iirc solar and wind are more expensive than the grid (per kilowatt hour) but at least once the things are built and installed they don't consume more fuel. Therein lies the environmental rub, these paths often seem impractical with a more detailed look. translated into pine/spruce/fir at say 14m btu's/cord, you'd be going through almost half a bush cord per hour! add to the that pollution the pollution and cost of chain sawing and transportation. Tells us that if its burning say 1/2 ton of red oak or maple, at 3700 lbs/ cord and 24million btu's/cord, the this engine/boiler takes about 6m btu's/hour to run. so then the following chart helps with the conversion The following suggest up to 1/2 ton wood per hour to run a 16 hp boiler/engine.Ī betting man would tell you they're using hardwood - there's going to be a gross up to softwood. I think I ment 4 cylinders, not stroke, sorry I am not a machinist just learning about this stuff.įor my own interest, I looked to quantifying the challenges a bit solar or wind, expensive per kilowatt, are your options that aren't as environmentally damagingThank you for the info, I will run this by my friend & I think your right, solar, wind or water might be better there is a year round creek on the land.
Steam tractor plans generator#
if saving the environment is your goal you might be best to stay on grid or buy a gas generator compared to a boiler running softwood - it's at least worth doing the math on. PS don't know how much you are helping the environment with this approach, a wood fire gives off CO2 like any combustion and steam and sterling are very inefficient. solar or wind, expensive per kilowatt, are your options that aren't as environmentally damaging also if you want to avoid the hazards of a boiler, consider a sterling engine There's some modern incinerator technology for burning softwood and sawdust etc that is efficient, don't if it is possible on a diy scale. Isn't the pine beetle wood softwood? may not work. are you running this once a day to charge battery's or something? if you are serious about it, it might be easier to find, restore and use a genuine antique single cylinder steam engine than start from scratch, there's a network of people who collect and use antique engines, tap into that.
Steam tractor plans full#
however those efficiency improvements are percentage points on what is a comparatively inefficient technology - in other keep it simple.ĭo a lot of study before you pursue this - running a 20 hp boiler is a full time task and is a bomb if not done knowledgeably. for the most part, the more complex engines, like expansion (for marine, cuz you need a condenser to run it) or corliss are more efficient than your basic single cylinder, non reversible double acting engine.
Steam tractor plans code#
One last item, I would build a code boiler because you can sell it easier and get most, if not all of your money back if not make a little on it when you sell it.There are other's that look more authentic but there is not need for that complexity for a engine just designed to run a generator imo. Ternings no longer has the 1/4 scale castings I know who bought them from him but castings are not for sale at this time.
There are many 1/4 scale sawmills around that were built to complement the steam engine. You can operate anything with a 1/4 scale as long as it is also built to scale. I am considering a 3/4 ton but not because of the steam engine, but the fact that I can get a new F250 with the options I want for less than or equal to the same amount of money as a fully loaded F150, and also because I would like to add a truck camper. I have a 1/2 scale of a 65hp Case and I pull it with a 1/2 ton truck on a flatbed trailer. It will also fit on a small trailer or the bed of a pickup and you can tow it without having to buy an F350. BTW, a 1/4 scale one might not be able to run a sawmill, but it can drive around and pull a wagon.
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