Steam boiler

Meaningful discussion outside of the potato gun realm. Projects, theories, current events. Non-productive discussion will be locked.
User avatar
Alster370
Specialist 2
Specialist 2
Posts: 243
Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:34 am

Fri May 11, 2012 12:53 pm

Just wondering if this could be used as a steam boiler.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Aluminu ... 531wt_1085

Water would be fed in, and the heating source underneath the radiator (firebox, propane etc) would heat the water to steam in no time at all due to the very high surface area correct?
User avatar
Labtecpower
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
Eritrea
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2010 6:38 am
Location: Pyongyang
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Fri May 11, 2012 1:18 pm

nope, mythbusters tried it
User avatar
Alster370
Specialist 2
Specialist 2
Posts: 243
Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:34 am

Fri May 11, 2012 1:24 pm

oh, I cant find a video of the particular episode, care to post a link?

thanks
User avatar
Fnord
First Sergeant 2
First Sergeant 2
Posts: 2239
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:20 pm
Location: Pripyat
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Fri May 11, 2012 4:39 pm

Uh, if it's heated past 212 degrees F, and the energy input is maintained, it'll turn water to steam very rapidly.

But I'm not sure how fast you actually want the steam to be produced. That depends on your heater. It takes about 2.26 kilojoules to boil a gram of water, assuming the water is already near 212F.

Your weak link in heat transfer is between the fire and the boiler, not the boiler and the water. I'd use the exchanger to capture energy rather than distribute it, taking care not to melt the thing.
Image
User avatar
Alster370
Specialist 2
Specialist 2
Posts: 243
Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:34 am

Sat May 12, 2012 2:59 am

I just wanted to use it as a quick test bed, since building a mini copper mono tube boiler would cost an arm and a leg at the moment. As for heat I would use a vaporising alcohol burner. :D

i think it would be best though to pass a hot flame underneath the radiator, so that the hot gases would rise between. the fins and boil the water.
Post Reply