Elliot Bay Triple Expansion steam engine running

This is the Elliot Bay Triple Expansion steam engine running for the 1st time on steam.
The camera seems to pick up the high-frequency noises far better than in reality. Most of the noise comes from the loose flywheel which we use to load the engine with and water hammer as the steam pipe feeding the engine is very long and is not insulated. This also means that warming the engine up takes a long time. Some of the noise is also from the eccentrics as they are not tightened up yet as some of them need to come off to complete the engine.
The engine is far from complete at the moment. The air/feed pump still needs machining and there are all the tiny bits like proper drain valves and the oil system to put on, then finally the wooden lagging.
There are also no piston rings in yet.
www.thesteamboa...

[@mightress]

now two of them and one steam turbine and a scaled titanic and you would be crowned king of model making forever

[@maltelec]

They haven't been added yet on this video but there are some large oil boxes with cotton wicks which drip oil down to all the journals and crank pin bearings.

[@maltelec]

@TommyMacDaddy1 My dad built it in our workshop. Yes it is going into a friends 32' boat very soon. We built it because we like steam powered boats, no other reason.

[@Squarerig]

This is a wonderful clip.Thank you for your work and effort.

[@tomservo5347]

I've become fascinated with steam ever since I was put in charge of the two boilers we have where I work. If you're going all out with this I'd treat the boiler water with some oxygen scavenger and Ph balancer and run the return back to your reservoir. Whoever first thought of using the exhaust steam to push another, larger surface area, lower psi cylinder was absolutely brilliant.

[@maltelec]

+James Robert We do use boiler treatment with condensing systems. Even with puffing system (steam is blasted up the flue) a dose of boiler treatment leaves a nice film on the inside which resists oxygen corrosion despite the water constantly being replenished.

[@tomservo5347]

maltelec Sounds like you're on top of things. Do you have any hardness problems or do you use a softener?

[@maltelec]

+James Robert The water is very soft round here. Its also incredibly clean.

[@tomservo5347]

maltelec Lucky you. We have some hardness here. Nothing major but enough to cause buildup over time.

[@bencsly]

That's a beautiful engine!

[@DJMarioV8]

I love your steam engine! The best engine type i know, without electric and all mechanical:)

[@regalis666]

great video. i live in denmark and im helping restoring an old tugboat/icebreaker its from 1900 ca. it has an tripel expansion engine too. i cant wait too hear it running. its called ss bjøn .

[@Megadriver]

That is beautiful! Love the sound.

[@maltelec]

My dad was following the Elliot Bay Triple engine plans. I am sure they are available to buy from somewhere.

[@maltelec]

For this engine the drawings are available, though some modifications have been done. Its not difficult to design an engine, but it is difficult to design a good one.

[@maltelec]

The Titanic's engines were a 4-cylinder triple with the LP being split into two cylinders to make it easier to build and use.

[@memadmax69]

Beautiful, she is a runner for sure.

[@maltelec]

Yes, a vacuum pump is going to be fitted to the engine. The real reason why the efficiency increases with an air pump is because by creating a vacuum at the exhaust manifold it allows the engine to extract all the enthalpy out of the steam - that is the power from the heat. Because steam expands logorithmicly, the more you expand it the more energy you get out of it.

[@maltelec]

@porpoisefathom Bigger the engine the slower it runs. Ideally this engine wants to be about 400 rpm. 200psi is a normal working pressure for a steamboat. Some of them run at 150psi and others run at 250psi. Few run higher.

[@ziiofswe]

This would fit nicely in a boat. Wasn't too impressed at first, during the warmup phase... but then you got it going smoothly... and _then_ I read the description to find it wasn't even finished yet. Now I'm impressed. I'd suggest the steam loco kind of boiler, where most of the water is in a separate storage tank and fed little by little into the boiler. Should shorten heating time a lot, _especially_ in this kind of setup.

[@Jopsyduck]

This engine is a much smaller version of what powered the Titanic and her sisters

[@maltelec]

Except the Titanic had 4-cylinder enignes

[@Jopsyduck]

you're right, they were 4 cylinder, but they were triple expansion engines.

[@3UZFE]

I would die to purchase that! Magnificent.

[@Tommy_Mac]

Wonderful! It appears that you built this yourself. It also appears to be an incredible amount of precision work, some lost art, and a lot of time involved. Quite impressive. If I understand correctly, it is going into 32' boat. There were probably other ways to power it. May I ask why you decided to build it?

[@MrDoyley35]

Awesome. What a piece of work!

[@maltelec]

Hi Ken. This engine doesn't run on superheated steam in the boat (SL Whippet on my videos) but there is no reason why it can't.

[@gus23a]

@maltelec ok. thank you. it costs not as much as i thought it would.

