Re: electricity with a turbine

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "davep by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <davep-at-quik-dot-com>


> So I'm at this fine tractor pull/ antique engine

> festival in Maine.

	Raitt Farm?
	Rockport?

> I was  really turned on by this working model steam turbine

> this one guy had made.

	There is a HUGE amount of PRECISION work to
	a good running turbine.  And sufficient steam to
	power it is Very Risky.

> I have been toying with the idea of making my own

> electricity for a coil for a long time

	It takes a HUGE amount of power to run a coil.
	Find a model engineer and find out how much
	power that turbine made.  (hint:
	I know a bit of this field.  Enough to power
	anything more than a Really Micro coil is
	impractical.)  Decide how much coil,
	THEN size the effort of building a turbine.
	And a boiler.

> and I thought the turbine was something I could do.

	I'd suggest looking inside.  Its NOT trivial.

> I'm looking at winding my own HV transformer

	That is simple, by comparison.

> and powering it with my own steam turbine.

	How big a coil?
	What was the power output of that model turbine?
	(I'll bet a cookie that it was 1/10 HP,
	if that...)


> I really want to make a super high voltage transformer

> 50kv? 75kv? 100kv?

	Learning to handle that kind of voltage can be
	an extended effort.  50-100KV is massive
	overkill for most purposes, and harder to
	handle than 10KV.  10KV will make a lovely
	arc/jacobs ladder.


> not for TC use mind you, just a Jacobs ladder or other

> similar thing.

	cf above.

> I'd power it with juice made with the turbine.

	How powerful will the turbine be?


> I'm thinking that the more steam I give the turbine the

> faster it goes

	Within limits.  If it goes TOO fast it comes apart.

> and the more current I can get out of it

	The current comes from the alternator or generator,
	attached to the turbine.  How much comes out at
	what speed depends on a lot of design details.

> and there for I can make bigger sparks on the Jacobs ladder.

	Bigger or longer?
	Length starts with voltage, tho current can
	stretch them, one started.


> 1. Where can I learn about transformer construction?

	Here.  Various books.  Lindsay Publications
	has lots of reprints.  Most transformers are
	bought or 'found' rather than built.

> 2. if I can only get 100 volts generated from the turbine

	The turbine spins a shaft.  Needs an alternator
	or generator to make volts/amps/watts.

> what is involved in stepping it up to 50k? or 100kv

	Transformer, if AC, inverter if DC.  AC is mostly
	easier...

> how high could one go?

	to rephrase an old rule:
	'Volts cost money.  How high do you want to go?'


> 3. how much will current govern spark lengths?

	Initial striking is mostly voltage.  For a 'spark
	stretcher', as a Jacobs Ladder, current helps.

> 4. if the "in" voltage to the transformer is turned down,

> then the transformer would step up the voltage not to 50kv

> but say 15kv, something good for my TC.

	Yep.  Makes a decent Jacobs Ladder also.  Better with
	high currents.  (I have seen 11kvac pull 15".  That was
	with 100 or so amps available...)

> And then I would just have to feed the transformer more 
> current till it is where I want it for the TC.
	Suggest finding some basic electricity courses...


> I'm a man with a plan. The way I look at it ambition isn't a

> bad thing.

	Indeed.  Understanding helps with a realizable,
	achievable, and _safe_ plan.

-- 
	best
	dwp

...the net of a million lies...
	Vernor Vinge
There are Many Web Sites which Say Many Things.
	-me