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ramofpersus
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What Do You Name This Device?

01/05/2013 12:37 PM

Steam Power generation are usually Steam Engines OR Steam Turbine. All of these are good for 300 kW or more. I wish to have something below 100 kW. Suppose I get a 50 mm dia seamless pipe, roll to form an endless circle of OD 2000mm. inside this pipes place spoon shaped buckets secured to 15mm to 20mm pitch chain. At the bottom of inner diameter of the pipe an opening is provided, here the chain will sit snugly on a matching sprocket, the sprocket and shaft will extend to have a much larger diameter sprocket of similar pitch! This in turn will drive a much smaller sprocket producing high speed to generate electricity. At the outer diameter of the pipe several nozzle holes, each steam valve shall have couple of nozzles to admit steam of not more than 5 bar, into the pipe chamber, the steam entering the pipe will push the spoon like cups in circular motion allowing en exhaust at furthest point from stem admission. Chain will turn the sprocket with multiple sprocket the speed can be varied as desired. This is for small process plant needing 50 to 100 kW power, this will be slow speed, care will be taken to ensure not much steam escapes the spoons' sides. a sketch would follow later, in the week. Any chance in my imagination to be practical.

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lyn
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#1

Re: what do you name this device?

01/05/2013 12:41 PM

Pelton wheel.
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Fredski
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#6
In reply to #1

Re: what do you name this device?

01/06/2013 8:40 AM

I have no idea bit if its hooked to a 5 HP motor I bet it makes an awesome smoothie
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lyn
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#7
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Re: what do you name this device?

01/06/2013 1:15 PM

It would dig a mean trench, too.
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europium
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#8
In reply to #7

Re: what do you name this device?

01/06/2013 3:50 PM
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Tornado
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#9
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Re: what do you name this device?

01/06/2013 4:18 PM

16,000 tons and what do you get? Another day older....

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lyn
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#10
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Re: what do you name this device?

01/06/2013 5:19 PM

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Tornado
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#2

Re: What Do You Name This Device?

01/05/2013 1:41 PM

Rube Goldberg would be proud....

I'm pretty sure that small-scale steam turbine design is quite different from this. "Mini turbine" might be a good search term.

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tcmtech
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#3

Re: What Do You Name This Device?

01/05/2013 2:21 PM

I would call it a very inefficient high maintenance turbine.

Granted its output may only be 100 Kw bu the input would probably be in the megawatt plus range.

What is your intended fuel source seems like a valid question here.

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James Stewart
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#12
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Re: What Do You Name This Device?

01/07/2013 3:04 PM

Since the OP seems interested in extracting palm oil, they are probably using palm nut hull as bagass to fire a boiler of low pressure, hence steam was mentioned. If you only need 50-100 kW, there are probably any number of makers of single stage steam turbines who would be happy to provide you with the prime mover. Another (more expensive at least initially) option is to use a multi-stage turbine with a condenser on the exhaust. The condenser could even be air-cooled at this level of power production without it consuming the entire district.

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ramofpersus
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#13
In reply to #12

Re: What Do You Name This Device?

01/07/2013 4:15 PM

very true and logic, appropriate proposal. various option including micro turbines were considered but cost as much as the whole process plant. yes with waste material we can produce about a ton to 1.5 ton steam at 5 to 7 bar pressure. thank you

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James Stewart
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#14
In reply to #13

Re: What Do You Name This Device?

01/07/2013 5:18 PM

Maybe you should look at a fairly large old piston-type air compressor, alter the valving, and use that as a steam engine. Sometimes these may be just lying around somewhere waiting for a picker to buy them. There are also old steam tractors just sitting around rusting in the USA (being held by odd collectors). Call up an antique engine dealer, who knows what is just sitting around waiting for a new life? If the thing is seized up, you might have wished you bought a new one.

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RAMConsult
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#4

Re: What Do You Name This Device?

01/05/2013 3:09 PM

Your idea has merit but unless you have a machine shop, an electrician, lots of skilled labor, and get all the materials for free, it will probably be cheaper to run, safer and more reliable if you go on the used market and buy a prepackaged unit.

Since you'll need an alternator you can find one for about $2,500 plus shipping, but for only $2,400 additional you can buy one with a prime mover too. With some tweaking you can probably get the diesel to run on palm-oil.

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europium
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#5

Re: What Do You Name This Device?

01/05/2013 8:07 PM

Look into ORCs - Organic Rankine-Cycle engine/generators also. These use working fluids operating at temps in the 150-210 C range. Moreover, these are available in the range of < 100 kW output ratings you mentioned.

The University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP) successfully operated a salinity-gradient solar pond equipped with a COTS (commercial, off-the-shelf) 70 kW ORC. Working-fluid temp between 160-190 C.

If you prefer to roll your own, here is an excellent, well-written and packed-to-the-gills-with-info paper on the subject (pdf format).
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Users who posted comments:

europium (2); Fredski (1); HeHound (1); James Stewart (2); lyn (3); RAMConsult (1); ramofpersus (1); tcmtech (1); Tornado (2)

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