A modern Steam Engine

[preaton]

Have you seen this. Mentioned in the latest "Professional Boatbuilder"

http://www.cyclonepower.com/


From a crowd in Florida

2000psi Ceramic lined cylinders 100 HP

Pretty cool

[fredrosse]

Been waiting years to see a real working model of this engine, nothing yet as far as I can see. A lab demonstration without real performance testing is good for the internet, and maybe hooks a few more invertors, but I think this machine will never be available commercially. The concepts are sound, but really nothing new. This machine must burn the high priced fuels (such as gasoline, fuel oil, fuel gas) that can be used in Internal Combustion Engines. The operating pressure is very high with respect to reciprocating steam engines, but way less than half the pressures used in modern steam power plant practice.

[artemis]

Been waiting years to see a real working model of this engine, nothing yet as far as I can see. A lab demonstration without real performance testing is good for the internet, and maybe hooks a few more invertors, but I think this machine will never be available commercially. The concepts are sound, but really nothing new. This machine must burn the high priced fuels (such as gasoline, fuel oil, fuel gas) that can be used in Internal Combustion Engines. The operating pressure is very high with respect to reciprocating steam engines, but way less than half the pressures used in modern steam power plant practice.

Guess you don't subscribe to the Steam Automobile Club of America's magazine or particpate in their online forum. No it doesn't burn wood or turn over at a stately 86rpm but that doesn't mean it doesn't work.

[fredrosse]

I didn't mean to imply that the machine doesn't work, just that "I think this machine will never be available commercially". As stated in my previous post, the concepts are sound, but really nothing new.

Any engine that must burn oil or gas has to compete with IC engines if it is to be commercially successful, and I think the Cyclone Power engine will cost more, and be less efficient than existing IC engine technology. In my view, for a Rankine Steam engine cycle to compete commercially, it must burn cheaper fuels that cannot be used in IC engines, or have a lower capital cost. I would love to see steam automobiles, steam tractors, and steam driven domestic heat-power units, but I don't think Cyclone Power is a realistic commercial proposition.