I'm looking for a substance that boils at room temperature

[Pisica]

TL;DR

Organic steam engine

I want to make an organic steam engine. As a test, demonstrative

And from what I've read to find a method to recover the steam and turn it back into liquid.

I am looking for a substance that has a boiling point closer to room temperature.

Possibly, it would be good to be able to adjust the boiling temperature by adjusting the pressure in the chamber.

That would allow me to use a plastic piston cylinder.

 

[renormalize]

I am looking for a substance that has a boiling point closer to room temperature.

Here's a fairly comprehensive list of the boiling points at 1 atmosphere of liquids of varying toxicity and flammability: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/boiling-points-fluids-gases-d_155.html
For example, R-11 CFC refrigerant (long banned due to its affect on the ozone layer but still available in reclaimed form) boils at 23.8°C.

 

[russ_watters]

You could use low pressure steam - it can boil at room temp.

 

[AlexB23]

You could use low pressure steam - it can boil at room temp.

I was thinking the same thing, though he might need a vacuum pump and a container to hold the contraption in.

 

[AlexB23]

Here's a fairly comprehensive list of the boiling points at 1 atmosphere of liquids of varying toxicity and flammability: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/boiling-points-fluids-gases-d_155.html
For example, R-11 CFC refrigerant (long banned due to its affect on the ozone layer but still available in reclaimed form) boils at 23.8°C.

Are you okay with boiling flammable materials? Isopentane C5H12 could work. It boils at 28°C.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iso....,formula C5H12, the others being pentane (n-

 

[smplcrtrs]

1-Chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene may be an option. The cis (E) isomer boils at 19.5°C, while the trans (Z) isomer boils at 39.6°C. It is a halogenated hydrocarbon, so there is some ozone-depleting risk with this substance, but the Z isomer has a very low risk from that point of view. It is non-toxic and non-flammable.

An alternative would be methyl formate, which boils at 32°C and has a high vapour pressure. The downside is that it is an irritant, and flammable.

If you want to REALLY live on the edge, hydrogen cyanide boils at 25.6°C, but I'd advise against it.

 

[AlexB23]

Guys, maybe we are looking at this wrong. What if instead of finding a low boiling point liquid to prevent the plastic from melting, we find a high melting point plastic, so the steam engine can work with boiling ethanol (78C) or boiling water (100C)?

 

[snorkack]

Note that plastics may be swollen by solvents. Low boiling flammable simple solvents are easily found, like diethyl ether, pentane, isopentane, neopentane - but many plastics do not withstand these and dissolve or at least swell, get sticky and jam.

 

[Pisica]

I want a steam engine with the highest possible efficiency.

For now I want to reduce friction.
Should I choose a piston or turbine engine?

I want the following variants on a smaller scale so as not to be dangerous with the gas used.

Piston version:

But P=F/S And I think a piston with a larger surface is important.

Variant with turbine:


But on a much smaller scale.

 

[russ_watters]

What is your ultimate goal or design requirements here? If you've never built a steam engine before and just want to prove you can, then simplicity would be the key constraint. Maybe even buy/build a kit.

Also, safety is paramount, so be mindful that we won't let this discussion go far down a dangerous path.

 

[Pisica]

The boiling temperature list is impressive!
Are you saying they can be found easily?
I think that one of those substances was used in medicine. We avoid that substance.

Many substances catch fire easily.
Although if they are in a tube where there is no air, theoretically they cannot burn.

Even so, protective measures must be taken:
- The experimental device should be small enough not to constitute a danger
- Safety glasses, gloves, open windows, well-ventilated space,

 

[Pisica]

"What is your ultimate goal or design requirements"
I want to build a small current generator that can be operated outdoors with 5V 3A, but also very efficient.
This generator uses the flame from a Zippo lighter.

Or phone charger in case of emergency.
Stirling engine kits available on the market do not have this power.

