RECENT ADVANCES IN VEHICULAR STEAM ENGINE EFFICIENCY

Previous SPS vehicular steam expander development is reviewed. A counterflow expander installed in the 3000 lb (1364 kg) California Steam Car is shown to give 6.2 mpg (2.2 km/1) over the Urban Federal Driving Cycle, for BSFC = 1.2. Advantages of the uniflow expander with impulse valves are discussed, and the equation for theoretical cycle efficiency is derived. Laboratory tests on a 4 cylinder uniflow with impulse valves and a 2000 psia (136 atm), 1400 deg F (760 deg C) monotube boiler are described, and efficiency results for steam temperatures up to 1100 deg F (593 deg C) are presented. /GMRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Burton, R L
• Publication Date: 1976-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 11 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic efficiency; Energy; Laboratory tests; Steam engines; Temperature; Transducers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cylinders; Efficiency
• Old TRIS Terms: Expander
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00145269
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 760340
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1977 12:00AM