steam launches

[fredrosse]

This discussion has not addressed if the steam system is "closed" or "open". Both types have their own issues with respect to the boiler's health.

Typical small launches in my area feed boiler water directly from the lake, "open system", which is not a problem unless the dissolved solids in the water are high. This works well except in brackish waters and salt water, then the deposits build up in the boiler rather quickly. Several steamboaters in my area use water they bring on the trip just to make sure it is nearly pure.

The "closed system", where the water is condensed and sent back to the boiler, usually must deal with the possibility of engine oil entering the boiler, which is very bad. Filters and skimmers try to remove the oil that invariably comes with the condensate, and constant vigilance is needed, as oil in the boiler is often causing overheating and leaks.

Impurities in feedwater are typically expressed in "PPM", (Parts Per Million), I use collected rainwater in my boiler, it runs 2 to 10 PPM, very good quality for a steamboat. Our lake has about 115 PPM, still OK for a low pressure plant. Sea water is 35,000 PPM - way too high. Our large power plant boilers are not allowed to have more than 0.1 PPM, but that is another story.

Oil in feedwater should be kept well below 10 PPM, a tall order without good filtering.

[duluthboats]

Thank you,

[Ari]

Originally Posted by SteamFreak

You are right that smaller scale systems, diesels have the advantage... I was thinking of large vessels (10,000 tons plus)...

for a vessel of this size I do really like the simplety of a Merillees Black Stone engine compared to any steam boiler..I do respect your wishes..but I had work around boilers for more than 20 years, anyway all of them are land base, from waste heat boiler, fired boiler to chemical reaction boiler from LP steam at 2.5 barg to MP at 18 barg up to HP at 40 barg some boilers run at 100 barg.During the days when I'am loading master that handle more than 60 vessel a month at an oil import export terminal..I had came across lots of big internal combustion engine that can run on multiple fuel..vessel from 3000mt coastal tanker right to 400,000mt crude tanker..the efficiency and simplety of all this internal combustion engine out perform boilers.In Malaysia steam boilers need to have Statutory Inspection annually.

[Wellydeckhand]

So Ari....... What is my chance of building a steam powered river ferry? +/- 20m?

[Ari]

Originally Posted by Wellydeckhand

So Ari....... What is my chance of building a steam powered river ferry? +/- 20m?

Boilers are very heavy machinery..the smallest portable for industry that I came across was built by Mechmar.Unless you can find good used boiler at reasonable price than maybe it is worth a try. I had never come across any steam driven engine for small boat. Maybe there is in US or Europe.

[Ari]

Came across an LNG carrier..that have huge boilers and slow turning huge propellers...but this vessel is more than 200 metres long and about 40 metres beam.Have a look at this site..the piston drive sytem is quite special to me..I am keen to know where to buy or built the small boiler..
http://www.greensteamengine.com/

[Ari]

Wow..I cannot find any company making new small steam engine..have a look at this two site..It is too tough an assignment for me to build steam engine..!
Welly have a look.Any simpler boiler Fredrosse ?
http://www.prestonservices.co.uk/marine.htm
http://www.prestonservices.co.uk/boilers.htm
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/cowiepeters/index.htm

[Ari]

http://www.pcez.com/~artemis/SLAlinks.htm
Some more site on steam launch
Steam launch is not something common in Malaysia or Indonesia..

[artemis]

Originally Posted by Ari

Steam launch is not something common in Malaysia or Indonesia..

Maybe not today, but 100 years ago they were - quite literally - all over the place.
Ari, you are, in some aspects of steam as applied to boats, very much out of touch and/or mis-informed. Below are a number of websites which have links pages that should fill you in ( just select the "links" page button ):
Hobby Steamboaters Web Ring: http://www.steamboaterswebring.net
Northwest Steam Society: http://www.northweststeamsociety.org
International Steamboat Society: http://www.steamboating.org
Steam Boat Association of Great Britain: http://www.steamboat.org.uk
Use these links to explore the other sites out there. There's a lot of stuff similar to what you're looking for still running in other parts of the world: the Scandanavian countries, lakes and rivers in Europe, etc.

[Ari]

Originally Posted by artemis

Maybe not today, but 100 years ago they were - quite literally - all over the place.
Ari, you are, in some aspects of steam as applied to boats, very much out of touch and/or mis-informed. Below are a number of websites which have links pages that should fill you in ( just select the "links" page button ):
There's a lot of stuff similar to what you're looking for still running in other parts of the world: the Scandanavian countries, lakes and rivers in Europe, etc.

You are right there Artemis..I know nuts about steam boating hobby..after been triggered by Greg Simpson on this..I had spend hours surfing and looking for sites on this topic..Thank you for the hyperlink provided. I do really like what I saw..!Top priority for me for an engine is to be quiet..It is real tough to quieten down a Yanmar thumping sound..!