Steam engine technology just isn't feasible. Too many problems to overcome to make it practical.

External combustion engines are even harder to control emissions wise. Modern internal combustion engines are computer controlled with numerous sensors able to monitor and adjust fuel use, emissions and power output. Not possible with the steam engine.

Steam has to be maintained at the required temperature at all phases of the operation. Although it is more efficient delivering the power once produced it still doesn't readily adapt to everyday driving. Steam engines are most effective when operated at a single speed.

Still requires a fuel source. Propane or LNG are probably a good replacement choice but still just an alternate supply. Not much difference between dwindling oil supplies or lack of propane. Methane gas production is the same pipe dream as methanol. Sure, it's possible but feasible?

Water. Distilled water is a must for any long term operation of a steam engine. How much energy would be required to condition the amount of water needed to supply a mass of vehicles?

There is also the "ease of use" factor. How many people are going to want to wait until the system reaches operating temperature during those cold winter days or drain and refill the system during sub-zero temperatures when not constantly in use?

Sigh. Too danged bad because I think steam engines are way cool.

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Way back when, for a while, the steam cars held the speed records.

On the road there were accidents because the cars were not heard. Same thing is an issue with electric cars up to and including today.

Emissions are no big mystery. It is a boiler like a furnace. You could use it to heat your house.

When battery technology is advanced to some point and oil money doesn't hold them back electric cars will probably rule.

Near the end of their production many improvements had been incorporated to make them more practical. Condensors to recover the water from the expelled steam. Quicker firing boilers and some other detail stuff..

If you say needed to provide transportation to a lodge for patrons up in the mountains from a train station. The steamer was probably an ideal candidate to do so. Tons of power on tap in comparison to many of the early gas vehicles. Most if not all had the engine incorporated with the rear axel. So no transmission or driveshaft. The two cylinders were also not spaced quite equally so there where no dead centres.

I'd like to have one.

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Jim

Me too, Eng.

The best thing about the steamer is that its fuel range is a lot wider than any I.C.E.

Didn't the Germans build one during WWII that used coal and wood?

A modern version might be to use HP superheated steam from a low BP/high latent heat liquid to push an impulse-reaction turbine to drive an electric generator. Store electricity as the engine cools then use the stored electricity to preheat the boiler on restart.

Hmm, sounds pretty massive. Maybe just use it for interstate long-haul trucking.

I dunno, but it's intriguing, isn't it?

Lear, of Lear Jet fame, worked for years on a bus that ran on what he termed 'Learium'. It was all very hush hush except for the press releases he issued.

It turns out that Learium was nothing but water and he was working on a steam engine for a bus. I can't remember why he gave up on it, but calling the water Learium made sense because he did not want someone else to think 'Well, if Lear is woking on it then I should be, too.'

But the reaction of the auto and bus world at the time was that if Lear could not figure out a way to make steam work then there was no sense in them trying to.

I think the generic name was charcoal burners but not sure. The modified carborator on the gas engines ran on the byproducts of combustion held usually in a big bag on top of the vehicles. Actually a lot of these modified cars and trucks were used in europe during the second world war. I assume there was generally no fuel available or so seriously restricted it forced some people to convert their vehicles.

I believe these type setups were not uncommon in places like India up into the sixties.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I think there was a thread on here a couple pf years ago. Engines running on wood coke or some such thing.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

I am not quite sure of what component they ran on and if it was a product of smouldering wood rather than actual open combustion.

A smouldering wood stove can create gas that is explosive in nature. It can occassionaly errupt in a noisey blast driving the lid upwards off its seat with quite a bang.

I again am not sure but suspect it was the methane gas that was utilized but welcome any correction.

I was thinking it was charcoal.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It was wood gas which you get from partially burning charcoal. Pretty common usage in the remote Scandinavian regions up to the mid '60's.

__________________
“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

If you want to make one, here is instructions: Convert your Honda Accord to run on trash

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

Range Fuels (and soon to be LanzaTech) calls it syngas. Seems that if you put chips thru the chemical process of "burning" in an environment where there is a lack of oxygen the gas that it gives off is high in btu content.

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Jim