User:AdamReynold/ENES-100/Project Steam Engine

Week0 Preferences
Our group decided to make a steam engine for this project. Out of the three parts of a steam engine we have decided to make the piston cylinder part of the engine.

Week1 Narrative
We decided that the part of the steam engine we were going to make was the the piston cylinder. It was decided that we would all go home and research different designs of a steam engine and what it took to make one. I search Google for "Steam engine designs" and click on a link to Wikipedia "Components and accessories of steam engines" which told me that a steam engine consists of three main parts a boiler, a fly-wheel, and a motor-unit (Piston cylinder). Next i went to "the-nerds.org/steam-101.html" and found out that there are two main types of steam engines: a single acting piston and a double acting piston. A double acting piston is one that is designed for the piston to always have air pressure on it. this is achieved by switching the inlet and exhaust ports once the piston reaches either end of the piston cylinder.

Week2 Narrative
Our group decided

Week3 Narrative
The next step to do while the rest of the group was working on the 3D design of the steam engine was for me to make a physical representation of a double acting piston steam engine piston. It was decided to make the piston cylinder out of PVC because of its pressure rating and its price. It was decided to use a 20" length of 2" PVC pipe so there would be room for more error than there would on something smaller. Next a 20" piece of 1/2" PVC was cut to make the piston arm and to that was added a 1/2"x 1" bushing, a 1"x 1-1/4" bushing, and a 1-1/4" cap to make the piston head. Now wrap tape around the piston head until it just fits inside the 2" PVC pipe. Next, cut a 1/2" hole in the center of a 2" cap to the piston arm can just fit though it. Put the piston arm though the cap and connect it to the 2" pipe so that the piston head is inside of the Piston cylinder. Now put another 2" cap on the other side. The Piston Cylinder is now ready for the airports and to be connect to the pressure switching cylinder. The next step was to drill 2 1/4" holes on the 2" PVC cylinder 2-1/2" from each end of the cylinder for airports. The ports are positioned 2-1/2" from each side to avoid the piston head from bottoming out. Now that the holes are drilled screw in 2 1/4" male to male couplings into the holes and to them screw on 1" lengths of 1/2" CPVC pipe. Next, connect 2 3/4"x 1/2"x 3/4" CPVC T's to the 1/2" CPVC airports. Then measure to distance between the two T's and and cut a piece of 3/4" CPVC pipe to an longer than that. (So that the 3/4" pipe could fit inside of the T's. Than drill a 1/4" hole in the center of the 3/4" pipe so an air inlet valve could be connected.

Week4 Narrative
''Tell a detailed story describing what you did for your team over the first weekend. Link to any CDIO documents you are working on that need to be considered for project points. Compare your task with what you actually did.''