[@modelleg]

Fantastic. Much admired.

[@03cryptic]

Simply fantastic :D

[@LifesVoyager]

Beautiful. Well done.

[@teddyboragina6437]

excellent video

[@maltelec]

@ravi8029 See the other video of mine Triple Expansion Steam Engine running with a brake under Load.

[@carlos-bt4dt]

great to see. have you built it by you self. really great done

[@maltelec]

We measured 6IHP with an un-ideal setup and no condenser. We would hope it should give a steady 10IHP at least in the boat. It is direct drive onto the prop. See my other videos, especially the ones about Whippet.

[@tweetercat2]

I love that lil steam engine but if it was me i would hook up the piston exaust into the smoke stack so u can draw in more air into the boiler then u can keep a hot fire in the boiler

[@AdamCanFly]

Very cool! I found my self tapping my foot to the beat. Haha!

I love these engines! So much going on to look at! I could stare at it for hours! and the noise a full scale one makes... omg

[@maltelec]

In this video the engine is fixed in the ahead position. It was struggling to start in the beginning because these engines take a long time to warm up, and they won't start until they are warm. The rods sticking out the front top of the engine are the reverse position valve rods, which are not in use. They slide to the middle to put the engine into reverse, with the ahead rods moving to the back of the engine.

maltelec oooh, so when they showed that scene, they were sliding out; engaging reverse? So in a sense, the engine didn't 'lock up' then as I thought it did?

[@maltelec]

Nope, when you go from ahead to astern the valves move to a point were the engine stops before changing direction.

[@HistoricSteamTV]

It needs a spitoon, LOL! one heck of an opening. Good thing it would not fit in my apartment or I'd start building one now.

[@maltelec]

@gus23a £18,000 (GBP) and you can have one. If you wanted 2 making at once it would be cheaper because it is much easier.

[@spravodlivy]

Hello, maltelec, can you made this maschine for sale? Or do you know, where I ca buy similar engine? Thank you for your reply. Patrik.

[@killingroboto]

guys really good job I can´t imagine how much work you have to make to finish this engine, but i want to ask something... you really design it by yourself or there is a way to get mechanic drawings, you know to learn how thoes it works and all that stuff?

[@mcfilthymcnasty8206]

This is fantastic! Were can I lean more ?

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

try thesteamboatingforum-DOT-net

[@maltelec]

www.thesteamboatingforum.net/gallery/whippit/index.html

[@belchnasty]

Beautiful!

[@gus23a]

just curious, what are the cost of an engine like this?

[@irishpaddy555]

Is it really weird that the misus is watching game of thrones and i have more interest watching this? 😄 imagine the noise in the engine room of the great ship!

[@BritishNathan]

does it can push a real boat? a small one?

[@mongezincube4893]

Is it possible to use this engine to generate power for a building?

[@gamo98]

very nice work keep it up

[@adamdavis7663]

that is amazing! did you make the parts yourself? I'm sure you can't go down to the local hardware store and get most of your parts. lol I have been fascinated with triple expansion engines, since I first saw the engine compartment of the Battleship Texas, several years ago.

[@maltelec]

+Adam Davis My dad built most of the engine.

[@jamesbradley1695]

Interesting video! How many HP does it produce? About 5 at 300 rpm and 200 psi or what? Was it direct drive to a boat propeller?

[@the_frumious_bandersnatch4367]

Want to sell it complete with piston rings plus air and circulating pumps? Are you thinking of offering a kit? I have significant experience with marine propulsion boilers and reciprocating steam engines, and would like to build a steam-powered boat with a condensing triple when I retire from the maritime industry in a few years.

[@cncsteamer]

Hello. Well that I watched your movie. My engine has not worked because he had the water in the cylinder. The valve was too far from boiler. I'm begginer Greetings from Poland.

[@maltelec]

Most larger engines have relief valves on the cylinders to allow the water to escape, but it can still cause damage. The best thing is to insulate all the pipe work and warm the engine through first. This engine takes a good 5 minutes to warm up.

[@maltelec]

I know someone once asked a professional engineering company to price up building a 4HP sized Compound engine. It came back at about £20,000. There is simply too much work to do for a standard company to build an engine and build it right.

[@Yasokiii]

You should add a condenser

[@maltelec]

The boat has one. Difficult to use one while testing on land though.

[@jasriejasmi1833]

if u can built this i hope u built an exact replica of Titanic n put 2 of these steam engine inside...wowwww that would be awesome.

[@maltelec]

The Titanics engine is a little on the large size for out machines.

[@mikecorleone6797]

maltelec build. 40 foot scale size of titanic with 2 of these inside.. that would be the coolest thing ever

[@Jackswild30]

that is totally cool!

