Ed i think you are not following what is going on. First there is a radiator
in the tank like a normal coolng system. The tank has water in it
surrounding the radiator. The tank also has a very large vent to the
atmoshere. So where is the big steam explosion??
Dave
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-land-speed@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-land-speed@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of The Weldons
> Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 12:32 PM
> To: land-speed@autox.team.net
> Subject: Radiator in a bath tub
>
>
> Hey guys!! Some of you might not like what I'm going to say here--
> First a little history: One of the principal driving forces behind the
> formation of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
> in the late
> 1800's was the fact that too many people were being killed in steam boiler
> explosions. They developed what is today called the ASME Pressure Vessel
> Code.
> So if you're going to fool around with a high pressure steam generator you
> better know what you're doing.
> As long as we use water tanks with generously sized vents and made out of
> light enough materials that any pressure buildup will simply
> split the seams
> we're reasonably safe. (Though one of my close friends can well
> comment on
> the discomfort of hot water spraying around the cockpit of a roadster at
> 175+). But when you start talking about pressure tanks that will
> work at 100
> psi, watch out!! You'd better do some real engineering on it and
> be ready to
> convince the tech inspectors that you know what you're doing and
> that it will
> indeed work as designed under many different unfavorable racing
> conditions.
> One possible scenario: Engine overheats with steam leaking into the tank.
> Relief valve works for a while then jams. Tank, half full of
> steam, builds to
> 100 psi then bursts a seam. Driver is killed instantly as the
> middle of the
> car is blown to pieces by the explosion.
> Tech guys -- are you listening? I suspect so.
> Ed Weldon
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