Re: Brent Van Arsdell Limited Edition restoration
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 10:12 am
Yes, I know of, and have used sodium silicate (water glass) before.
Here is a video demonstrating the new fire resistant magnesium compared with normal magnesium.
https://youtu.be/4iHSDjH3kBc
Somehow, I'm not too overly concerned about either one in a little LTD engine.
Magnesium is also rather inert if there is no oxygen. Maybe something to keep in mind for a pressurized engine.
But another thing I might just try with this engine as well is to do away with the displacer altogether and use a diaphragm, possibly with a fixed, stationary regenerator, as described in another thread.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2690
Which I see just now you left some comments on. You mention the regenerator with the star shaped holes, but the fixed regenerator with diaphragm was further down on the page, so not sure if you saw that concept drawing.
That has not been tested in a pancake type engine but I'm fairly certain it would work, though probably wouldn't look so great for this particular engine.
The engine though, is surprisingly easy to assemble and disassemble so I may end up using it for a lot of experimenting.
If I can get the OK, I might even make arrangements to reproduce the engine to offer for sale and make in my workshop once I get that going.
Good point regarding the regenerator experiment BTW. The control engine did not have the ports in the displacer. A potential "hidden variable", less air resistance.
I'm rather skeptical that regenerators are actually useful. Probably not if an engine is actually converting heat into work output very efficiently.
Also the engine with the regenerator did not run for quite as long. It ran faster, but also quit running sooner. During operation the top of the engine with the regenerator also felt a bit warm. The engine with the displacer remained cool to the touch, so, the engine with the regenerator seemed to be letting more heat pass through faster. Not at all what I was expecting.
Here is a video demonstrating the new fire resistant magnesium compared with normal magnesium.
https://youtu.be/4iHSDjH3kBc
Somehow, I'm not too overly concerned about either one in a little LTD engine.
Magnesium is also rather inert if there is no oxygen. Maybe something to keep in mind for a pressurized engine.
But another thing I might just try with this engine as well is to do away with the displacer altogether and use a diaphragm, possibly with a fixed, stationary regenerator, as described in another thread.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2690
Which I see just now you left some comments on. You mention the regenerator with the star shaped holes, but the fixed regenerator with diaphragm was further down on the page, so not sure if you saw that concept drawing.
That has not been tested in a pancake type engine but I'm fairly certain it would work, though probably wouldn't look so great for this particular engine.
The engine though, is surprisingly easy to assemble and disassemble so I may end up using it for a lot of experimenting.
If I can get the OK, I might even make arrangements to reproduce the engine to offer for sale and make in my workshop once I get that going.
Good point regarding the regenerator experiment BTW. The control engine did not have the ports in the displacer. A potential "hidden variable", less air resistance.
I'm rather skeptical that regenerators are actually useful. Probably not if an engine is actually converting heat into work output very efficiently.
Also the engine with the regenerator did not run for quite as long. It ran faster, but also quit running sooner. During operation the top of the engine with the regenerator also felt a bit warm. The engine with the displacer remained cool to the touch, so, the engine with the regenerator seemed to be letting more heat pass through faster. Not at all what I was expecting.