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#Post#: 6270--------------------------------------------------
EnGEN steam electric generator
By: lynx wind Date: March 24, 2017, 7:32 pm
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I designed and built this engine 11 years ago. It comes out now
and then for testing. But lately I have been pushing for
funding to get this developed. The video here is of the
prototype - 1 chamber engine. The next engine is a 10 hp 2
chamber 190 cid engine. Version 2 is 10" diameter.
The engine in the video is an 80 cid 1 chamber. We are testing
the alternator to get the speed, hz and voltage coordinated.
Steam engines run slow so we don't run it as a pressure engine.
Steam engines are better as heat engines. In this video we are
using air supply of 130 psi and the exhaust is open so it is a
bit loud.
Steam is different because there is initial kick from the
pressure and then the pressure drops as the heat is given up.
Out comes droplets of water. With air we have to push out the
large volume of uncompressed air at 14 psi.
The purpose of this engine is to produce electricity from
typically un-useable fuels such as biomass, chicken crap, etc...
Yes, there is a guy in Arkansas that wants to burn the manure
to heat and light his barns. A steam engine is ideal as a
co-generation system. It can use waste heat and also give up
waste heat.
The other purpose is to make an engine that burns as clean as
the kitchen stove and is quiet. It can run on gasoline,,
diesel, alcohol.... but burns the fuel completely and clean
because the fuel has enough air and time to burn at a high
enough temperature.
If you know anyone with an extra $100k laying around let me
know.
HTML https://youtu.be/BGtbyFwPjJw
#Post#: 6271--------------------------------------------------
Re: EnGEN steam electric generator
By: CG Date: March 25, 2017, 4:53 am
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Very nice.
The obvious answer to your question is: If you can't get an
investor interested, you need to "crowd fund". Go fund me etc.
Also is it patentable? That costs money and takes years, then
you have to argue with the patent examiners which is very
frustrating and time consuming. You'd be surprised what they
come up with.
Keep us updated we are in your cheering section.
#Post#: 6296--------------------------------------------------
Re: EnGEN steam electric generator
By: Benjamin Date: February 8, 2018, 11:52 pm
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These are good information you should read.
#Post#: 6297--------------------------------------------------
Re: EnGEN steam electric generator
By: LynxWind Date: February 13, 2018, 9:04 am
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I'm slowly moving closer to getting this generator built. It is
very difficult for a lone individual to get something off the
ground. I have applied for Grant money after visiting with
Innovation consultants and Industrialists. One big challenge
was narrowing the focus to a market that has a problem that this
innovation is unique in solving. Sounds easy but it's not an
easy question to answer.
So the focus now is laser - the prototype will have a small
footprint so it can be carried by one person. You put scrap
wood or any biomass in the self feeding hopper, light a fire.
The result is clean combustion, no smoke, no noise, electricity
(12 and 120v), optional cooking, milling, heat and hot water.
This would market to off grid people, campers, 3rd world Relief
Organizations...
Marketing will be done using the Zapato model - Someone buying
this in the Western World will know that one will be donated to
a Village not having power. Partners are Raincatchers.org and
CroptoCup, and others when things are ready.
The generator could also be made in a larger size in Phase 2.
#Post#: 6298--------------------------------------------------
Re: EnGEN steam electric generator
By: suineG Date: February 15, 2018, 8:41 am
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So crowd funding is out?
#Post#: 6299--------------------------------------------------
Re: EnGEN steam electric generator
By: CG Date: February 15, 2018, 10:26 am
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No noise or smoke? I 'll need to see that. Is there a video of
this? How heavy is it? What are the normal electric watts you
can expect from a few sticks of wood.
I would think that a steam engine would be heavy because it
needs to contain the steam pressure. It would have to be heavy
to perform all those tasks.
Need help? I know a few retired guys who would.
I also am in a very close relationship with a international
energy company that might be able to help in some way.
#Post#: 6300--------------------------------------------------
Re: EnGEN steam electric generator
By: LynxWind Date: February 16, 2018, 5:11 am
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Crowdfunding isn't what it used to be. When you sign up you are
spammed to death by companies that prey on innovators. Not that
crowd funding can't work but it's better for small projects,
tech, novelty. Not so much industrial innovations
No smoke/no noise is relative. There are gases of combustion,
mostly water and CO2. Because the temperatures are so high in
the combustion chamber there isn't the normal creosote and
un-burned fuels of a normal camp fire. Target weight is 60 Lbs,
but it's early stage and that may change.
