Help Air Pump needed

[Sam Leese]

My 58 foot boat works well until I try to condense - the ejector I have to lift the condnesate is too steam hungry - anyone know where I can get (buy) an air pump or get a drawing for one - I have single cylinder engine 6 inch bore 7 inch stroke so somethign to suit would be geat.

Thanks

Sam

[barts]

If that's a regular single you could just let back pressure on the engine push the condensate out into the hotwell... I do this on the Otter (a lot smaller boat, I'll admit ) and this works just fine.

- Bart

[fredrosse]

A wet vacuum pump will remove condensate and maintain vacuum exhaust for better economy. The pump running at engine speed should have about 1/2 the bore, and 1/2 the stroke of the main engine's cylinder. With reasonable packings this will handle air leakage and easily pump out all the condensate.

I made mine from a commercial pneumatic cylinder, much less machining and better quality bore, gland, and piston rod finish than I can make in the home shop. I will send details of internals once you decide what cylinder to buy on e-bay.