I read about a gamma Stirling engine with 40% efficiency, but it's just a dream, I've never seen it.

 

[Pisica]

I also have a part related to the fantasy of dreaming.
A kind of sci-fi,
Alternative energy:

The air temperature on a spring day rises from 5 to 20 degrees Celsius.

If a substance boils at 15 degrees C for example,
Then it becomes a liquid at night and a gas during the day.

And energy can be obtained from this transformation.

 

[berkeman]

And energy can be obtained from this transformation.

Where does that energy come from? The temperature difference over time?

 

[Pisica]

Where does that energy come from? The temperature difference over time?

yes

It's just an idea. It can be useful or useless.
When it reaches the boiling temperature, it should absorb a lot of heat from the environment.

A small practical experiment will show us if it is useful or not.

 

[OmCheeto]

yes

It's just an idea. It can be useful or useless.
When it reaches the boiling temperature, it should absorb a lot of heat from the environment.

A small practical experiment will show us if it is useful or not.

Have you decided how much you are willing to spend on the project? The cheapest transparent steam engine I can find online is ≈$1500. [ref]

I still love this idea though. I can think of at least one example of a product that runs on such technology.

 

[snorkack]

1-Chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene may be an option. The cis (E) isomer boils at 19.5°C, while the trans (Z) isomer boils at 39.6°C. It is a halogenated hydrocarbon, so there is some ozone-depleting risk with this substance,

Does not follow.
Ozone decomposition is catalysed by Cl and Br only. As long as you have only C, H and F, it has no effect on ozone. IIRC I neither.

 

[russ_watters]

Have you decided how much you are willing to spend on the project? The cheapest transparent steam engine I can find online is ≈$1500. [ref]

I still love this idea though. I can think of at least one example of a product that runs on such technology.

They're on Amazon starting at around $100.

 

[Pisica]

They're on Amazon starting at around $100.

They built diy NASA Stirling out of a soda can

 

[Pisica]

For example, R-11 CFC refrigerant (long banned due to its affect on the ozone layer but still available in reclaimed form) boils at 23.8°C.

I couldn't find R11 to buy.


Many sprays are sold for refilling the air conditioning system for the car.
But still a freon that boils at about -10 degrees C.
R600A R134A, isobutan

 

[snorkack]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gases
Ordered by boiling point. Not all entries are reliable, and not all are stable.

 

[desertshaman]

TL;DR Summary: Organic steam engine

I want to make an organic steam engine. As a test, demonstrative

And from what I've read to find a method to recover the steam and turn it back into liquid.

I am looking for a substance that has a boiling point closer to room temperature.

Possibly, it would be good to be able to adjust the boiling temperature by adjusting the pressure in the chamber.

That would allow me to use a plastic piston cylinder.

I think that if very little energy is required to change the working liquid into a gas, then very little energy can be extracted from the energy differences between the gas and the liquid.
So, if room temperature is the temperature of the gas, you might need a refrigerated ambient environment, from which you could warm your liquid :)

 

[snorkack]

I think that if very little energy is required to change the working liquid into a gas,

Just because the temperature difference between ambient and the boiling point is small does not mean that the latent heat of boiling is small.

then very little energy can be extracted from the energy differences between the gas and the liquid.
So, if room temperature is the temperature of the gas, you might need a refrigerated ambient environment, from which you could warm your liquid :)

Or the ambient environment which, in distinction to the room, is not heated and therefore not at room temperature.

 

[Pisica]

I want to make a clarification:


I have not built, I will not build and I do not recommend anyone to do what they see in the video!!!!!

What we see in the video with good and bad was just to discuss them!!!!!

When I say I want to do something similar, I mean similar, i.e. a steam engine but harmless like in these educational kits:

I'm not advertising, I'm just clarifying what I mean.
With such an educational kit I want to educate myself.
https://www.ministeam.com/products/wilesco-d9

Again, I'm not referring to this exact kit, because I'm not advertising. I mean things like this.