This wont be a device that puts out 6 kw. It could if it were
much bigger. Probably more like 250-500 watts into a storage
battery. Power will be enough to grind grains, light LED bulbs,
charge electric tools, provide communications, provide heat and
hot water....
#Post#: 6304--------------------------------------------------
Re: EnGEN steam electric generator
By: CG Date: February 17, 2018, 7:41 am
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Lots of questions:
What makes this better than a regular small steam
engine/generator ?
Or maybe there isn't any others?
How would the engine be controlled since different fuels burn at
different rates?
Would you have to constantly stoke the fire?
How high does the pressure get?
Any investor would need these answered and more.
#Post#: 6307--------------------------------------------------
Re: EnGEN steam electric generator
By: LynxWind Date: February 18, 2018, 2:01 pm
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I've been working with and studying steam for many many years.
That's actually how I got into wind turbines. I needed a
non-cogging low rpm generator. Of course we don't find them off
the shelf so I learned to build them.
I have designed and built a lot of engines. Piston engines have
an over square geometry which means the stroke can't be much
longer than the bore diameter. They develop highest power over
25% of the stroke, and not much around TDC or BDC. So trying to
get a lot of power from low pressure steam requires a very large
bore. Then there is the problem of compression in a piston
engine. A little is Okay because it softens the TDC and raises
the temp a little. But does steal some power. Then there is
the problem of expansion rate and if you expand too much you
risk condensation and even vacuum (both steal power). Then
there is the problem of size, lubrication and parts count
associated with the steam engines you may have seen at county
fairs. Then there is the problem of the boiler. Large pressure
vessels are potentially dangerous explosion risks. Controlling
a boiler to a high degree is difficult with an engine expected
to perform over a large power curve. I could go on and describe
the challenges of porting, valves and compound engines. In my
opinion the best steam engines are turbines (over 50hp) or
Uniflow (under 50hp) because they adhere closer to the laws of
thermodynamic efficiency.
After years of study, prototyping, testing I arrived at what I
feel is the best design to deal with most of the challenges
faced by mechanical engineers in the field of steam power.
Keep in mind, steam is old and it is modern. Our Navy runs on
steam and most of our power grid is powered by steam today.
Steam is very powerful.
#Post#: 6308--------------------------------------------------
Re: EnGEN steam electric generator
By: LynxWind Date: February 18, 2018, 2:01 pm
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The engine I designed can be thought of as an infinitely long
steam catapult. The virtual piston runs in one direction, the
exhaust is always open so there is no compression, inlet of
pressure is automatic, the engine can freewheel, it can ingest
water without hydro-locking, it can run at very high rpm or put
out tremendous torque at a few rpm. It follows the laws of
thermodynamics closely (hot side hot, cool side cool). The
engine has very low friction, very short ports, one inlet valve,
five moving parts.
Speed is controlled by a couple things: throttle, sizing of the
boiler tubing, size of the firebox, and most importantly the
load. The load is a 12volt battery which is being charged by
the air core alternator. As voltage hits 14-15 volts and
amperage starts going up the power in/power out reach a balance.
At 20 amps the engine is requiring @1/2 hp and about 60psi
continuous from the monotube boiler. There just aren't more
btu's to be had from the firebox. The engine can also be
charging at 20psi as the fire calms, so is not rpm sensitive
like a typical generator that has to run at a specific rpm.
120 vac can be drawn off an inverter which doesn't put any major
demands on the engine.
If pressure rises above what the engine can use or if the engine
is shutdown on standby, pressure releases up the exhaust via the
safety pressure release valve, or the fire can be automatically
shut down via a thermostaically controlled damper. I have had
over pressure happen a couple times (intentionally). I have
also had a monotube boiler rupture and/or develop a leak many
times (sometimes intentionally). Imagine a squirt bottle.
Water squirts out, drips down the casing, pressure drops. It's
not like a pressure vessel. I have also operated a monotube
boiler with leaks. It doesn't build as much pressure but still
works.
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