Feb 24
Model E Draft Booster
Following hours of research the more we discover that there is more to learn, at least 3 different model E variants plus 2 model F types and lh/rh rotations!
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Reply to Chris…
Reply Replies (4)
· Feb 24
Chris, could you explain how the draft booster works? I assume it has to do with the burner and intensifying the heat?
· Feb 24
@alsancle starting with the possibly obvious but worth starting here. regardless of the dimensions of any steam engine the power output is dictated by the boiler/generators capability to produce steam of the correct pressure and more importantly temperature.
The model E as first built had an electric fan which blew through a carburettor and the fuel air mixture burned in a combustion chamber before the hot gasses passed through the tube pancakes to make the steam. the fan was 12volt dc and ran at a fixed speed and therefore the maximum power output of the generator was fixed at this rate. if you drove faster than the generator output the pressure and the temperature would drop and performance would disappear.
At some point in time Abner (or maybe Warren) invented/designed the exhaust steam turbine fan to draw air through the condenser, when they saw this working one of them said, "imagine if we put a small one of those in between the electric motor and the fan". and there you have his eureka moment. now the fan is bowing through the carburettor and as soon as you wind the throttle open, the turbine takes over and spins the fan twice as fast , blowing twice as much air through the carburettor and we have the steam equivalent of the turbo.
· Feb 25
@Chris Awesome posts! Did I see in one of Jay Leno's videos that the company that made the waste steam turbine is still in business? I believe in Worcester Massachusetts?
· Mar 3
@BillSmith yes but it was 20 years ago Jay reminded me