Re: Domestic Steam Engine

On 29 Mar, 11:04, Chris Edwards <Mustardmender-...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


Notwithstanding the size of unit quoted, is there anything off-the
-shelf known to anybody? I said I would ask the experts!


The simple answer Chris is 'no' (AFAIK) there is not a pre-packaged
unit available off-the-shelf that will do what you are asking.

However, can it be done is a different question to which the answer is
'yes' ...and... 'has been for quite some time, the technology for auto-
stoking and grating is well known. We used to operate coal fired
boilers with automatic stoking and grate agitation ....BUT ... the
downside was that the smallest was about 150kW. They were also damned
expensive bits of kit, with low day-on-day maintenance needs due to
the Controls but eye-watering 12monthly grate replacements (the best
agitated grate still tending to clog locally if not examined and
attended to by eyeball-Mk1).
A fluidic-bed boiler burning sawdust and chippings would alleviate
that, but your mate would need very deep pockets. Just not viable for
a small domestic situation. If it were mine I would opt for a
regular wood-burner with heat recovery and possibly a Stirling with
it's hot end in the flue running a car alternator for the batteries.
Alternatively, ditch the wood idea and go for a small CHP unit which
are available in small domestic sizes, with solar trickle for battery
charging.

As for the Controls element, for any of the packages... there is
nothing complex to them and the models/algorithms are all well known,
the sensing for the grate is the trickiest to get right.

In short... nice thought, shame about the costs.

Ian
.