Most efficient "microwave" Steam Engine? Over-Unity??!?

Question

This claimed invention sounds like it might work and I would like some educated opinions.The device is an engine in which small quantitites of water are turned into steam by the use of a magnetron.The following is an outline of how to construct the device.1.Magnetron from medium power microwave oven.2.SmallSmall 4-stroke single cylinder lawn mover engine or similar engine with old style points and ignition system.3. Automotive alternator with built-in rectifier and regulator,also a 12 volt auto battery.4."Trigger" mechanism from an aircraft"strobe" landing light.The magnetron fits into the spark plug hole.The distributor points are modified so that the contact is closed when the piston is at the top dead center and this contact is used to activate the aircraft strobe mechanism.The high voltage from the strobe is connected to directly fire the magnetron which in turn produces steam which moves the piston.I dont have room to fit any more details.Write me if interested in chat h2o4go@yahu

Answer 1

It would take a serious amount of Microwave energy to convert even a gram of water into steam; i.e. 222.6 Joules at a constant 100 degrees centigrade. The effects of cooling as a function metallic conduction of the cylinder/ cylinder head etc. of the conventional engine would cause issues. Also there would be a need to handle the condensate from the spent steam and allow for recycling. Conventional steam wouldn't provide enough power a retro-fitted internal combustion engine to provide the necessary hp for useful mechanical work regardless of it's function. Put a cup of water in a 600 watt microwave and see how long it takes to boil a cup of water and the amount of continual energy input it would take for continual boiling. I can't imagine a microwave klystron/magnetron that provides sufficient input energy to vaporize water that fits into a "spark plug" hole, and would provide the level of high-pressure vaporization of water to facilitate useful mechanical output. Your idea fascinate's me, but it has some serious engineering problems utilizing conventional retro-fit internal combustion engine's and materials. I think if the steam were heated using a magnetron or a thermal laser at a central point, creating high-pressure steam that was then sent, and metered to the cylinders, then we'd have something that worked, but a turbine-generator design would be better suited for such an enterprise with an appropriate transmission that used braking energy in the feedback loop for motor-generator purposes. The so-called steam car would be an electric vehicle. The base source for energy to this system could be ?, anything other than oil.
Now if we could get water to burn then we'd be cooking... ;-)
Setting humor aside then the answer could be batteries such as fuel cells etc. that would run the steam generation function to drive the turbine. Of course fuel cells could be used to drive motor-generators; i.e. the wheels directly. Creating high pressure steam, and driving a turbine with various electrical feedback loops from the turbine and braking system to the battery array would allow for a smoother power transmission function and road performance and electrical feedback loops for battery conservation/regeneration.

Answer 2

Most Efficient Microwave

Answer 3

Given the current price per barrel of oil, the Oil Sands of Canada comes to mind. They are currently using Steam to extract the oil from the sand, but the generation of steam is not efficient at this time given the present technology.

Answer 4

I can't tell from your description what that device will do exactly, but it won't have an efficiency over unity. That would violate the second law of thermodynamics, which is much more well established than you are. If you don't believe me, go build it. If it produces more energy than it consumes, you'll get a Nobel prize.

Answer 5

Yaholes and trolls are taking the steam out my engine, I am about done with this place, I have trouble answering and asking anymore because of all the violations my friends and I are getting for no good reason and I AM READY TO CALL IT QUITS!!

Answer 6

converting water to steam with microwaves is probably the most efficient way possible, however because of the energy loss inherent in the exhaust of the hot steam, this system probably still is not going to be very efficient.