[@ezgoin1010]

Absolutely brilliant! How long did it take you to build?

[@maltelec]

Ethan Goin Best part of 3 years for this engine.

[@ezgoin1010]

maltelec Wow. I imagine this was more intermittent and working on it when you had the time? Also, did you buy the main castings from Elliott Bay or did you buy the plans and machine every piece in your shop?

[@maltelec]

Ethan Goin My dad is the one who built it. This engine was bought as castings and the cylinder block was mostly machined by someone else. When he was unable to complete the work it was given to us to complete. The 2nd engine had the cylinders bored and honed, but everything else had to be machined.

[@terenfro1975]

Now when are you going to start building your New York class Battleship?

[@maltelec]

I'll stick with a British navy ship design. Although I don't want to brag, being an Island gives you an advantage when it comes to ships.

[@heyfitzpablum]

How are the crank and connecting rod bearings lubricated?

[@maltelec]

A pipe runs down the centre of the con rod to feed the crank pin bearings. At the top of the cross head are three small troughs, one for the crank pin bearing pipe and two for the cross head axial bearings. These are fed from drip pipes coming from an oil box, which also feeds the cross head guides.

[@heyfitzpablum]

Thank you, Maltelec!

[@blastking2006]

what type of oil do u use to lubricate this bad boy

[@maltelec]

+Eric Towet Steam oil.

[@blastking2006]

+maltelec do you think you could send me an copy of the designs to my email [e-mail] so that I can redesign it to a bigger model , to generate electricity in Africa kenya

[@maltelec]

Eric Towet Hi Eric. The drawings can be bought from here: www.steamlaunch.com/engines/elliott.html

[@geraldmorain3166]

boiler? marine?

[@josephastier7421]

Nice engine! How much horsepower?

[@maltelec]

Its rated at 15HP

[@maltelec]

Its in a condensing boat.

[@douglasjohnson8820]

Look at the length of the Con Rods. A Real Stoker.

[@maltelec]

Longer the con rods the better. Marine engines typically had short rods due to the engine room height restrictions.

[@FrankRuffolo65]

brilliant engine, but, i don't see a single oiler on the thing.

[@maltelec]

Frank Ruffolo You must be blind there are around 42 of them! Though they may not be present at this stage of the build.

[@FrankRuffolo65]

maltelec hmmm, with all due respect, if they're not 'present at this stage in the build' how on earth does this make me blind? nice engine anyhow.

[@maltelec]

I will have to work on that answer...

[@FrankRuffolo65]

that's a funny comeback. i was being playful about the oilers. i hope you weren't offended. i'm a builder myself.

[@maltelec]

I see you are a Canadian, you wouldn't understand our dry humour. Its not to be taken seriously. I see you built models, they look very nice.

[@Gunny426HemiPlymouth]

Good thing to pump water with! If only houses needed something to pump water with.

[@RFCPILOT]

Better think about insulating the steam line.

[@biscuitninja]

Action at 4:01

[@maltelec]

Although it is, you won't get much power out of one this size. Possibly 7kW.

[@harrybobb6927]

Hi im asking would it be enough power to run shaft universal joint adapter to a generator and if you could do that id like to see if you be interested in building one for me for that purpose

[@maltelec]

@BritishNathan Hi, it is going into a 32-foot boat called Whippet. If you go to steamboat (dot) org (dot) uk and click on Register and search under W for Whippet you'll find it.

[@1981seafarer]

What temperature and pressure does this run at?

[@maltelec]

150psi, and if you know your steam tables, that gives 173C.

[@therandomchannel3719]

whats cool is the engine will sort of run but wont stall and do nothing like a gas engine does.

[@maltelec]

Because this is an expansion engine it is possible for it to stall at TDC and BDC.

[@jfarrau]

Hermoso

[@amorag59]

I want to put one in my Jeep!

[@maltelec]

What a terrible waste of an engine that would be.

[@amorag59]

maltelec Terrible waste of an engine? That’s your opinion and who cares if it’s being used? Hook this thing up to a generator and batteries, have a hybrid. Although I was mostly joking in the matter, steam power has seen a small revival these days.

[@maltelec]

@@amorag59 Now if it was in a Land Rover, that would be well worth doing.

[@amorag59]

@@maltelec Can you be any more petty? Not here to get into a worthless pissing match on the favored ORV or overland rig. I hope you find that person who pissed in your cheerios this morning, good day.

[@МаксимСмирнов-с4и]

Красиво,автор молодец.

[@johnv341]

Superb job! I made a much smaller triple, and it runs on steam, but not as smoothly as yours. kzbin.info/www/bejne/apaVZHibi9Wff5o

[@lostthe80s]

Poetry in motion... I would love to put one in my boat. A real engine not this petrol or diesel rubbish