Adrian Stott wrote: > "Michael Askin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > >> I know a couple of folks here can answer this - on a heavy runs (for >> example river running) how much coal is used per hour and what does >> coal cost these days? >> >> The reason I ask is that I was talking about a boat on another forum >> that used 200 litres / hour (doing 35 knots), and then some one in >> the states put that into money cost, so I then told him how much fuel >> costs here, and then told him about the increase in costs. Then came >> up the cheapness of sailing, then someone mentioned coal was cheap. > > A steam engine is very much less efficient than a diesel. That's why > there are almost no commercial steam-powered vessels these days. > > When I was converting my barge (late 1980s), I looked seriously into > installing a (modern, fully automated, oil fired) steam engine in it. > I even had one designed, with a very clever boiler. However, I > abandoned the idea when I came to the conclusion that it would use > well over twice as much oil per hour as a diesel. >
Not to mention the regular mandatory checks under the boiler regs, plus all the expense of adding anti-corrosion additives - we have just lost one boiler at work, mainly becuase the first 3 years of its life (2002-2005) it was only fed water - it makes steam for the air input heat exchangers and for use in the lab. Now its been condemed, and we need a new one - the first three years set the rot in, and the last three still kept corroding - even with the anti-corrosion (once it starts, you can't stop it - steel corrosion is a subject in its own right). Ron Jones Process Safety & Development Specialist Don't repeat history, unreported chemical lab/plant near misses at http://www.crhf.org.uk Only two things are certain: The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe. ~ Albert Einstein
