Here are two hand drawn plan pics of what i have in mind to build. Cr__ wont post from here let me try the phone.
Prelim boiler drawings opinions please
- Thread starter biggkidd
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Ok wierd one came through ok and the others an attachment.
I have already gotten quite a few of the needed materials. I will make a list here and edit add back to this post. So if you follow this build you may want to check here from time to time to see whats new.
MATERIALS LIST
8X8X16 cinder block all block are used
6x8x16 "
4x8x16 "
24"D x 56"L x .308 wall main boiler tube ( new)
Plate steel for ends of boiler ( tube sheets ) (new)
Sheet steel for outer shell doors etc. 2) Old 275gal oil drums
8" id steel tank for dome (used)
12" liquid level gauge ( for water level in boiler )
200 psi steam gauge (new)
150 psi steam safety valve (new)
2) 1" globe valves 200 psi (new)
5) 3/4" globe valves 200 psi (new)
10lbs. welding wire
I have already gotten quite a few of the needed materials. I will make a list here and edit add back to this post. So if you follow this build you may want to check here from time to time to see whats new.
MATERIALS LIST
8X8X16 cinder block all block are used
6x8x16 "
4x8x16 "
24"D x 56"L x .308 wall main boiler tube ( new)
Plate steel for ends of boiler ( tube sheets ) (new)
Sheet steel for outer shell doors etc. 2) Old 275gal oil drums
8" id steel tank for dome (used)
12" liquid level gauge ( for water level in boiler )
200 psi steam gauge (new)
150 psi steam safety valve (new)
2) 1" globe valves 200 psi (new)
5) 3/4" globe valves 200 psi (new)
10lbs. welding wire
Are you really planning on building this for 150 psi steam pressure. It would appear you have a lot of experience (or knowledge) with this construction or you are a very brave person.
This will be my second 150 psi boiler. Lots of research. Overkill on all materials. The boiler tube is rated for 267 psi MAWP (MAX allowable working pressure.) Thats four times less than its stressed for. As far as experiance goes ive been building things all my life. Ie 10 second 79 camaro 8 sec on NOS , several dumptrucks various and assorted equipment, bikes, boats even guns.
The thing to remember is this will power my home and shop and supply heat and DHW. We are two miles off grid. Have been five years.
I dont know about brave but determined. In 05 i was in a wheel chair diagnosed with ms and nearly died. Learned to walk talk and write all over again. Now im a single dad with two beautiful little girls in school living the dream.
Thanks
Larry
The thing to remember is this will power my home and shop and supply heat and DHW. We are two miles off grid. Have been five years.
I dont know about brave but determined. In 05 i was in a wheel chair diagnosed with ms and nearly died. Learned to walk talk and write all over again. Now im a single dad with two beautiful little girls in school living the dream.
Thanks
Larry
The drawing shows a dry base boiler with no condensate return handling and no gasification, catalytic or second stage burn, if wood fuel. Is the fuel coal? If the fuel was methane your choices would widen to internal combustion engines.
Complete clean burning of the fuel, condensate return with reuse of the waste heat from the condenser, will greatly affect the system efficiency. Can you use the huge overall system waste heat or is it extra work done at a loss. At 80" long, upsizing the system is not due to meeting actual demand but battling overall system inefficiency.
I would think that with the best single stage steam plants running ~ 35% efficient. and internal combustion engines running ~ 18% efficient, solar PV would be a worthy and maybe lower cost candidate to install and meet your demand. With solar, the product refinement has exceeded ten generations and the development costs have been fully paid for by the previous generations, yielding very low cost, high quality performance, off the shelf, at the present time.
I would do it by the numbers first. Measure your current kW output per unit fuel, guesstimate your anticipated demand, and compare the cost of meeting your demand with an upsized second generation steam plant compared to a solar array with MPPT battery charger (your stated objective). Solar would certainly be more reliable and less maintenance over the installed lifetime.
If it has to be steam, you may be able to find the pressure vessel already constructed as salvage, like a Cleaver Brooks fire tube high pressure steam boiler. Fuel feeding/burning and condensate return handling seem like major challenges.
Complete clean burning of the fuel, condensate return with reuse of the waste heat from the condenser, will greatly affect the system efficiency. Can you use the huge overall system waste heat or is it extra work done at a loss. At 80" long, upsizing the system is not due to meeting actual demand but battling overall system inefficiency.
