Most powerful F1 engine of all time, on test again

[Brian Coat]

This is way off topic and not "new news".

I just stumbled across it, found it interesting, and thought you might too ...

http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/04/ ... k-to-life/

http://3dprint.com/95914/nasa-3d-print- ... et-engine/

[Tommy Cookers]

hopefully in the spirit of this thread .....

'Flying Scotsman' having just re-emerged after a very long absence
this below captures the flavour of a current big, embarrassing, and very conspicuous restoration/rectification project

FS was once modded (unoriginal 1 inch oversize cylinders and 14% higher pressure boiler) for its runs on public rail networks
sometime it acquired a 1/4 inch misalignment in a conrod and much fatigue cracking in inaccessible parts of its frame
http://www.nrm.org.uk/flyingscotsman/se ... spx?page=2
http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2013/da ... ed-by-nrm/

[Tommy Cookers]

this week the engine 'Tornado' (recently built to a design relative of Flying Scotsman) pulled a full train at a sustained 100 mph
uniquely in the UK qualifying it to operate on the public 'main line' railway, which now demands a sustained 90 mph
at these speeds Tornado delivers a continuous 2400 hp at an efficiency of about 10%
corresponding 'startup-to-shutdown' to about 7% of the fuel's energy being turned into work (mechanical energy)

the UK's other c.200 steam engines operate on preserved railways limited to a maximum of 25 mph
the average running power is maybe 300 hp
their 's-to-s' efficiency is maybe 5% for the small engines and maybe 1 or 2% for the large engines the customers like to see
ie 95-99% of the expensive coal is wasted

these large engines could have their efficency improved to about 40% without loss of customer appeal
by installing eg in the tender a large SUV/car type (bio ?) diesel running continuously
driving a multi-stage compressor (c.80% efficient) whose output accumulates in the erstwhile boiler (the firebox etc is now redundant)
and drives the original cylinders using air at eg 15 bar instead of steam at 15 bar
plus the ICE coolant heat and exhaust heat can generate steam either flashed or even accumulated in the erstwhile boiler/superheater tubes etc

so a large engine with pneumatic cylinders or these plus a steam cylinder will have most of its original high tractive capability at low speeds
(usefully for this purpose, many large engines have 3 or 4 cylinders)
keeps its characteristic behaviour and aesthetic appeal
is 2000% more efficient and 50000% cleaner, and can generate new appeal from this green-themed focus

[J.A.W.]

Sound plan perhaps there T-C...
Now then..
..next problem, what have you got in mind to clean up those..
.. fearsomely filthy diesel smoke spewing,( but excitingly potent 2T), Napier Deltic powered - historic locos?

Ye gods, what a beast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr99NJHr5qQ