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Steam Powered Car

13 messages,  Last post on Oct 06, 2008 at 8:14 AM

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What is this discussion about? Engine, Coupe

Messages Page 2 of 2

#7 of 13 Re: Well [bosi77] by ray52

Jun 04, 2008 (2:31 am)

Replying to: bosi77 (Feb 03, 2007 9:58 am)
Hi, just noticed the discussion on steam powered cars. I'm from "down under" (Torquay, 100k's sth west of Melbourne in Australia) and I can remember seeing steam powered car on TV within the last 5yrs or so, the inventor/creator died only recently. The man's name was 'Pritchard', I'm sure a Google search with the surname 'Pritchard' and 'steam powered car' would be rewarding.
I'll watch the discusion with much interest.

#8 of 13 Re: Steam Powered Car [bosi77] by greenneon2

Jul 26, 2008 (8:22 pm)

Replying to: bosi77 (Nov 10, 2006 11:29 am)
First, you need to view the four hour mini-series starring Tommy Lee Jones, entitled "The Amazing Howard Hughes" that aired on CBS decades ago, way back in 1977. Hughes once gave it a try, but thought it inpractical, because hot steam could escape in a collision, scalding the driver & any passengers. However, Mr. Stanley, of "Stanley Steamer" fame, did successfully test his vehicles in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The "Stanley Hotel" exists in Estes Park, CO today, and proudly displays a "Steamer" car in it's lobby.

#9 of 13 Re: Steam Powered Car [greenneon2] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 30, 2008 (11:18 am)

Replying to: greenneon2 (Jul 26, 2008 8:22 pm)
Probably the best steam car of all time was the Doble. A Stanley is an old can that boils water compared to a Doble.
 
Probably the biggest drawback to steam power is a) you have to use fossil fuel anyway and b) most modern drivers will probably blow themselves up.
 
I guess the best combination is nuclear fuel + steam but that's not going to happen on a car.

#10 of 13 steam power by bernie14

Aug 10, 2008 (3:16 am)

I am new to this forum. It is very interesting and I don't think to many people think about using steam to power a vehicle or a generator. There don't seem to be to much activity on this forum but I would like to see more on this subject. With all the discussion on EV's, which is not up to par as far as speed and distance goes, steam could be an advantage and I know it takes fuel to produce steam. BUT technology is plentiful today and with the price of gasoline it will push people to experiment with another power source. Here is a web site with maybe a better way to produce steam: https://matteranenergy.us/Animation.htm I hope to see more experiments on this subject.
Thanks for your time.
Bernie

#11 of 13 Re: steam power [bernie14] by mrx100

Sep 03, 2008 (9:13 pm)

Replying to: bernie14 (Aug 10, 2008 3:16 am)
While I am not an engineer & do not play one on T.V. . Why is it that a steam car can't be powered by a system of batterys & a electric water heater? Like the water heater to heat ones home shower. With the current technology of batterys in electric cars. And a system of generators & solar pannels the car could run for practically free. Or am I just a dolt?

#12 of 13 Re: steam power [mrx100] by stovebolter

Oct 06, 2008 (7:54 am)

Replying to: mrx100 (Sep 03, 2008 9:13 pm)
A steam car could be powered by an electric boiler, but you'd be limited in range (batteries don't hold nearly as much energy as typical liquid fuels), and you'd be losing a lot in terms of efficiency - it's much easier to start with electricity and convert it directly to motion using a motor than it is to convert the electricity to heat, transfer the heat to water/steam, then run that energy through a steam piston. Each step has losses - particularly when you are dealing with high temperatures, so minimizing the steps helps conserve energy.

#13 of 13 Re: steam power [stovebolter] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 06, 2008 (8:14 am)

Replying to: stovebolter (Oct 06, 2008 7:54 am)
Maybe electricity could be used to PRE-HEAT a boiler but you'd be very late for the party waiting for electricity to create steam.

Messages Page 2 of 2

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