Boiler design and Green Steam Engine

Discussion in 'Propulsion' started by sigurd, Mar 5, 2009.

  1. Questor
    Joined: Aug 2010
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    Questor Senior Member

    Jack of some trades , master of none, I'm ready to concede that. I'm always getting in trouble for being too safety conscious. I only ever worked in one refinery. I got fired for writing up safety violations required by my contractual terms of employment. I'm somewhat surprised I lasted six weeks there.

    All of the wellsite boiler operators I know have the scars to prove it. All except me of course because I was born lucky, take my time, and wear adequate safety protection. I'm probably the only man in the industry that complies with in house regulation by wearing eye goggles, face shield and neoprene gauntlets when adding water treatment chemicals to the condensate return tank. Crews mock me for it calling me the wannabe astronaut.
     
  2. latestarter
    Joined: Jul 2010
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    latestarter Senior Member

  3. Questor
    Joined: Aug 2010
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    Location: Canada

    Questor Senior Member

    After reviewing the current construction standards of steam powered boats I have become deeply concerned about the need to upgrade safety standards in this realm.

    The first area of concern is the protection of boilers from water.There is a real risk of explosion if a boiler is immersed in water. Any boiler mounted within a watercraft should be surrounded by an independent flotation chamber that ensures that the boiler is protected if the vessel either sinks or becomes swamped by wave or other water action. The flotation chambers surrounding waterborne boilers should also be explosion proof to a standard at least two times greater than the explosive capacity of the boiler it surrounds.

    Explosion proof boiler flotation chambers should be sufficiently insulated to ensure that boat operators, passengers and spectators are at no risk of being burned by accidental exposure to the boiler flotation device.

    The second area of concern is the protection of operators, passengers and bystanders while vital services are performed on boilers in watercraft while on the water.There should be a minimum unobstructed work area at least four feet wide on all sides of the boiler flotation chamber. That is the minimum space required to allow safe boiler service and passage of a boilerman's helper around the boilerman. A safety wall at least seven feet tall should surround the boiler service area to protect bystanders and passengers from the risk of fire and steam related injury.

    The third area of concern is safety attire for boilermen and their helpers. While highly trained, licensed and insured boilermen and their helpers are tending to boilers in service they ought to be fully protected by adequate safety gear. The minimum level of protection worn while operating a waterborne boiler should include steel toed fire and water proof knee high boots with plated knee protection,full length one piece fire and water proof coveralls with attached hood, fire and waterproof gauntlets with elasticized cuffs to prevent fluids from entering the gloves and a full face shield.

    There are many other safety issues that should be addressed but those identified above are the bare minimum standards that ought to be in place to protect, operators, passengers and bystanders.
     
  4. apex1

    apex1 Guest

    A idiot,

    a complete idiot.

    Hey Question,

    who left your kennel door open?
     
  5. Stephen Ditmore
    Joined: Jun 2001
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    Stephen Ditmore Senior Member

    I think Questor's suggestions are interesting, but to what size boats are they applicable?

    I note that steamship regulation has a long history. Steamships were not invented yesterday. But Questor's correct that that history is riddled with boiler explosions.

    Questor: do the construction standards you reviewed include 46 CFR parts 52-57?
     
  6. apex1

    apex1 Guest

    To none!

    Have you ever had the pleasure of stoking?
     

  7. Questor
    Joined: Aug 2010
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    Location: Canada

    Questor Senior Member

    I am responding to private pleasure craft. I have seen evidence of crude boilers on crafts not much larger than a Volkswagen. The thought of unprotected boilers on wide open hulls is terrifying. Even more terrifying is the thought of passengers and bystanders placed at risk of direct contact with unprotected boilers.
     
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