Ancient Aeolipile -steam engine, and magnets for good measure...

Step 3 Filling and Starting

Somehow, put about an ounce or so of water into your can. I used the syringe I have for measuring nutrients for my hydroponic garden... The exact amount is not as important - you just don't want to overfill.

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Now hang your can filled with water and place 4 tea lights underneath. You want very little space between the flame and can. Light up and let it sit. It took about 5 minutes to start steaming and a little longer to build enough pressure.

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With the help of my lighter (or two), I got it started much faster. The next time I do this (for fun :P), I'll have to count how many RPMs I was reaching...

Comments

[Wyle_E]

I've seen a lot of these over the years. I made mine, about half a century ago, from a brake fluid can and a rubber stopper. the string was attached to a pin through the stopper, and the bearing was a fishing-tackle swivel. I never would have thought of your magnetic bearing, even if we'd had neodymium ball magnets in those days. Note that the original had the rotor separate from the boiler. I wonder how Heron did the steam-tight rotating joints. I suspect that he just let them leak more steam than went through the nozzles; the thing looks more like a proof-of-concept model than a practical machine.

[stephen20x6]

I like it! Any thoughts on how one could feasibly harness all that raw power? I imagine on a larger scale, one could fit some gears or some such onto the "can." Back to that rice cooker..

[James (pseudo-geek)]

possible, but not plausable.

[dataphool]

I would have thought that soda pop heated to boiling would be incredibly messy? Doesn't your wife object? I live with my daughter and I have to wait 'til she goes away for a while (like this week) to play in the kitchen.

[trebuchet03]

The soda is drained out and then replaced with about an ounce of water ;) I guess there will be some residual sugars and such -- but that should caramelize and remain in the can ;)

I'm not married - but my girlfriend (she is my significant other :P) has gotten used to my tinkering, experimenting and overall "meness" :P

[i make shooting things]

cool
check out my new instructable i just made it.
my instructable

[trebuchet03]

really -- was that at all necessary?