I had tried a super heater with poor results also, The fire (Meths) would stay lit but performance was down. I just abandoned it at the time. I had thought at the time there was too much restriction in the flue also. I had just recently added the porcupine quills and it seemed to help. I am getting good performance and others said its performance was better than some other projects. Being a test engineer by profession I am always looking for measurable results, but this increase in performance is difficult to quantify.
While we are on the topic of the "Project Engine", I have just started what I am calling "Project Tram" an English version of the project engine with a Tram "aka" Toby body. Instead of the Midwest engine I will be using the small Saito marine engine with its horizontal boiler. The frame is constructed and in the Paint Shop at this time. Running tests on the bare chassis should be run by the end of the week. The engine is modified to make it wider 4 3/8" and retains the same length. Since it will have a side skirt I made my own wheel journals out of brass strip. At the NSS I bought some proper buffers for the end beams. Steve > -----Original Message----- > From: PeteH [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 8:41 AM > To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam > Subject: BPE boiler mods? > > Has anyone modified the vertical Midwest boiler as used in the Basic > Project > Engine? I have made some changes with mixed results and am soliciting > advice to see if I am on the right track. The first change was to replace > the brass chimney with a 'type L' copper tube of the same diameter. The > second was to add a 'dry-pipe separator' inside the boiler and the third > (which I am sure is the culprit) is the addition of a superheater. > > The superheater is made from 1/8" copper tubing and connects about 3/4 of > the way up the chimney, the section inside has been annealed and twisted > into a very loose spiral of about 3-1/2 turns in 5 inches. At the bottom > of > the chimney it makes a gradual 90 degree bend and projects out one of the > holes in the lower shroud surrounding the fuel 'pot'. > > The problem I am having is in keeping the fire burning, caused I assume by > the placement of the superheater in the chimney restricting the draft. The > inner diameter of the chimney is just under 9/16", although I guessed that > the loose spiral would allow enough draft I seem to be in error. I > wouldn't > think bringing the end of the 1/8" superheater pipe out one of the 7 > intake > holes would cause it? I even tried using the exhaust from the motor as a > 'blower' to help induce the draft without any luck! > > I will replace the spiral superheater pipe with a simple straight pipe > along > with making a new exit hole to see if this fixes the problem, am I on the > right track? > > Kindest Regards, > PeteH >
