Vertical Boiler Fittings

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Here is a video which features the boiler running a small oscillator which I just completed (my first engine). The engine leaks a fair amount of steam so could benefit from a bit of fettling, and the whole setup needs to be developed, but at least I now know it works!

Edited By gary.a.ayres on 21/03/2019 06:59:36

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

And now… the first test of the kerosene pressure stove with an engine:

 

Edited By gary.a.ayres on 01/04/2019 10:20:45

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

The customisaation of the kerosene stove starts here:

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Some progress with the kerosene burner:

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Kerosene burner assembly and tank completed:

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

It might have been a good idea to pause there, but no – I had to go and order this:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JQ2DG4A/ref=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item

It's a multifuel pressure stove which will run on a variety of fuels, including (according to one reviewer) meths if the hole is enlarged in one of the spare burners. Couldn't resist it, even if just for comparison to the Indian pressure stove, though hopefully it will prove to be a good companion or alternative to it. And I think it will look great with the orange paint removed from that bottle and the aluminium polished up…

Edited By gary.a.ayres on 24/04/2019 23:53:06

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Here is the multifuel stove in action. I took the pot stand legs off, and – following a suggestion I read online – drilled out the nozzle to 1.0 mm to run on alcohol. The picture shows it burning vapourised 'alcool a bruler' denatured alcohol from France. I haven't tried it with the boiler yet but early indications are good…

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Just to say that I have changed my screen name as I'm starting up a business in an unrelated field and want to avoid overlap/confusion. Arthur is my middle name.

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

I tested the multifuel burner on alcohol with the boiler and small oscillator:

The engine ran, but not brilliantly and not for very long. That said, it was quite a windy day and the camping windshield you can see in the photo could only offer so much protection.

My fuel tests are nearing their end. At this point I can say vapourised kerosene definitely, gas definitely and vapourised alcohol maybe. I have decided to forget about coal until I make or buy a bigger boiler. The next step is to complete the boiler with a finished stand and proper mounts for the gas and alcohol burners, then to insulate the boiler. I don't think the system can be properly evaluated until the boiler is insulated.

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

After some time out dealing with other things, I got back into the shop and made a stand for the boiler:

Off on holiday for three weeks, but aim to start insulating the boiler when I get back.

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

I have now begun the process of insulating the boiler. The ceramic fibre sheet was cut to size and holes marked using a cardboard template. It was then secured to the boiler barrel with thin copper wire:

The plan is to cover this with an outer shell made of thin aluminium sheet.

Edited By gary arthur on 18/08/2019 16:25:09

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Starting work on an aluminium outer shell. The idea is to tighten and secure this with three circular brass bands, and to polish it all up to make it gleam:

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Unsurprisingly, the holes didn't line up exactly with the bushes when I tightened the shell to the boiler:

So I sketched a circle around each hole concentric with the bush…

… and then removed the shell and opened out the holes using a round file:

The holes are now a bit too big, so I plan to cut pieces of thin aluminium drilled to fit neatly over each bush behind the shell to cover up unsightly gaps through which the insulation would be visible.

[EssmParticipant @essm]

Hi Gary

I'm going to be starting the cladding shortly for my boiler and am also considering aluminium.

Your sheet looks quite thick – can you tell me the exact size please?

Thanks

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Hi –

it's 1 mm thick.

The supplier also had 0.8 mm thickness and I would have preferred that, but he had a small offcut of the 1 mm which he cut to size for me and charged me a fiver.

If I had gone for the 0.8 he would have had to cut into a full sheet which would have cost more. Normally I'm happy to pay a bit more for the right thing, but I figured that in this application 0.2 mm probably wouldn't make a great deal of difference.

Cheers,

gary

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

If you can't find any of the ceramic fibre, then cork, balsa wood, or even corrugated cardboard are very effective insulators. The only advantage of the ceramic fibre is that it is not degraded by the inevitable water spillage

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Hi Duncan –

I got my ceramic fibre from GLR Kennions. It was pretty cheap.

gary

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Following on from the posts above, the following is self-explanatory:

And below, assembled and on its stand. The holes and bushes still don't line up perfectly, and the banding could be tidier, but overall I think it's reasonable and aim to keep going forward. I'm looking forward to seeing how it performs now that it's insulated. I couldn't decide which of the two pics below I like best, so I posted them both:

Edited By gary arthur on 26/08/2019 22:04:00

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Sorry about the dreadful picture quality, but you get the idea…

The boiler complete with insulation and outer shell, running the engine on pressurized kerosene. Also ran it on gas and on pressurized alcohol – good results on all counts.

Giving up on the coal idea with this small boiler – that will wait for a bigger boiler in due course .

Just support pillars to make for the gas and alcohol burners and this stage of the project will be finished.

Edited By gary arthur on 01/09/2019 17:17:39

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Up and running, and steaming nicely. Almost finished now…

 

Edited By gary arthur on 04/09/2019 02:18:31

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

Finally, the three burners of choice for the boiler:

All customised from cooking stoves.

Left: Indian pressurised kerosene burner.

Centre: Pressurised alcohol burner hacked from kerosene pressurised camping stove with the nozzle drrilled out to 1 mm for alcohol.

Right: Gas burner from camping stove.

There is a locating ring fixed to the base of the boiler stand (screwed on from underside):

 

The ring is superfluous when using the kerosene burner as the burner is self-supporting:

The other two burners, however, drop neatly into the ring, which prevents them from moving away from the central position under the boiler and from toppling over due to drag on the fuel supply tube:

All three burners raise steam effectively, so it's mix and match.

I now consider the boiler to be finished, so – apart from a youtube video on the burners which I shall post in the near future – this thread is drawing to a close.

To everyone who generously offered their addvice (and in particular Duncan, who kindly offered to send me some bits and pieces) – my sincere thanks. Your help has been invaluable.

All the Best,

gary

 

Edited By gary arthur on 08/09/2019 22:18:41

Edited By gary arthur on 08/09/2019 22:20:03

Edited By gary arthur on 08/09/2019 22:22:55

Edited By gary arthur on 08/09/2019 22:25:38

[gary arthurParticipant @garyarthur48070]

And finally – to conclude this thread – a video about the burners:

 

Oce again – thanks for all your help.

 

gary

Edited By gary arthur on 09/09/2019 00:54:07

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