A couple of small flash boilers and a firebox that will burn anything combustible with a centrifugal compressor to transfer the power to a drive train. A free turbine to transfer power, as used in helicopters.
Axial compressors are more efficient but more complicated and expensive than centrifugal flow
Wood pellets, compressed paper and cardboard blocks for fuel.
The problem with steam is, they are highly unstable if they aren't maintained properly and become a giant pressure cooker waiting to pop if the relief valves calcify, rust or fail to function properly. Grass Valley, California Fairgrounds had an exhibit of single piston steam engines that took out 11 of 12 experts who knew the engines inside and out in one fell swoop. There was another in Ohio that killed a few people as well(4). For the majority of normies, who typically lack common sense and think chicken comes from a grocery store, the learning curve would likely kill them. Wood gasification motors are best suited for small engines that don't move, although any carburetor gasoline engine can be converted with a little time and modification. FEMA has a pdf. for wood-gas conversion for generators on their website. They don't take anything more than a couple of simple hand tools and a few metal containers/filters to build, though a welder and some fabrication experience sure is handy. There are dozens of YouTube videos for off grid living that cover converting a generator motor to wood-gas if you are interested.
This is why steam boilers (at least in the UK) have to undergo rigorous and constant safety checks like our motor cars and lorries have to to keep them on the road. Does the US have a test requirement for boilers?
How old were these steam engines you mentioned? If they were exhibited at a fairground I should imagine they were very old indeed.
1880-1910s I believe, definitely antiques and a huge loss of knowledge when it happened. Those 12 people were some of the last who knew how to operate those engines. Boilers here in the US also have to be inspected regularly. I wonder if it could be like smog checks if they ever did implement them for civilian use?
Steam powered cars.
A couple of small flash boilers and a firebox that will burn anything combustible with a centrifugal compressor to transfer the power to a drive train. A free turbine to transfer power, as used in helicopters.
Axial compressors are more efficient but more complicated and expensive than centrifugal flow
Wood pellets, compressed paper and cardboard blocks for fuel.
The problem with steam is, they are highly unstable if they aren't maintained properly and become a giant pressure cooker waiting to pop if the relief valves calcify, rust or fail to function properly. Grass Valley, California Fairgrounds had an exhibit of single piston steam engines that took out 11 of 12 experts who knew the engines inside and out in one fell swoop. There was another in Ohio that killed a few people as well(4). For the majority of normies, who typically lack common sense and think chicken comes from a grocery store, the learning curve would likely kill them. Wood gasification motors are best suited for small engines that don't move, although any carburetor gasoline engine can be converted with a little time and modification. FEMA has a pdf. for wood-gas conversion for generators on their website. They don't take anything more than a couple of simple hand tools and a few metal containers/filters to build, though a welder and some fabrication experience sure is handy. There are dozens of YouTube videos for off grid living that cover converting a generator motor to wood-gas if you are interested.
This is why steam boilers (at least in the UK) have to undergo rigorous and constant safety checks like our motor cars and lorries have to to keep them on the road. Does the US have a test requirement for boilers?
How old were these steam engines you mentioned? If they were exhibited at a fairground I should imagine they were very old indeed.
1880-1910s I believe, definitely antiques and a huge loss of knowledge when it happened. Those 12 people were some of the last who knew how to operate those engines. Boilers here in the US also have to be inspected regularly. I wonder if it could be like smog checks if they ever did implement them for civilian use?