A proposed multi-purpose, solar steam engine technology for general usage

Conference · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)

OSTI ID:6546254

Plankenhorn, W

The combined solar-steam engine developments described in this paper have great promise of leading to a resurrection of the ''steam age''---steam engines run by solar heat; steam engines converted from two or four-cycle diesel uniflow engines; steam engines powered by super-large solar collectors with an unusually low windloading; such large collectors exploiting the advantages of doubling dimensions and quadrupling the area for more solar heating, taking advantage of the 1,800:1 explosive expansion of steam. Slides and three different kinds of partial mock-up, working, sun-tracking, concentrating collectors with flat mirrors focussing on different kinds of water boilers having the same dimensions and shapes as the mirrors will be used to illustrate and explain the construction, operation, and integration of various types of converted steam engines from uniflow diesel engines. Special emphasis will describe how this multi-use of a steam engine is achieved by using its flywheel as a take-off for two different belts; one belt to a compressor of an air conditioner; another belt to an alternator for electricity; how in the Florida Keys and Caribbean countries condensed steam can be a source of pure drinking water; or how steam can be channeled to steam radiators during the occasional winter cool spells for space heating; or how salt water can be evaporated and condensed for drinking water or for water for steam-making.

• OSTI ID: 6546254
• Report Number(s): CONF-831205-
• Journal Information: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States), Conference: 6. Miami international conference on alternative energy sources, Miami Beach, FL, USA, 12 Dec 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR HEAT ENGINES
DESIGN
USES
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
DIESEL ENGINES
FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS
FLYWHEELS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
STEAM GENERATION
STEAM GENERATORS
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
BOILERS
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MECHANICAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
VAPOR GENERATORS
140909* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Miscellaneous Solar Applications- (1980-)