat needed with it sat on a log burner..... It needs heat in the firebox and around the tubes.
If its ON the fire.....
how do you refill the boiler with water, a small tank won't last long.
What will it be bolted to, it can't just stand there... It'll fall over.
And most important... How do you stop the drive belt burning.

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[HandyAndy]

This one will do, looks like the bloke I used to follow sold out and only has "professional build plans" for sale now and all his old DIY video's have vanished

 

[HandyAndy]

Well you certainly won't get the heat needed with it sat on a log burner..... It needs heat in the firebox and around the tubes.
If its ON the fire.....
how do you refill the boiler with water, a small tank won't last long.
What will it be bolted to, it can't just stand there... It'll fall over.
And most important... How do you stop the drive belt burning.

semantics

 

[Figaro]

Have you been indulging in the Christmas spirits early ?
When I was a youngster I had a mamod steam engine and you could buy accessories to attach to it so it could drive them.
I don't remember am alternator though.
I doubt a small engine would produce enough power and a big engine you wouldn't want in your living room.

https://www.mamod.co.uk/

 

[Speve]

I think he’s putting a log burner in his self build van

Still haven't worked out why it has to sit on a log burner?

 

[pappajohn]

This one will do, looks like the bloke I used to follow sold out and only has "professional build plans" for sale now and all his old DIY video's have vanished

That'll sit nicely on a wood burner.

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[MANGOFORTH]

Okay all this negativity has made me more determined to invent this device ?

 

[MANGOFORTH]

I'm going to go watch chitty chitty bang bang for some inspiration

 

[pappajohn]

I think he’s putting a log burner in his self build van

That's even dafter....
Steam engine = copious amounts of steam.
Copious amounts of steam = condensation.
Condensation = damp... By the bucketful.

 

[MANGOFORTH]

That's even dafter....
Steam engine = copious amounts of steam.
Copious amounts of steam = condensation.
Condensation = damp... By the bucketful.

You're fired from this imaginary job.

 

[EmnM]

If you were to put a windmill on top of the wood burner the heat rising would spin it like a wind farm, which would charge a small battery.

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[HandyAndy]

If you were to put a windmill on top of the wood burner the heat rising would spin it like a wind farm, which would charge a small battery.

Those ARE available and they are sterling engines.
They don't have the power to pull your foreskin back though so unlikely to power a motor / generator / alternator.
Amazon product ASIN B00R89OIAY

 

[DBK]

This is something I don't know alot about, but seems like it could work in my peabrain?.

If such a thing existed.... Could a reeeeealy small steam engine sit on top of a log burner, spin an alternator that then charged a battery?

Im just brainstorming ?

Yes you could but the engine and boiler would have to be specially made. The engine would need to be something a bit more substantial than one of the little Mamod engines and would need to run off high pressure steam. Something with say a 1" bore and running off say 80 psi steam would generate useful power. Its possible to work out the potential power but it would be something about that size to generate a few hundred watts.

I think you would want it in a box either on the roof or at the back. Noise, the smell of oil and the inevitable steam would make something you wouldn't want to have inside the van. The boiler though would need to be inside.

The gasifier idea has an engine running off mostly carbon monoxide. Again, you wouldn't want this inside your living space.

 

[HandyAndy]

That'll sit nicely on a wood burner.

That IS the wood burner

 

[Campervan_man]

With regard to energy and batteries I have been looking at wind generators on Youtube before maybe buying one. The traditional windmill types seen on boats and the Chinese candle types. They look good but the reviews generally of these is bad. They claim 400W but that is over 24HRS so works out at around 20W.

 

[HandyAndy]

This will be Mango's next Youtube upload MAN HGV Camper powered by wood chips.....

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[bigtwin]

Park that idea and let’s have your next one.

Ian

 

[Just smiffy]

That's even dafter....
Steam engine = copious amounts of steam.
Copious amounts of steam = condensation.
Condensation = damp... By the bucketful.

Yeh but.... you’d have a nice sauna in the van.....?

 

[pappajohn]

That IS the wood burner

The OP said

a reeeeealy small steam engine sit on top of a log burner,

You're moving the goalposts.
Anyway, I've been sacked from the project for being negative.

 

[TheBig1]

steam under pressure is pretty dangerous. the boiler tubes would need testing at high pressure and certifying by a qualified steam engineer before you can fire it up, by law. a steam engine on a road going vehicle just isn't going to happen because of the hoops you would need to jump through. one mistake and it could be deadly

 

[MANGOFORTH]

The OP said


You're moving the goalposts.
Anyway, I've been sacked from the project for being negative.

You were fired for thinking rationally and making to much sense ?

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