Er, Sorry. There are a couple of errors in the spreadsheet but I'm not sure the attachment got through anyway. If anyone's interested I'll send an updated version. The errors are in the use of mechanical efficiency and the water usage calculation but don't change things too much if you use sensible figures. Richard P On 23/09/05, Richard Prosser wrote: > And from the PIC files > I have a very rough spreadsheet of the engine. > It appears to indicate that a solar mirror of about 1m2 "could" be > used to produce about 130W of power from a modified 160cc motormower > engine operation at 300C. > Maybe. There are all sorts of effects that are not taken into account > and other posibilities that could improve performance (using exhaust > steam to preheat the water for example). > And some figures are pure guesswork (e.g initial pressure). > > But it may give someone who knows about these things a bit of a laugh > > Richard P > > > On 23/09/05, Russell McMahon wrote: > > Experiments (mind or hands-on) in this area should be preceded by at > > least a working knowledge of the thermodynamics involved. > > > > Here's an interesting and possibly even useful presentation of > > Carnot's original work. Fascinating as a historical glimpse even if > > one isn't intending to attempt to break the laws of physics :-) > > > > http://www.history.rochester.edu/steam/carnot/1943/ > > > > > > > > RM > > > > Ref from Ken Mardle. > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > > > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist