the propane thread piques my curiosity about using it as heat for a boiler to run a steam engine, maybe a heavy flywheel to something like a 5hp briggs. wouldnt expect 5hp output, but might it be lots more efficient usage of fuel vs power output?
yeah its "turning back time".. but electric boats and cars are "oldsters" too. 5hp briggs being so cheap-available, same for a propane burner, and theres all kinds of mass produced pressure vessels.. propane tank? old scuba tank? if it'd work.. its a drive system that'd weigh maybe 50-60lbs? how loud would a steam spun briggs be? I'd guess it could be heavily muffled too, being it wouldnt be the source of internal combustion heating itself up. it wouldnt need the valves closed for a compression ignition stroke, which would only rob it of a lot of potential power.. a cam lobe would have to be changed is a machining job sure. dont know how efficient it could get but it'd sure be something to see. I dont know how much steam pressure+volume it'd take to drive it a decent rpm+power either, its just the concept of potentially doing from cheap-available stuff, sure gets me wondering!
--- On Sun, 2/19/12, Mark Lockley <lockleymark1@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
From: Mark Lockley <lockleymark1@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Propane outboard engine
To: "electricboats@yahoogroups.com" <electricboats@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Sunday, February 19, 2012, 2:18 AM
A power catamaran (rather than sail)) would have a substantial roof base for solar panels (also unshaded) - ample internal space and bouyancy for supporting large battery bank no problem - coupled with a wind turbine or two would be close to supplying most peoples power usage. Mark
From: Guillaume D Marais <gdmarais@gmail.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, 17 February 2012, 3:06
Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Propane outboard engine
Propan versus gasoline is indeed very interesting and i am learning.
In my quest for EP ballance i seem to have advertedly choose the
gasoline engine in my personal plan.
In order to have some equations to work from i set out to find
electric propulsion that could handle head on winds and nasty waves
and at the same time be economical in
flat seas. I do realise that no leissure boat can carry the battery
bank required for a all out EP free from gasoline to generate such
power. I investigated back charge with
all sorts of configurations but just could not make it work. I want 2
X 3Kw electric motors with a 10Kw genset and 4Kw charge back from the
props thinking that 4Kw carging
should take care of battery recharge. But the fuel and weight and
consumpsion running a 10Kw Gennie was astronomical and then it dawned
on me ....... why dont i use 2 X 2Kw enhe bateries
electric motors which i feed with a 5Kw Genset so the electrical
motors will run off the genset and not the bateries and at a fuel
consumption of 1.9L per hour i will have more
than enough power to handle any headon situation with a two motor
propulsion at 1.9L per hour. When i hit flat seas i run only one motor
and it is calculated against my fuel capcity
that i have a range of over 900 sea miles at 1 400 rpm and 3knots per hour.
There is one downside to this plan and that is the single 5Kw Genset
and i quickly realised that if i fittted a second 5Kw Genset i have a
backup and i can generate more than enough domestic power
for all my needs.
I do not suggest this is the ultemate but for my needs it seems workable.
Popeye.
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