The term "steam engine" conjures images of locomotives or Stanley Steamer cars, but these machines have more uses than transportation.In the past three centuries, steam engines, which were first created in primitive forms around two millennia ago, have become major power sources, with steam turbines now producing 80 percent or more of the world's electrical energy.You can use one of the methods in the article to build your own steam engine with common home materials.If you want to get started, see Step 1 below.
Step 1: An aluminum can can be cut to about 2 2 in.
Use tin snips or shop scissors to make a smooth horizontal cut about 1/3 of the way up from its base and around the can's circumference.
Step 2: Attach the rim with pliers.
To eliminate the sharp edges of the can, fold the rim in on itself.Don't cut yourself if you do so.
Step 3: To flatten it, push the bottom of the can out.
The interior of most soda cans has a circular base.To smooth it, flatten it with your fingers or use the bottom of a small glass or jar.
Step 4: There are two holes on opposite sides of the can.
You can either use a paper punch or a nail and hammer.You will need a hole larger than 8 inch.
Step 5: There is a tea light candle in the can.
Place foil under the candle to hold it in place.Tea light candles come in small tins, so the wax won't melt and spill into your can.
Step 6: Wrap the center of a piece of copper tubing around a pencil and make a coil.
The tubing should bend easily around the pencil.You will need enough coiled tubing to stretch across the top of the can, as well as an extra 2 inches of straight tubing on each side.
Step 7: Attach the ends of the tubing to the can.
The candle should be centered over the coil.Try to get the same length of tubing sticking out of the can.
Step 8: To make 90-degree angles, bend the ends of the tube with pliers.
If you bend the straight sections of the tubing, they will go in opposite directions.If you bend them again, they will reach below the base of the can.When you're done, you should have a coiled section of tubing in the middle of your candle that stretches downward into two opposite-facing "jets" on either side of the can.
Step 9: The tubing ends should be submerged in a large bowl of room temperature water.
The boat should float well.If the tubing ends don't sit below the waterline, try weighing the can down a bit, but be careful not to sink it.
Step 10: The tubes should be filled with water.
The easiest way to do this is to place one end in the water and the other in a straw.You can hold the open end of the faucet under your finger.
Step 11: The candle should be lit.
The water in the tubing will begin to boil over time.The entire can will spin in the bowl when it shoots out the "jets" of the tubing.
Step 12: There is a hole near the base of the paint can.
There is a 6 in 2 in rectangle on the side of the can that is up from the base.You'll want to make sure that the can contains only latex-based paint and that it has been washed with soap and water before you use it.
Step 13: There is a piece of metal mesh.
At either end of the 4 3 inches side down, lie down at a 90-degree angle.This should create a platform with 2 2 3 in (5.9 cm) legs.Place the mesh inside the paint can, "legs" down, lining it up with the edges of the hole you cut.
Step 14: You can make a circle of holes along the lid's perimeter.
The heat for your steam engine will come from burning coals inside this paint can.These coals will not be able to burn well if they don't have a steady supply of oxygen.The can's lid has holes in it that can be drilled or punched.The holes should be about 1.0 cm in diameter.
Step 15: Use copper tubing to create a coil.
Take 20 feet of soft copper tubing 4 inch (0.64 cm) in diameter and measure from one end.The tubing should be wrapped into five coils 5 inches (13 cm) in diameter.The remaining length of tubing can be winded into 15 coils.You should have an extra 20 cm.
Step 16: Run the ends of the coil through the holes.
Put the coil through one of the holes in the lid by bending it.If you don't have enough length in the tubing, you may need to loosen one of the coils.
Step 17: The paint can has a coil and charcoal in it.
The coil should be on the mesh platform.The space around and inside the coil should be filled with charcoal briquettes.The lid needs to be closed tightly.
Step 18: There are tubing holes in the paint can.
There is a hole in the center of the paint can's lid.There are two holes on the side of the can, one near the base and one above the lid.
Step 19: There are holes on the side of the smaller can.
To bore holes in the center of two corks, use the ends of the copper tubing.One piece of hard plastic tubing should be inserted into one cork and another piece into the other so that they fit snug.The cork should be inserted into the bottom and top holes of the small can.Attach the tubing to the cork with hoses.
Step 20: The larger can's tubing should be connected to the smaller can.
The larger can should be placed above the smaller one with the corked tubing facing away.To secure the tubing from the bottom cork to the top of the copper coil, use metallic tape.The upper cork should be secured with tubing from the top of the coil in the same way.
Step 21: The junction box has copper tubing in it.
The center portion of the electrical junction box can be removed with a hammer and screwdriver.Attach the electrical cable to the junction box with a retaining ring.The tubing should protrude a few centimeters below the hole in the junction box if the copper pipe is inserted with a diameter of 2 inch.The edges of this end should be turned inward with a hammer.The pipe should be inserted into the lid of the smaller can.
Step 22: The skewer needs to be inserted into the rod.
Take a standard wooden barbecue skewer and insert it into one end of a hollow wooden dowel rod.The skewer should be placed inside the copper pipe in the metal junction box.When the engine is running, the skewer and rod act as apiston.Attach a small paper "flag" to the top of the engine to make it easier to see.
Step 23: The engine needs to be prepared for operation.
Remove the junction box assembly from the small upper can and fill it with water to allow it to drain into the copper coil.Ensure all seals are tight and check for leaks.The cans should be secured by tapping them with a hammer.The junction box is above the small upper can.
Step 24: Run the engine!
Put pieces of newspaper in the space at the bottom of the engine.Allow the briquettes to burn for about 20 minutes when the charcoal catches fire.The steam should build up in the upper can as they heat the water.The steam will push the skewer and dowel upwards.The piston will be pulled down by gravity once enough pressure has been released.The lighter it is, the more frequently it will pop up, so it's a good idea to remove pieces from the skewer.To get the skewer down to a weight, try to make it run at a constant clip.You can speed up the burning process by using a hair dryer.
Step 25: Be safe.
This steam engine requires careful handling and operation.The steam engine shouldn't be run indoors.It should never be run around dry leaves or overhanging trees.It should only be run on a concrete surface.If you are working with children, make sure an adult is present at all times.Children and teenagers shouldn't approach the engine while the charcoal is burning.It's too hot to touch the engine if you don't know how hot it is.The steam can escape from the upper boiler.Pressure can build up inside the small can if the piston becomes stuck.In a worst case scenario, this can cause the can to explode.