Steam engine powers back to the future
Cyclone Power already has a 100 hp steam engine up and running in a boat.
A new type of steam engine has been developed in the US, with the design of the Cyclone Power unit enabling it to operate on any type of fuel, including powdered coal.
At present Cyclone has a 100 hp unit up and running in a boat and they have a 350 hp unit under development. Not only is this new development exciting because of the flexibility of steam power but this new concept of a steam engine also has good green credentials.
Cyclone Power is based in Florida and has developed the engine around a radial design with six cylinders. The six pistons drive an eccentric spider wheel which in turn links to the crankshaft, making this a very compact unit for the power that it produces.
The steam is generated in a series of coiled stainless steel narrow diameter tubes. On the 100 hp unit these tubes are around 4 mm in diameter so they are able to withstand much higher pressures than would be possible in a conventional boiler. One advantage of this steam generator is that it can be at working pressure within 10 seconds of being activated, so starting is virtually instantaneous.
A unique feature is that there in no lubricating oil required. “With the advent of new ceramic bearing materials, we felt that the time was ripe to use water lubrication for this steam engine and so far we have been very pleased with the results”, said designer Harry Schoell.
The torque of a steam engine is very high so that it develops a very high thrust at low speeds and, because it is also reversible, no transmission is required. Further weight and cost savings are achieved by not requiring a starter motor, silencer and cooling system apart from the condenser. Frankie Fruge, who is the CEO of Cyclone Power, is excited by the possibilities of using powdered coal. “We have run the engine on this fuel for short periods and we know it works but there could be problems with abrasion in the injectors over a longer period so we need to spend more time studying this aspect. Using powdered coal could have a huge impact on the future of transport.”
The Cyclone engine is claimed to have an efficiency of around 30% at this stage of development and it is larger than a comparably diesel engine but it could still fit into a car or a boat. The team are confident that the design can be scaled up in size to deliver a 350 hp version which could make it suitable for workboat installations. Further information at www.cyclonepower.com
By Dag Pike
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