Hi Chris
On (30 Aug 96) Chris Harper wrote to Alec Cameron...
 CH> An iteresting concept. Something to play with. But I'm probly going to
 CH> convert an old lawn-mower motor into a steam engine. Sounds a lot easier
 CH> to me. Just change the cam's valve timing. There are many auto speed 
shops
 CH> that do custom cam work here in the USA.
Four stroke of course!! A two stroke conversion might need some brilliant
design work.
 CH> A power take-off from the steam engine will pump the condensed water 
nto
 CH> one of the high pressure tanks, while the other is used to feed the
 CH> boiler. Simple water level switches inside the tanks will control the
 CH> electric valves, while measuring the generator's output will show the
 CH> engine's RPM and will control the number of mirrors pointed at the 
boiler,
 CH> for dynamic control of varying conditions.
Steering those mirrors will be a design problem. You'll have to decide 
hether
to have "auto pilot" ie the mirrors move almost non stop in two planes, or 
se
a simple rotational drive that you reset every few weeks to suit the seasonal
changes in sun elevation. A lot of your collected energy, should not be
consumed in auxiliary loads like mirror steering and water pumping.
 CH> The whole thing will be built in several stages. After the PV system is 
up
 CH> and running to provide initial power, the solar furnace will be built.
 CH> Once it's built, I can use it to melt metals for use in building the
 CH> boiler and coils.
High temperature melting, is one of the main jobs of three large solar
furnaces in France. If you have "Public TV" ie non - commercial, then watch
for a series called Fat Man In France. In last weeks episode, the presenter
showed one of these three and the operator explained, that most people 
ssumed
it was a solar energy facility but no, it was used only for very high
temperature research and experimentation.
 I'll melt down lead from old batteries and add tin to
 CH> make solder which will be used to coat the steel drums to prevent
 CH> oxidation, and install the heat sinks. It will also be used to heat the
 CH> soldering irons used in many stages of developement. The high pressure
 CH> water tanks will have to be welded, so it won't help there. However, the
 CH> furnace can be used to melt down old batteries to reclaim the metals, 
or
 CH> sale or use.
Protective goggles very! necessary. Do not look at the bright spot with
unguarded eyes.  Brighter than sunlight!  Cheers....ALEC
... ....The wheel is environmentally unviable
--- PPoint 1.92
---------------