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Post by simplyloco on Feb 3, 2024 14:24:57 GMT
Boiler FittingsIt's Saturday, so only a couple of hours allocated today! I made the bronze bushes for the safety valve and the top feed, found a suitable safety valve and a 0-120psi pressure gauge. I also dug out some very nice 1/4x40 brass elbows, which neaten up exit pipes no end! The chimney will come in handy too. This is a Gordon Smith safety valve. These are eminently adjustable, and alternative springs are easy to make. Note the elbow. I don't like pipes climbing out of my boilers, this is much nicer! A Gordon Smith low profile locomotive valve: something I made earlier - about 10 years ago...! I could fit this but the other one looks more natural to me.
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johan
Active Member
Posts: 26
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Post by johan on Feb 3, 2024 14:32:56 GMT
I'm following this one closely! Just got a reply from our boiler master and I got the clear to continue drawing my boiler which is a variation on a Yarrow boiler (water pipes are curved not straight). So very interesting thread for me.
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 5, 2024 17:12:28 GMT
Superheater.At the risk of teaching a lot of people on here how to suck eggs, a superheater is a device which converts wet steam (saturated steam) into dry steam ,which contains more thermal energy without increasing the boiler pressure (IIRC!). This makes your system more efficient, but whether it makes any difference to our modest efforts remains to be seen. Still, we can try! Some pics. Please note that the ends caps have yet to be soldered...😱 Just a simple there and back again loop should be quite sufficient to dry the steam. I haven't done any thermodynamics for about 50 years so it will have to go without the theory! This tube will end in a globe valve mounted on the rear of the boiler housing.
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,909
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Post by JonL on Feb 5, 2024 17:32:38 GMT
I assumed that port was for the top feed and the one on top was for the steam to give you a higher take off point. Although I suppose on a stationary boiler thats less critical
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 5, 2024 17:39:45 GMT
I assumed that port was for the top feed and the one on top was for the steam to give you a higher take off point. Although I suppose on a stationary boiler thats less critical Hi Jon I just noticed that the unsoldered end caps are on the wrong ends! The infeed is on the top and the perforated high level pickup is on the end. Have a look at the design drawing on page one.
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Post by coniston on Feb 5, 2024 17:58:17 GMT
All looking very nice John, a bit easier on the bigger hearth?
Just a thought if you're going to get it inspected and certified for use at a club or public event you may want to talk to the inspector and see if he wants to view the insides before you close it all up. Certainly a club inspector would want to do this but not sure what your thoughts of use are.
Chris
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 5, 2024 19:50:05 GMT
All looking very nice John, a bit easier on the bigger hearth? Just a thought if you're going to get it inspected and certified for use at a club or public event you may want to talk to the inspector and see if he wants to view the insides before you close it all up. Certainly a club inspector would want to do this but not sure what your thoughts of use are. Chris Hi Chris, and many thanks for the loan of your spare hearth: it made life a lot easier! The only reason I'd want to be certified - the boiler that is- is if I entered the combo in a show, where I imagine it would be necessary. I'm not a Club member as you know, so I will think on your advice and let inertia take its course! John
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 6, 2024 13:40:50 GMT
I received some good advice from across the Pond regarding improving the superheating. I took the advice... I found some tube and the design shows it on this side of the tubes anyway, so I moved it. It certainly looks more 'professional'! John
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Post by chris vine on Feb 6, 2024 14:00:30 GMT
Hi John, Looks good. With your triple expansion engine superheat is more important than with a simple. Watching with interest Chris
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 7, 2024 18:16:21 GMT
Boiler Housing.Still waiting on the delivery of the water gauge, and I'll need some more tubing if I'm going to fit a water pre-heater (might as well do it right!) so I got on with the boiler housing. This was in between doing the shopping, arranging our Spain apartment rental, helping with the bedroom decorating, and preparing tonight's Chinese meal! How did I ever find time for work??? While I was out shopping I procured two pieces of 200 x 1000 mm x 0.5 mm galvanised steel from our local hardware store. This is the maximum thickness my Formit guillotine will handle. Some pics. Design Department Output. Drilled with the sheet metal drill gadget. First dressing at 45 deg angle. Looks OK! Bending the sides, all done by eye. Absolute squareness is required on this job! 'Adjusting' the angles to obtain symmetry. I'll make a frame from some alloy angle. I'll mount it on some insulating board: something I have yet to find!
