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tortoise
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« on: April 17, 2007, 11:12:03 AM » |
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From Landracing.com homepage: "British Steam Car Challenge Coming to a Boil Written by Administrator Friday, 13 April 2007 . . . The boilers will generate a formidable four megawatts of energy – almost enough to power a small town for a day."
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sockjohn
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« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2007, 08:16:42 PM » |
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From Landracing.com homepage: "British Steam Car Challenge Coming to a Boil Written by Administrator Friday, 13 April 2007 . . . The boilers will generate a formidable four megawatts of energy – almost enough to power a small town for a day."
They claim their turbine makes 350HP, and at 750 watts per HP, this comes out to around 275KW, which seems like the boiler is seriously over sized. Anyone know why? I wouldn't be surprised that it's over sized, but this seems way over sized.
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JackD
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« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2007, 08:20:46 PM » |
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Hot Tea all around.
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« Last Edit: April 18, 2007, 09:05:42 AM by JackD »
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"I would rather lose going fast enough to win than win going slow enough to lose." "That horrible smell is dirty feet being held to the fire"
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Seldom Seen Slim
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Nancy -- 201.913 mph record on a production ZX15!
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« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2007, 08:48:21 AM » |
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Tthere's confusion of time element in the statement: "...four megawatts of energy – almost enough to power a small town for a day."
A megawatt is an instantaneous measurement. Ergo the statement should read: "... almost enough to power a small town." Or, perhaps the statement could be changed to read "...four megawatt-hoursalmost enough to power a small town for a day."
The latter would imply that the complete boiler system has a limited supply of energy available to make the steam -- so many cu. ft. of natural gas, for instance, or so many lumps of coal, etc. This is likely -- the car won't have a long tube attached to deliver a stream of gas, and probably won't have a coal car (tender) trailing behind with a guy shoveling coal like the dickens.
By the way, let's do some other math: A common household electrical bill is for 500-750 kwh/month. Assume 600 kwh/month for this exercise, divide by 30 days and come up with 20 kwh/day. 4 Mwh = 4000 kwh divided by 20/house = 200 houses.
Pretty small town, but there are some that size, especially way up north.
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Jon E. Wennerberg a/k/a Seldom Seen Slim Skandia, Michigan (that's way up north) 2 Club member x2 Owner of landracing.com
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Stainless1
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Robert W. P. "Stainless" Steele Wichita, Kansas
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« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2007, 09:09:36 AM » |
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Tthere's confusion of time element in the statement: "...four megawatts of energy – almost enough to power a small town for a day."
A megawatt is an instantaneous measurement. Ergo the statement should read: "... almost enough to power a small town." Or, perhaps the statement could be changed to read "...four megawatt-hoursalmost enough to power a small town for a day."
The latter would imply that the complete boiler system has a limited supply of energy available to make the steam -- so many cu. ft. of natural gas, for instance, or so many lumps of coal, etc. This is likely -- the car won't have a long tube attached to deliver a stream of gas, and probably won't have a coal car (tender) trailing behind with a guy shoveling coal like the dickens.
By the way, let's do some other math: A common household electrical bill is for 500-750 kwh/month. Assume 600 kwh/month for this exercise, divide by 30 days and come up with 20 kwh/day. 4 Mwh = 4000 kwh divided by 20/house = 200 houses.
Pretty small town, but there are some that size, especially way up north.
SSS, a little anal, maybe you are in the right job...  There are actually a lot of small towns all over the country with less than 200 houses. In the flat lands there are towns with 12 people and a grain elevator... OK seasonal power requirements may be higher... 
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Stainless MSA Lakester #1000 my fastest mile 245 and change, 84 ci turbobusa motor... but Corey's 233 MPH H/BFL record is still 3MPH faster than mine. Builder of Bike 278 1000cc APS-G, Kids Red Hat Record 208.959 (old PS rules) Other kids A-G record 179.172 Josh O record 182.266 Co-owner of the Amo Steele Streamliner, #1411... still sorting
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Seldom Seen Slim
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Nancy -- 201.913 mph record on a production ZX15!
