Design Concepts of a New Generation Reciprocating Steam Engine

Internal combustion engines require high cost good quality liquid fuel. To some extent this has been a great incentive to investigate external combustion engines, capable of burning a wide range of alternative fuels. Much research has been directed towards the Stirling cycle engine, and to some degree the U.S. automotive steam development programme has introduced new techniques in the design and operation of highly efficient compact boilers and condensers.

However, the full potential of the “Rankine cycle” has not been reached because the main component of the power plant, the expander, has been designed using traditional technique. This paper presents concepts for design of a new generation compact non-oil lubricated, high temperature, reheat steam engine with high part-load thermal efficiency.