Generate Electricity With Coal

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-05/ste ... under-hood

Instead of using a girlie fuel bio-this$$that - why not use coal & run your generator with this.

If that becomes a reality it would be cool as a moose!

Steam is a wonderful tool with a lot of power. To use it to any sucsess it needs to be "supercritical" and that is where the problem lies. It can and often does go boom.

I went to the site for the engine developement,, cyclone engine that is .. they and a 10kw genset, a lawnmower and a lawn string-trimmer.. I think all of these items don't go 'super critical' ,, I sure would't want a 'weed wacker' motor to go boom while I was running it !! OUCH !

Pretty interesting,,but... so far propane, diesel, gasoline are the fuels being used... they mention biomass, wood, and others.. but I'm interested in coal.. so I'm not sure the 'cyclone' circular heater will be able to handle coal and it's ash... Maybe I should ship him some anthracite to try??

Greg L

Steam can contain a huge amount of energy in a small space. I worked at a 92 room motel that had steam to make hot water. The heater hung on the ceiling. It was about 12 inches round and 6 or 7 feet long. It delivered plenty of hot water for all 92 rooms to take showers at the same time, as well as the laundry.

I wouldn't worry about things going boom as long as it's done right. For sure Harry Homeowner could build a boomer if he wasn't careful.

In most states you need a license to operate a pressure steam boiler. You get that license by passing a test that demonstrates your competence. They also requires annual or bi-annual inspection. The steam boilers used to power steam pressers in dry cleaners need a license and inspection. Other than solar cells or river water flow there is no practical way to generate electricity in a residential setting.

Thermocouples generate milli-volts, you would need thousands in series to have a useful voltage and you have to maintain one face of each junction hot the other face cold. Not practical.

Now if we could just re-direct the trillions in borrowed money going to the war to give everyone a solar cell system. Oh, I'm just dreaming.

It will also require some pricey insurance to operate a high pressure boiler (over 15#).

Pfffffffft! You think I've told my insurance guy about my home made nuclear power source?

Now that our electric rates are going up 20% is there any way to use a coal fired steam engine or turbine to run a generator on a small scale for home use

Running a high pressure steam system is not for the faint of heart. It will also require a huge investment, state oversight and licensing, inspections and a very interesting partnership with a specialized insurance company. There are better ways to provide power for the average homeowner.

I just learned me something new.

I was looking into wind turbines at our house since we get quite a breeze coming off of the lake. I was going to put them on the roof.

Somewhere I saw a posting saying, DON'T put a wind turbine on your roof, because the vibration is brutal.

I've looked into this idea and the best solution I've found is here - http://www.greensteamengine.com/

My sister got this house with wind power only. Here the Wind Turbine, it generates power to charge a bank of batteries (12 I think?) then into (2) 110VAC Inverters then into the Fuse Panel. Most of the lighting is the compact flouresents. There is a back up generator, but they are NOT hooked to the grid all.

With no wind the batteries last about 3-4 days. but being up on a hill, really helps keep the wind going.

Also, hot water coils around the wood stove pipes to help heat the water.

How much would it cost to install a system like that?