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

Just came across a great deal, across the street from a nuclear power plant- a miniature power plant! Has a roughly 8" by 12" propane fired aluminum boiler, single stage turbine and generator, and a large cooling tower that looks like it's full size neighbors! It was donated to a local school, and after some time they went to toss it, and one of the contractors installing sprinkler systems was lucky enough to grab it! I intend to mount it all in a more compact assembly, and remove all the pesky data collection systems from it. (DAC doesnt work, not worth replacing) I have a lot of work ahead of me getting the burner working again, as there were no less than 5 safeties that could all turn it off when certain conditions were met. I guess that is a good thing considering kids would be around it. I also need to hydro the boiler, as I trust aluminum like I trust a gun to not be loaded before checking. Who knows what life it has had, or if Distilled water was ever used. Now I need to find a large small engine that will use some big quantities of steam! I love turbines, but piston is unmatched in coolness haha

OH WOW!

That is such a unique piece, I would definitely think twice before reconfiguring it in any way!?!?

You could always simply "T"-off a separate line with shutoff or otherwise rig it to be able to run a piston engine off of the boiler when you want to but still retaining the original configuration.

Congratulations on an absolutely amazing acquisition!

I would love to keep it as is, but that stand takes up more floor space than I have in my main bathroom haha! I guess the first step is just to test the boiler and turbine to see if they are even worth putting effort into, I fear what water does to a machine here in southern wisconsin winters!

Yep .... unfortunately, I do "get" that, just a little too well!

You have acquired a wonderful piece of hardware!

I would also leave it configured as is.

Your household water supply might have enough pressure to leak test it.

As for not fitting in your bathroom, I would keep it elsewhere and run it outside or in the kitchen.

Gave my pump a rebuild and sand blasting. Was from a pile of parts I got off eBay years ago. Larger boiler feed pump, but it builds (or built previously haha) decent pressure. I will actually build this into the layout for this boiler, as the scale is nicely matched. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]