Automotive

U.S. team to attempt land speed record for steam-powered vehicles

U.S. team to attempt land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
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The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
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The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
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The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
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The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
4/5
The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
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The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
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Steam-engined vehicles are quaint, retro and obsolete ... right? Well, maybe not. The current land speed record for a steam-powered vehicle currently sits at 148 mph (238 km/h), set by the British car Inspiration team in 2009. Now, Chuk Williams’ U.S. Land Steam Record (USLSR) Team is hoping to steal that title in its LSR Streamliner, powered by a heat-regenerative external combustion Cyclone engine – an engine that could someday find common use in production automobiles.

The Cyclone is heralded as being able to run on any fuel – including biofuel – while producing far fewer emissions than internal combustion engines. A full explanation of how it works is available on the company website, but the basic process goes as follows: a fuel-air mixture is ignited to heat coils filled with water, creating super-heated steam which is used to push the pistons down in sequence, thus turning the crankshaft. The “used” steam condenses into water which is then pumped back into the coils (it’s a closed system), while the hot air released with the steam goes to a heat exchanger, where it preheats air headed for the combustion chamber, and cools the exhaust fumes.

The engine used in the LSR Streamliner will be a stock 6-cylinder Cyclone Mark V automotive engine, intended for use in regular cars. It is said to be capable of producing 100 HP with a maximum starting torque of 850 ft/lbs, and should hopefully propel the car to over 160 mph (257.5 kph). However, as the record breaking attempt will only require a run of a few minutes meaning the water won't need to be reused, the engine won't have a full condensing unit.

The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles
The LSR Streamliner, once complete, will be used in an attempt on the land speed record for steam-powered vehicles

“Our calculations show that we can break this record with our stock automotive engine,” said Cyclone founder and USLSR team member Harry Schoell. “We considered modifying the engine and combustion chamber to increase power output and speed, which we may do in the future. But for right now, we think it’s important to demonstrate the power, clean emissions and multi-fuel qualities of a Cyclone engine as you may possibly see it one day in an American made Ford or Chevy.”

The fiberglass body of the Streamliner is still under construction, although it is planned to be 21 feet (6.4 meters) in length, weigh 1,600 pounds (726 kg), and have a sub-.2 coefficient of drag.

The USLSR team hope to break the record at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, possibly as early as this August.

Photos courtesy USLSR

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5 comments
5 comments
Facebook User
They could extend the run or increase power possibly by using a hydrogen generator with the burner. We have seen extensions of mileage with LPG...
Robert Fox
I once read, a long time ago, that early steam powered cars could never go as fast as the engine would allow, because they tended to self destruct from the high speed. Of course, auto technologies have improved considerably.
Adrian Akau
I wish a small steam turbine system could be developed for home power generation use with wood, wood chips, natural gas or any other burnable material.
Gary Peters
I like the hydrogen suggestion.
Tjoe
I wonder how many stages are involved. For example one can have a single high pressure cylinder followed by 2 intermediate stages and then 3 low pressure stages. I\'d be fun to use a ford 300 six to try.