Bob Bourque - New Steam Engine

Chapter	Title
1	Background
2	Motivations For This Engine
3	Requirements and Constraints
4	Progress
5	Prototype Development
6	Description of the Bourque Cycle
7	Features of the Cycle
8	The Complexity Issue
9	Fuel Requirements
10	First Example Engine in a Vehicle
11	Description of the Expander
12	Expander Hot Cylinder Lubrication
13	Expander Piston Structural Analysis
14	Two More Engine and Vehicle Examples
15	Other Engine Components
16	Materials
17	Safety
18	Water Freezing
19	Control System
20	Starting Time
21	Summary
	Acknowledgments
	Some Unit Conversions
	Notes and References

A Compact Pollution-Free
External Combustion Engine
with High Part-Load Efficiency

17. Safety

A steam engine is in fact a collection of pressure vessels. Therefore, as discussed above, the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes have been used to maximize safety. In addition, safety is enhanced in this engine by the following:

High pressure is confined to small volumes, an advantage of the low expansion ratios per stage.

Steam inventory is minimized so that the volume to which all the steam would expand if vented to atmosphere does not exceed the void volume in the engine compartment.

Thermal insulation and baffles block lines-of-sight to the pressurized components.

The Bourque Steam Engine

A Compact Pollution-Free External Combustion Engine with High Part-Load Efficiency

A Compact Pollution-Free
External Combustion Engine
with High Part-Load Efficiency