Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[morfa]

Hey, I have a winter project to build a boat for this small steam turbine.
I know very little about steam turbines and what I need. I play with MSM/TVR1A/Microcosm/Saito engines.

Will need to marry it to a steam plant/boiler system, but first need to know if I need a lubricator for a steam turbine?
Have this available but is it needed?


Derek/Canada

[1967Brutus]

depends 100% on the bearing construction. The turbine itself (the nozzle, wheel and housing) do not require lubrication.
If the bearings are shielded from steam, they only need an occasional drop of oil, or possibly the bearings fitted are "lubricated for life" from factory.
Even if they are not shielded, it is very doubtful whether oil from a steam lubricator will reach the bearings, since a turbine basically also is a centrifuge: Oil will fling to the outside of the housing, and will not have any incentive to move towards the bearings.

Personally, I would IF any lubrication is needed, use a wick oil feed from a small separate oil tank, IF possible.
From the pics, I cannot deduce whether that is possible or not, nor whether it is needed.

On thing I know, you are going to need a BIG boiler and a BIG burner. That thing will consume steam like there's no tomorrow.

[SteamboatPhil]

I think the turbine you have has stainless steel bearings, lubrication could be a problem, and at full revs you will doing 40, 000 RPM, as Brutus has said they are a real steam gobbler, most turbines use a flash steam colt keep up wit heheh steam demand, although I have seen one feed from (a large) centre flue boiler, but of only moderate performance and geared down dramatically. 

[DBS88]

To answer your question as Phil and Brutus say, the displacement oiler is not needed, in fact using it is likely to be detrimental and gum up the inside of the turbine. The turbine bearings lubricant if any will be a very very thin lubricant, exactly the opposite of steam oil. The turbine bearings in mine are flushed with paraffin after running for a few hours.
You have an exciting project there, the howl of a turbine spinning up is unbelievable. You will need a very good supply of steam to keep the turbine spinning, they use a lot of steam very quickly, so a fast steaming boiler with a strong flame. Try the boiler you have and see what happens. I look forward to following your progress.
Here is a link to my turbine running on steam on the bench [size=78%]https://youtu.be/7vb9xqWDbEk?si=oSftNrF46avji2W0[/size]

[1967Brutus]

To answer your question as Phil and Brutus say, the displacement oiler is not needed, in fact using it is likely to be detrimental and gum up the inside of the turbine. The turbine bearings lubricant if any will be a very very thin lubricant, exactly the opposite of steam oil. The turbine bearings in mine are flushed with paraffin after running for a few hours.
You have an exciting project there, the howl of a turbine spinning up is unbelievable. You will need a very good supply of steam to keep the turbine spinning, they use a lot of steam very quickly, so a fast steaming boiler with a strong flame. Try the boiler you have and see what happens. I look forward to following your progress.
Here is a link to my turbine running on steam on the bench [size=78%]https://youtu.be/7vb9xqWDbEk?si=oSftNrF46avji2W0[/size]

I have to say: I have no means of fabricating a pump-through boiler, but I CAN imagine a set-up with a pump-through boiler fired by a liquid phase feed blowtorch, turbine driven feedpump, condenser and closed circulation of distilled water...

Damn... I can almost SMELL victory...

[morfa]

Guys,
Thanks for the fast replies — you all have answered the few questions I had.
Firstly, still a newbie in the steam game (since the pandemic) but understand that steam turbines are pigs for steam and will need to marry it with something that will give it what it needs.
Great fun and learning curve. Will proceed with no lubricator at this time and look at the suggestions for other methods of lubrication should I need them.


Got to love that Trident Steam Turbine - did it ever get a berth in a boat?
After Christmas will get back to this project. It's home will be my cottage on Lac Ritchot.


My latest like project almost done and ready for sea trials after the ice leaves our lakes and rivers this spring.
Not museum quality build, just in my basement shop having fun - was a gifted hull and Stuart Turner engine with a Saito steam plant.


Again thanks for all the info - be in touch with progress...


Derek/Canada