With the lubricant emulsified in the water, the problem comes at the steam generating device, be it a fired boiler or a solar boiler, the lubricant will plate out on the steam generating surface. Insulate the transfer surface and building up to the point of reducing flow. Time to steam generator failure will be inversely proportional to the temp of the steam and the flow. Any impurities will produce scale in steam generators, so the H2o needs to be pure, less than 3 micro MHOs. I would go with ceramic seals IMHO.
Bob Perkinson
-------------- Original message from "Lynn Hanover" <lehanover@gmail.com>: --------------
Steam engines use with contained (reused steam) use water based lubricants. No problem.
Lynn E. Hanover
Good point. I imagine you could use the ceramic apex seals, but their cost would make the whole thing more expensive than I would probably want to go. Do you think having the seals coated with a ceramic might work/stay on?
Grant
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