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 8, 2024 16:28:59 GMT
Water GaugeThe water gauge arrived today, and what a sweet little thing it is! I bought it from John Rex Model Engineers at very sensible money, and it's nicer than any that I have made in the past. It's only 3/16"x40, just about the smallest I could find, and it fits in nicely. However, the pressure gauge I found in a drawer has got a screw-in fitting, thus preventing easy removal with the gauge in place, so I will purchase a smaller 150psi one with a banjo fitting...! I think I have found suitable insulation here. They are just around the corner! www.heritagesteamsupplies.co.uk/foil-faced-single-sided-tc-superwool-6mm-x-610mm-x-1m.htmlwww.ebay.co.uk/itm/203209576914?var=503557497103That pressure gauge is FAR too big!
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Post by chris vine on Feb 8, 2024 19:38:35 GMT
It looks as though it will be a fantastic steam generator. Watching with interest! C
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 12, 2024 16:28:59 GMT
New superheater coil, feedwater heater and the boiler is now soldered together but my shaky hands have been at play.... 😍 12mm pressure gauge is in the post... Some pics.
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 16, 2024 9:29:09 GMT
Project aborted.Tested OK at 150psi, slight leak from one of the downcomers at 200 psi. Thanks to Coniston for the loan of his excellent test rig. Three tubes melted and collapsed when I tried repairing it. Pure copper isn't supposed to melt until 1085 C... It's irrepairable, so I'm off soon to Spain for two months when hopefully, I'll recover enough to think about another...
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Post by chris vine on Feb 16, 2024 14:12:01 GMT
Hi John, that is a disaster, I know that we are all feeling for you on this. Enjoy your holiday and come back with renewed vigour. I am sure it will be possible to cut out the offending tubes and refit… All best Chris
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 16, 2024 14:22:20 GMT
Hi John, that is a disaster, I know that we are all feeling for you on this. Enjoy your holiday and come back with renewed vigour. I am sure it will be possible to cut out the offending tubes and refit… All best Chris Hi Chris. It's not too bad for me. It hasn't cost a great deal, and it's been quite fun. I will possibly make another one sometime, but with thicker tubes. Coniston has got a secret store.... John
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millman
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 297
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Post by millman on Feb 16, 2024 19:41:10 GMT
Oh John that is such a shame, forget about it and go and have a lovely holiday.
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mbrown
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,720
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Post by mbrown on Feb 16, 2024 21:32:22 GMT
I know how gutted I felt when the boiler for 99 3462 turned out to leak from a firebox seam.... Often, when something is irreparable and you have to make it again, the second attempt is hugely better than the first - but adopting that philosophy with something as complex as a boiler isn't easy.
Soak up some sun and come back braced for the fray!
Malcolm
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Post by simplyloco on Feb 16, 2024 22:46:27 GMT
Many thanks for the kind thoughts. Benidorm beckons! Albir actually, which is close by, but much posher ... John
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johan
Active Member
Posts: 26
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Post by johan on Feb 17, 2024 9:42:22 GMT
Oh no, commiserations on that. Put it aside and think. I would try to salvage it. Probably not easy but cutting out the offending pipes should be possible. Fitting new ones won't be easy but worth a try I think.
What did you use to heat? Oxy-acetylene? If that, they do make burners intended for brazing. Those do not give a very pointy flame but a wider flame. Had to use one of those to seal a leaking Galloway tube. Look at something like Gloor 3654/3656/3658/3660-A.
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