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« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2007, 09:12:50 AM » |
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Stainless:
I graduated with a liberal arts degree from an engineering college. I may be the only guy you know that took "elective" courses like engineering physics, mathematical astronomy, math through diff. eq., etc.
Being "anal" was taught in a 200-level course at Tech.
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Jon E. Wennerberg a/k/a Seldom Seen Slim Skandia, Michigan (that's way up north) 2 Club member x2 Owner of landracing.com
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tortoise
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« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2007, 10:09:48 AM » |
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Tthere's confusion of time element in the statement: "...four megawatts of energy – almost enough to power a small town for a day."
A megawatt is an instantaneous measurement. Ergo the statement should read: "... almost enough to power a small town." Also delete the "of energy", and we're OK. "Four megawatts of energy" is like "four miles per hour of distance".
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JackD
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« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2007, 10:41:46 AM » |
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The project certainly shows promise. 
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"I would rather lose going fast enough to win than win going slow enough to lose." "That horrible smell is dirty feet being held to the fire"
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Stainless1
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Robert W. P. "Stainless" Steele Wichita, Kansas
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« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2007, 10:55:31 AM » |
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Stainless:
I graduated with a liberal arts degree from an engineering college. I may be the only guy you know that took "elective" courses like engineering physics, mathematical astronomy, math through diff. eq., etc.
Being "anal" was taught in a 200-level course at Tech.
I worked technical issues on antique airplanes for Boeing for over 25 years.... I thought I spotted some flaws in your BA. Most of the guys I worked with took Anal 200 through 600.
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Stainless MSA Lakester #1000 my fastest mile 245 and change, 84 ci turbobusa motor... but Corey's 233 MPH H/BFL record is still 3MPH faster than mine. Builder of Bike 278 1000cc APS-G, Kids Red Hat Record 208.959 (old PS rules) Other kids A-G record 179.172 Josh O record 182.266 Co-owner of the Amo Steele Streamliner, #1411... still sorting
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Speed Limit 1000
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« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2007, 11:13:55 AM » |
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[/quote] I worked technical issues on antique airplanes for Boeing for over 25 years.... I thought I spotted some flaws in your BA. Most of the guys I worked with took Anal 200 through 600. [/quote] SSS, Stainless is the king, he should really understand being anal.
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jgowetski red hat @ 221.183 MPH MSA Lakester, Bockscar #1000 60 ci normally aspirated w/N20
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tortoise
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« Reply #10 on: April 18, 2007, 11:14:58 AM » |
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Being "anal" was taught in a 200-level course at Tech.
I see you're still active in anus-related work.
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smitty2
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The girls.
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« Reply #11 on: April 18, 2007, 12:04:20 PM » |
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I showed my neighbor my BA, and they had me arrested.
Smitty
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Bloodhounds are some of the best people I know.
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JGMagoo
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« Reply #12 on: April 18, 2007, 12:38:02 PM » |
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VOLUNTEER WANTED!
Must be willing to climb into tight, enclosed cockpit also containing steam boilers generating 4 megawatts of power on a 100-degree day in the desert.
Apply to:
British Steam Car Challenge...... Jolly Olde, England
JGMagoo
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Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
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JackD
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« Reply #13 on: April 18, 2007, 06:14:17 PM » |
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Perhaps if they booked some time on a Dude Ranch in Colorado and further developed their Calf Roping skills they would have less trouble getting a driver. The Panatonic driver from Japan is probably available. Magoo may already have that lined up. 
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"I would rather lose going fast enough to win than win going slow enough to lose." "That horrible smell is dirty feet being held to the fire"
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John Nimphius
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« Reply #14 on: April 18, 2007, 06:49:34 PM » |
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Maybe the guy in small town house # 201 would be willing to drive. With not enough power left to keep him warm he may welcome the change.
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