Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The superheater piping is open back into the boiler as well, such that it will also increase the pressure there while drying out the steam in the line. It will also evaporate any condensate that is forming within that portion of the steam line. But the real reason I am suggesting putting a helix into the flue, is to slow down the passage of the heated air from the burner and allow more time for it to heat the flue walls and transfer more of its energy into the boiler to create more steam. Just figured if such a helix is to be made, why not make it with a double loop of the steam line to increase temp and energy to help it pass as a gas all the way to the engine through all those uninsulated steam pipes. Doing so would also add thermal mass within the flue, again increasing the retained heat from the burner that otherwise goes unimpeded, up the stack.

Note: I have recommended to Travis on several prior occasions, that he insulate his steam lines as the best way to improve efficiency, but he seems quite resistant to the idea, preferring to see the gleam of brass piping I suppose. Seeing as these steam plants spend far more time on static display than in operation, perhaps I can understand the visual appeal being somewhat greater than the engineering logic.

Regarding the problem of the gas tank getting cold and losing pressure...I wonder if a person could route the exhaust steam through a pipe wrapped around the gas tank a few times and extract some of the otherwise lost heat and put it to use?  Like a heating tape wrapped around a water pipe?

Certainly, it's been done!