Just wanted to say hi.

[biggkidd]

I'm Larry been lurking here a little while & learning from you folks. Thought i should say thanks. SO THANKS! My two daughters and i live off grid in central Va. I am getting things together to build my second boiler / third OWB. This will be used as our primary HEAT and POWER. The boiler we are currently useing heats DHW and the living space via convection hot air no blower, and also runs a small steam engine i built. The steam eng turns an alternator to help charge our 4000 plus amp hr battery bank. While all of this works its also all under sized and there for not enough.

What i have in mind is to power everything and i do mean everything off this one boiler. First it will power the new larger steam eng then the waste steam out of the engine will heat the storage tanks. The tanks will have coils of pex for the DHW like im using now which works great. My existing tanks are plastic believe it or not and i have watched them boiling!

Unless you guys are particularily intrested i probably wont do a lot of posting about this, but reading and learning from you all.

Thanks Larry

 

[begreen]

Welcome Larry. Now ya know we are just going to have to see some shots of this, especially that steam rig. Do you burn wood year round to keep this all going?

 

[CT Pellet]

Wassup Larry. Welcome aboard.

 

[tbuff]

Welcome Larry.

 

[DHill]

Unless you guys are particularily intrested i probably wont do a lot of posting about this, but reading and learning from you all.

Welcome, I for one would be interested in reading more about your set up. Steam engine, boiler design, what kind of plastic tanks that hold boiling water?

DH

 

[evamaxx]

hi l

Welcome, I for one would be interested in reading more about your set up. Steam engine, boiler design, what kind of plastic tanks that hold boiling water?

hi larry it sounds interesting like to see the steam eng set up ho much psi steam does it make? good luck mark

 

[EffectaBoilerUser (USA)]

Welcome Larry!

Good luck on your boiler project.

We're always here to answer questions and give our 2 cents.

Brian

 

[fossil]

Sure would like to see some pics, Larry (I'm an old retired Navy snipe, so whenever somebody says "steam engine" I perk right up ). Welcome to the forums! Rick

 

[biggkidd]

My 3g connection went down last night lost my replies to you all. As i mentioned we are off grid, two miles from hard top and neighbors. I will try and post pics from my cell when i go out today.
Thanks
Larry

 

[biggkidd]

Is there a way to load pics directly from a cell to post here?

 

[mikefrommaine]

Is there a way to load pics directly from a cell to post here?View attachment 94445

I use imugr. They have an app that lets you take pics that are directly uploaded to your account. Then I copy and paste a link.

 

[biggkidd]

Ok think I got it can you guys see the pic? If that worked I'll post better ones later.
Thanks
Larry

 

[mikefrommaine]

I can see it

 

[CTFIRE]

Larry - What makes you think this group wouldn't be interested in getting electricity from wood. Have you seen the pictures of of our wood stacks? This is the place for you, so do share. I found myself watching moonshiners this year and wondering if I could divert a zone of the heat and run a still. This is only an emergency plan if my supply of Johnny Walker dries up.

 

[muncybob]

Welcome Larry! Heck yea we want to hear about your project and see the photos along the way! My hat's off to you sir for going off grid.

 

[BillsWS]

Welcome Larry. More pics please

 

[huffdawg]

What sort of pressure does your tea pot run at?

 

[biggkidd]

Hi All
I tried to post more pics yesterday, but for some reason it just wouldn't go through. I will try again. I think most of the problem is my rigged up equpment ie nook using cell for hot spot to 3g connection. Plus all pics are on the cell.
The tea pot has a 150 psi popoff valve. I try and run at 100 psi. It will be the same with the new set up. Even though the one im currently gathering parts for has a MAWP ( maximum allowable working pressure) of 267 psi. I am more comfortable sticking with a low pressure system. The first boiler & engine were cobbled out of scrap pile junk. The boiler is made out of an outer shell 275 gal oil tank inner 2 CI (cast iron) bathtubs and four 20 lbs propane tanks plumbed together top and bottom. The first engine design engine started out life as a twin cylinder emglo air compressor. I removed the head and replaced it with a log splitter valve welded to a 1/2" steel plate. This actually ran very well. The down side was the crank case kept filling with water and the ports in the log splitter valve were to small. But of all the different mods this one ran the best. What ive got now is double stacked pistons rods and cyls with about an inch gap between the cyl sets which allowes the water to run out without getting in the crank case. The valve is now a standard D type slide valve i made with over size ports. Its not nearly as smooth working as the log splitter valve was. But now that i know the idea is feasable having made some small bits of power with it now its time to spend some $$$ and do it right. The hard part for me is (A) very limited income (B) im not a machinest (C) improper tools to work with, no lathe or mill. (D) and of course time with two girls is school 7 and 12 years old. BUT I WILL GET IT DONE!! Oh and i also have M.S.
Aint life grand.

Thanks
Larry

 

[biggkidd]

 

[Fred61]

That pitman rod doesn't look real strong. What it turning for RPM?

 

[biggkidd]

That pitman rod doesn't look real strong. What it turning for RPM?

Slow real slow counting by eye & stop watch 72 rpm with load on . Way to fast with no load. One of these days i'll get an rpm counter. Its a 3/8 threaded rod and hiem joints so not to weak, only has a 1.125 throw and not a lot of resistance. Im kind of glad its weak in a way 3/8" rods a lot cheaper than a new crank.. It siezed, once the rod bent thankfully instead of trashing the crank. The valve pushrod was clearanced to tight and siezed once it got hot. I thought the whole thang was toast but got lucky and just turned the pushrod down a few thousands and put it back togeather. Works fine now. Or will once i can supply it with enough steam volume.

Larry

 

[huffdawg]

Tapatalk is the app I use

 

[biggkidd]

Sure would like to see some pics, Larry (I'm an old retired Navy snipe, so whenever somebody says "steam engine" I perk right up ). Welcome to the forums! Rick

Rick just the guy i need to get to know according to two retired navy cheifs maybe master cheifs who are good friends. They both got out after 20 odd years but worked flight deak and sheet metal i think. I went into this project several years ago totaly blind, didnt even have internet till last year. But a life time of creating things and modifing for other purposes i thought it was doable. So far my scrap pile build has worked better than imagined. So on to bigger better things, i sinserly hope.

I have way to many questions for all of you running wood gas boilers. So so much i dont know. I have made some prelimonary drawings of what i think i need but just not sure.

One question inparticular that comes to mind. Are any of you using fire tube type boilers? Or all of these water tube? Is it really nessary to have two fire boxes?
What im thinking is a single fire box updraft through a brick grate with fresh hot air introduced about two thirds of the way back and above the wood. That should allow for a secondary gas fire just befor it u turns through the fire tubes.

Another question for you guys should i start another thread. One with what i have so far to work with the baisic design ideas & drawings, intended out come? Beleave me i can use all the help i can get if you guys are willing. Many minds beats my simple mind. If two heads are better than one then this could be a vertual think tank! ! !

Thanks
Larry

 

[pen]

Another question for you guys should i start another thread. One with what i have so far to work with the baisic design ideas & drawings, intended out come? Beleave me i can use all the help i can get if you guys are willing. Many minds beats my simple mind. If two heads are better than one then this could be a vertual think tank! ! !

Thanks
Larry

If the focus changes, you'll generally get your best responses with a new thread and a new descriptive title. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Welcome!

pen

 

[Bob Rohr]

Some local Missouri boys that mess with small steam engines. Lots of good data in these articles.






home.earthlink.net/~dlaw70/12stmng.htm


www.fastonline.org/.../Reciprocating%20Steam%20Engine.pd...