5-Minute Startup of Steam Launch "Wayward Belle" From Cold 4K Realtime

[@drewski6843]

Awesome video. Every time I watch this, I always think how, if you can stick modern tech on your boat to make it automated lol. All you have to do is push a button, an onboard ai system would ignite the first stage of warming, and all the valves would be on a high temp control valves to do what you're doing manually lol. Just a weird imagination I have with these old techs.. I was also wondering, what type of steam setyp are you using? I usually see ppl using wood or coal for tgeir source of steam. Thanks for the video ✌🤙

[@briananthony4044]

There's a video here where a similar sized but coal fired steamer is shown taking hours to get a head of steam. There is a steam tug video where it can take up to 3 days.

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

I've seen those videos. They're quite enjoyable in their own right. Something to be said about just relaxing and waiting for the water to boil. Thank you for watching.

[@cbrusharmy]

That's incredible

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Thank you!

[@The123pcr]

...Really a Flash Steam Boiler construct... with my new Paraffin fieldkitchen construct in Amphora it takes me still 30 minutes... Thank you for sharing! Christoph

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

You're very welcome Christoph! Try having a valve partially open (like 1/8 turn or less) at the top (discharge) of the boiler while pumping in water (allowing flow.. that's what makes the monotube such a great design)

[@cyberbadger]

Very impressive steamup time on the Wayward Belle! Nyitra is probably 30min minimum but I haven't timed it. Cheers.

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Thank you! There are benefits and drawbacks of a monotube steam plant.

[@tomcook5813]

Thank you sir! Thoroughly enjoyed

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

You're very welcome! I hope it was worth the 6 minutes!

[@billmoran3812]

Once through boilers are more difficult to manage than conventional fire tube or two drum boilers due to very low thermal mass. I guess that explains the clutch on the prop shaft, to allow the engine to keep drawing steam during maneuvering.

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

You are correct. That, and to continue pumping fuel to the burner and water to the boiler.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Hello, that's a good room for dance training.

[@randycoolbaugh1408]

This is nice!!.... pfft, it will take me about an HOUR to steam up my 1/32 scale model tug!!..

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Haha thanks! Any videos of your tug?

[@randycoolbaugh1408]

no, not yet any way. its still under construction. I really didn't fallow the K.I.S.S rule... In my attempt to make as much of the model actually functional and at the same time trying to hide most of the R/C components made it rather time consuming to access the internals for "fire up". I do have some stills on my FB page. Ithaca NY.

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Randy Coolbaugh I can appreciate how difficult it is to hide all the electronics and yet have everything functional as well. It takes a lot of dedication to go through that effort!

[@memadmax69]

Was happy to have a 12 hour cold iron to plant stable on my ship lol

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Wow. What ship was that?

[@tomcook5813]

Wesley, did you build the engine? How many PSI under normal operating? Thank you

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Hello Tom. The gentleman who originally built the boat designed and built the engine. He made the patterns and machined the castings produced. It normally runs between 150-175psi at about 700-800rpm. Thank you for watching!

[@candisbrendel7396]

Wesley how fast about 9 or 10 knots? cool little boat did you make it, or maybe you and your dad? Old One Legged Joseph T

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

She can go about 9kts with just me onboard. A family friend, William C. Grosjean, made her from scratch. He was quite the engineer.

[@kotori87]

Are there any concerns regarding the large thermal stresses involved in such a rapid heatup of the boiler and steam piping?

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Good question. Not with a monotube steam generator. There are larger monotubes that get steam up in a minute or less. If it were a firetube boiler, or a really large conventional water tube boiler then the rate at which one got steam up from cold would have to be controlled and monitored closely to prevent damage to the boiler.

[@tobyw9573]

Perhaps the problem with rapid heating of firetube boilers is isolated boiling, causing stress and pitting where the bubbles form and burst creating shockwaves. I was amazed when I read about it and have seen evidence off the process in cars that have had localized erosion in the cylinder heads ofter blown head gaskets. Also similar to cavitation erosion on ship propellers. I yield to those with actual experience since I have no boiler experience.

[@kitthearty]

Next stop, the canals on Mars..!

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

I'll see if John Carter is interesting in a ride!

[@John____Smith]

Good day ! What you do with calcium in tubes of boiler ? Did they ever become blocked ? How did you clean them ?

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Howdy! I run distilled water in the boiler along with boiler water treatment to remove dissolved oxygen. It's a condensing system so there isn't a chance of calcium introduction.

[@John____Smith]

Wesley Harcourt cool ! How much water add to system per hour due leakages ?

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

@@John____Smith if I exercised restraint and do not blow the whistle too much, I can run several days without adding any water.

[@John____Smith]

Wesley Harcourt Becoise now I’m choose type of boiler and question of quality of water , leakages for me is #1. Sure monotube boiler is best in size, safety , weight. But water is headache. Last question - what is the size of tube- length, diameter inner and outer and material. Is it stainless steel ?

[@John____Smith]

Wesley Harcourt And one more- how did you separate oil from condensate which is pumped to boiler ?

[@jameswatt1970]

it's probably my favorite steamer! great efficiency! and a perfect machine. a question: how do you regulate the water supply? never drowned tubes? greeting from geneva lake

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Hello and Thank you! She was very well designed and built by W.C.Grosjean, of Poway, California. Water supply is controlled by a quartz rod in a stainless steel tube within the coil stack. Expansion from high steam temperature (no/low water) causes the feed water bypass to close and pump water into the coil. Contraction from low steam temperature (lots of water) will cause the bypass to open. Over a certain temperature that system also acts as an additional safety device (in conjunction with the regular pressure control) to off the burner.

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Hello and Thank you! She was very well designed and built by W.C.Grosjean, of Poway, California. Water supply is controlled by a quartz rod in a stainless steel tube within the coil stack. Expansion from high steam temperature (no/low water) causes the feed water bypass to close and pump water into the coil. Contraction from low steam temperature (lots of water) will cause the bypass to open. Over a certain temperature that system also acts as an additional safety device (in conjunction with the regular pressure control) to off the burner.

[@jameswatt1970]

Thank you for your answer, I understand the system. On my boiler I have a water regulation with a valve that opens at 10 bar and deflects the flow. It's hard to adjust, I have to add a bypass to the feed pump it will be better.

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

@@jameswatt1970 you're very welcome. Do you have a steam separator to remove the water from the steam?

[@jameswatt1970]

Wesley Harcourt , yep! with thermostatic drain.

[@rinislaboratories1315]

Where do you get the parts for this?

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

They have to be made. I have all the patterns and drawings so I can recreate it if needed. One can buy ready-made or antique steam engines and boilers online if they desire to build a boat but don't have the skills or equipment to machine castings. Where are you from?

[@richardburt3366]

Hot Wings

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Haha you caught it. That's my political party.

[@mervynevans5176]

exelente, estoy construyendo mi vapor tambien.

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

¡maravilloso! ¡Les deseo buena suerte! Espero ver videos de su barco de vapor en el futuro.

[@jiwosaktiyoso5016]

❤️❤️

[@unhippy1]

5 minute steamup?....ok,this i have to see....... An Oil burner?.....CHEATER!!!!!

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Haha With wood it would probably take 10 minutes depending on the fire started with.. Though there are no provisions for burning solid fuel on the 'Belle.