A bit of a fantasy, but...

[CHKNFKR]

Originally Posted by sixty9oz

navy subs are either nuclear or diesel powered and very few ships still have steam engines anymore. Most use gas turbines (jet engines) and those use jet fuel which is a type of diesel itself. A few have steam for the generators but not many anymore either.

you're both correct actually. Just like the big land based nuclear reactors, the reactor on a sub simply generates heat, used to boil water and turn a steam turbine, which generates electricity.

[gwaii]

ok,i'm entering into this whole thing a bit late,but i like it.so there.

Originally Posted by BlueChariot

Ok, so it's highly inefficient. I'm aiming at the cool factor.

cool factor wins every time.efficiency is fine and dandy for commuters,but how many enthusiasts are there for 'econobox monthly' out there?

Originally Posted by martin

You could convert a burner from a home heating furnace to run on 12v.

no need...12v burners are as common as dirt-my pressure washer has one in it.

Originally Posted by Lynx_Gen

i think a steam powered ranger would be bad-ass, especially if done it in steam-punk styling.

(Also the distillers tend to look awfully steampunkish themselves with all their shiny copper n stainless.. lol)

yah

Originally Posted by BlueChariot

Listen, people make miniature steam powered trains all the time, I'm simpley talking about bringing it into the medium scale between the small and the actual trains.

so get on it.whatchya waiting for,an ok from everyone on here?

[BlueChariot]

I figured you'd be a supporter of such an idea, gwaii. As much as I'd love to make my steam powered doomsday device, I have neither the tools, expertise, nor monies to do so at current juncture. Especially not with a full size Ford in my driveway needing an engine.

It shall be done before I die though, rest assured.

[gwaii]

Originally Posted by BlueChariot

It shall be done before I die though, rest assured.

at least you have the timeline set up

[BlueChariot]

Well, seeing as I'm going to be assassinated at 27, I probably should get on it.

Did I mention the ship's wheel steering yet? I'm too lazy to read my previous posts.

[gwaii]

Originally Posted by BlueChariot

Well, seeing as I'm going to be assassinated at 27, I probably should get on it. .

don't count on that....i figured i'd be dead by the time i hit 25.it really screwwed up the last 22 years or so,i had no plans for them

Originally Posted by BlueChariot

Did I mention the ship's wheel steering yet? I'm too lazy to read my previous posts.

yup

[BlueChariot]

At the very least I'm gonna make my desert cruising destroyer with a diesel in it, retaining the ship style steering from the rear and throttle/braking via a lever like what's available for disabled people.

However, if I win the lottery I shall be hiring you for building what may be the world's first steam powered truck. Steam engines do have a knack for exploding if they don't work properly, it seems.

If it does fail, my report to the motoring industry would be as follows:

[AllanD]

Originally Posted by Original_Ranger84

Why not just do water injection on the engine in the truck? It squirts in a little water in the cylinder right before it fires or after and turns...explodes into steam which helps alot in power and economy. My old auto shop teacher did it to his Geo Metro 3 banger and was pulling off about 65mpg... and then he had a 460 ford that got 5mpgs.. lol

most people don't realize that the primary gas that is pushing the pistons down the bore is already steam....

What do you think happens when you combine a HYDROcarbon with a 20% mix of oxygen and 78% Nitrogen (effectively inert)

You get a LOT of water, Some Carbon Dioxide & Carbon Monoxide
and some heated Nitrogen (remember, inert!)

But of all the gases that result the one with the highest coefficient of expansion due to increased temperature is the "water gas", aka "Steam"

Going from liquid water at 211deg F to steam at 213F water changes volume by a factor of 1200... and that kind of expansion can really push things around....

Considering that the gas temperature in an internal combustion engine is ~1100degF at idle...

Yeah adding a little more water into the combustion chamber as atmoized droplets can have a big payoff...

AD

[rangerluver]

It's true, if you actually think about it logically. What do you see coming out of a tail pipe? (and I realize most of us still have cats on our vehicles)

Steam or on a newer vehicle you can actually see water run out after it has been sitting at a light or stop sign for any length of time.

After a converter takes out the impurities, what we have left is water.

[tx3nc]

Originally Posted by martin

You're right about steam engines being fairly simple, Safe, reliable boilers or steam generators however are not. Check out jay Leno's site, He has a steam car that was manufactured in the thirtys and he refers to it as the most complex piece of machinery in his garage.

Boiler explosions are bad.... M'kay?