Talk:Steam motor

Multiple expansion steam motors

Update: I didn't know this when writing the following but it sounds like the slam valve motor may have the advantages of a multiple expansion motor. I'm not sure if this is what Andy is talking about. Here is a quote from him: "What is new is a single stage expansion motor[...] Most steam engines don't do an expansion cycle. The triple expansion motor required 3 cylinders of different sizes to do the job."[1] ~ Lumenos 15:36, October 3, 2010 (EDT)

[these first comments were relocated from User_talk:Gooniepunk2005#Welcome to Lumeniki!] Thanks for coming. Do you know anything about Small-scale solar steam power? Lumenos 18:40, September 8, 2009 (UTC)

I am looking into some things I know about power generation in general in order to help you guys with your solar steam power prototypes. I don't know much about the solar aspects, but I do know about the steam power aspects, and how you could, conceivably, model the steam engine to get almost maximum stage efficiency. Have you considered a staged steam approach?Gooniepunk2005 21:24, September 8, 2009 (UTC)

Do you mean like a multiple expansion? Lumenos 21:47, September 8, 2009 (UTC)

Yes, but do you know how it works is more my question?Gooniepunk2005 23:36, September 8, 2009 (UTC)

I think it is fairly evident from the picture in the Wikipedia. But it is not an option for us. The cost of manufacturing an entire steam engine is too high. But Andy claims that the slam valve motor has twice the efficiency of the James Watt steam engine. Lumenos 00:12, September 9, 2009 (UTC)

If you just want to talk theory I am up for that. Just keep in mind that the basic slam valve motor costs only about $740 for 3 HP. Lumenos 00:12, September 9, 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, I am mostly talking in theory, but I understand fully when cost is an issue, although you could always leave room to upgrade to such a system later.Gooniepunk2005 00:17, September 9, 2009 (UTC)

Yeah maybe an upgrade. It might actually be possible to chain two or three slam valve motors, together, to use like a multiple stage. They would probably have to be attached to the same induction motor generator. You would need to have the exact right sized flywheels (or whatever they are called) so that all the motors transfer an equal force onto the induction motor. It seems very complex. How would you know what sized fly wheels to use, for example? Lumenos 00:27, September 9, 2009 (UTC)

Andy is really the expert and could tell us if this could be worth it. He is pretty busy but I invited him here, so he might be around. He hasn't edited here yet. Otherwise I could email it to him. I think I may have asked him this already, but I am not sure. Lumenos 00:34, September 9, 2009 (UTC)