Theoretical investigation and table-top models are necessary steps for practical systems. But if steam stays at those levels the reintroduction of steam will only remain an intellectual exercise.
1) Pritchard Power (Australia ) http://www.pritchardpower.com/ A firm founded by Ted Pritchard, the Australian steam car man I spoke of. 5hp home unit for heating and electricity generation with additional direct power take-off. Solid fuel, originally intended for Third World use (I say whole world use), but liquid fuel version will be offered. Unit could also be fitted into a small boat.
They hope to get prototypes running for this Autumn. As in the past, they are hampered by funding problems and are seeking investors.
2)http://www.enginion.com/de German firm, the same people as developed the eZee car steam unit I mentioned. An ultra high-tech system using a wankel steam engine with electronic control allowing either heating, power generation or both; the entire unit is about the size of a computer tower. The last I heard they'd got at least one prototypes working in their office. The site has been down for the last couple of months or so, which may be either good or bad news.
3) not steam, but currently on the market is Whispergen http://www.whispergen.com/. This uses a gas-burning Stirling hot-air engine with waste heat recuperation
Steam units unlike IC engines for portable electricity generators have the advantage of very quiet operation. For outdoor festivals or sailing ship's auxiliaries, this would be a godsend.
It should be realised that had the Doble brothers' technology been taken up in the Thirties, we would today have silent trucks, farm tractors and plant machinery.
All this and what I have described in my diary is much more than mere intellectual exercise, however development does take time and money. The point is there can be efficient practical steam units up and running very quickly to fill in the gap. This demands vision and political will - but now! John of Paris
