Steam vs Air

[MrCrowley]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="tahoma,verdana,arial" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fullmetaljacket
[br]<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="tahoma,verdana,arial" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Anyone see the mythbusters episode with the steam cannon? Awesome gun, thought they didnt make it very well and probably spent hundreds on copper piping.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

The one they were trying to make used water added to a hot chamber that would turn to steam instantly and fire the projectile, but there was no way of getting it to work efficiently.

The solution they eventually went for is a boiler to generate pressure that is then released into the barrel through a valve, in the same way pneumatics work. In order to replicate this system, you´d have to make sure your components are well insulated and capable of taking the heat.

Given the power acheivable with conventional pneumatic cannons, I doubt it´s worth the bother.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I agree with you, but they still had to show the public that Da Vinci could not of built it at his time and certainly not at archimedies(sp?).
Pneumatic is really the way to go for high power and simplicity.

[rdx]

i know that Pneumatic is really the way to go for high power and simplicity:),but i like to test new things,like high pressure cloud,co2 capsule pistol,and this steam cannon

[Navigator7]

OIC....Going very small....Good idea.
Silver solder is the only way to secure the ends.....
My boiler pressure tested to 300 psi
Working pressure was 150 Psi.
1/2" copper tubes silver soldered
Rated at 10 Hp. 65' of 1/2 tubing.
Fired with diesel, kerosene or waste oil.
4" x 30' mud drums and a 10" x 30" steam drum:
<img src="http://www.gallupsconcretepumping.com/images/PhotoPorfolio/Fun.jpg">

EDIT: An after thought: Don't forget...if your cannon fails...it may become the projectile and depart rapidly from a pile of coals. Especially with steam...which is part of the beauty about steam...it expands when the pressure is reduced.