I would think that with the best single stage steam plants running ~ 35% efficient. and internal combustion engines running ~ 18% efficient, solar PV would be a worthy and maybe lower cost candidate to install and meet your demand. With solar, the product refinement has exceeded ten generations and the development costs have been fully paid for by the previous generations, yielding very low cost, high quality performance, off the shelf, at the present time.
I would do it by the numbers first. Measure your current kW output per unit fuel, guesstimate your anticipated demand, and compare the cost of meeting your demand with an upsized second generation steam plant compared to a solar array with MPPT battery charger (your stated objective). Solar would certainly be more reliable and less maintenance over the installed lifetime.
If it has to be steam, you may be able to find the pressure vessel already constructed as salvage, like a Cleaver Brooks fire tube high pressure steam boiler. Fuel feeding/burning and condensate return handling seem like major challenges.
Looking at the drawing again, It appears the boiler part of your design contains no boiler tubes, which to me, would make it a lot less efficient. Your design also shows no stays nor does your material list. The material may be rated for the stresses but the methods of construction, including the welding, are critical as well.
I am only going ask questions: no advise here. Why not use a mono tube design? Why not have at least two passes threw the boiler?
Why not use an arch for fire brick dome in the boiler?
Why not use an arch for fire brick dome in the boiler?
Gasifier
Minister of Fire
Here are your boiler pics again with the one turned 90 deg. Best of luck to you biggkidd. Determination will take you places. Always keep yours and your loved ones safety in mind. Good for you! Teach those girls as much as you can!
![[Hearth.com] Prelim boiler drawings opinions please](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/94/94994-bd4a00b26021a717a430d1011a37f2d0.jpg?hash=tN8RLpFt9y "[Hearth.com] Prelim boiler drawings opinions please")
![[Hearth.com] Prelim boiler drawings opinions please](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/94/94995-a520f4102c2bcaed10ff93c39d732e52.jpg?hash=IATCD8C4gR "[Hearth.com] Prelim boiler drawings opinions please")
Thank you for all the great replies, and fixing my pics. After talking with several people have decided to do away with the dome and cut the number of tubes back. Think I will also drop back on the grate size but leave the foot print the same as it is. With the current width a 36" long or deep grate should be plenty. That leaves a bit of extra room as my splitter will handle 32" splits nicely 30" is about what i aim for.
The materials list is what i have in hand not a list of whats needed.
As far as stays go the 100 + 1"id tubes should work just fine.
Thank you everone i look forward to all of your input.
Larry
The materials list is what i have in hand not a list of whats needed.
As far as stays go the 100 + 1"id tubes should work just fine.
Thank you everone i look forward to all of your input.
Larry
You all bring up some major points about why and how.
First we have some solar. We also have a large battery bank.
This build is just something i want to do. Ive been building things all my life i enjoy it! As far as the quality of the workmanship goes i trust my work and have put my hiny on the line with it for as long as i can remember. Besides you guys might keep me from making a serious blunder. Its not so much about being more expensive or less. Its more about the ride.
Ive been 200 mph its a lot of fun but a sudden stop can mean the end. Some people drink a lot or have serious drug problems.
I chose to read, learn, and build. Im addicted to them all. My girls helped me build the house we live in and arnt affrade to get their hands dirty. Things may not always be as they are now so i am trying to teach them self reliance. My projects help in that reguard.
AND MOST IMPORTANT KEEP ME SANE
!
Larry
First we have some solar. We also have a large battery bank.
This build is just something i want to do. Ive been building things all my life i enjoy it! As far as the quality of the workmanship goes i trust my work and have put my hiny on the line with it for as long as i can remember. Besides you guys might keep me from making a serious blunder. Its not so much about being more expensive or less. Its more about the ride.
Ive been 200 mph its a lot of fun but a sudden stop can mean the end. Some people drink a lot or have serious drug problems.
I chose to read, learn, and build. Im addicted to them all. My girls helped me build the house we live in and arnt affrade to get their hands dirty. Things may not always be as they are now so i am trying to teach them self reliance. My projects help in that reguard.
AND MOST IMPORTANT KEEP ME SANE
!Larry
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