Hero Steam Turbine

'Aeolipile' steam turbine

This steam turbine is based on the device described Hero of Alexander around 2000 years ago but with some modern improvements. In operation the hollow ball is filled with water and the water is boiled by the burner underneath. Steam is produced and is forced out of two angled nozzles situated on the equator of the ball. This jet action forces the ball to rotate a high speeds, from 2500 rpm up to 4500 rpm.

21st century improvements

The original Hero turbine rotated on a horizontal axis and spat water out of the nozzles. This Hero turbine spins on a vertical axis which mitigates water spitting, but to prevent it almost completely there is an internal baffle which keeps the boiling water away from the nozzles as the turbine spins. The boiler ball is constructed of two hemishpheres screwed tightly together, the baffle takes the form of an extension of the bottom hemisphere that extends up inside the top hemisphere. See the images above for a cutaway drawing of the boiler ball and baffle.

Operation

To operate the turbine you need to remove the safety valve at the very top of the turbine and syringe in about 12ml of very hot water using the supplied syringe and refit the safety valve. Then fill the burner with methylated and light, after a few minutes the turbine will start to rotate, slowly at first and increasing steadily up to 2500 rpm to 4500 rpm until the fuel runs out or all the water boils away.

Main features:

• Internal baffle to prevent spitting
• Safety valve
• Retro styling

Materials

• Stainless steel ball-race bearings
• Brass boiler ball
• Anodised aluminium base and support legs
• Brass burner

Dimensions

• Base - 150mm wide, 113mm high (5.9" x 4.4")
• Boiler ball - 43mm diameter, (1.69")
• Overall height - 130mm (5.11")

Assembled

The turbine is despatched fully assembled and ready to go.

Instructions

Click the image below for operation and maintenance instructions for this turbine.