Ted Pritchard’s steam technology has a fine heritage in the form of steam’s widespread application in producing energy for applications as diverse as mass power production and land speed records.


Mass Power Production
The Pritchard technology applies, on a small scale, the principles applied by major utilities in generating electric power for mass consumption.

Most electric power plants globally, whether utilising a nuclear reactor or fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas or coal, generate their power by transforming water into steam.

Water, which circulates through the boiler and absorbs the heat from the burning fossil fuel or the nuclear reactor, changes to steam.  Pressure of steam against the turbine blades spins the shaft.  The shaft turns the generator, which produces electricity.  Electricity then goes to a transformer, which raises the voltage for transmission.  Used steam, cooled by the condenser, is changed back into water for reuse in the boiler.

This process demonstrates that the electricity that powers lights, computers and appliances in our homes and work places would generally not be provided without steam.

Apart from scale, the main difference between the process described above and Ted Pritchard’s technology is the use of pistons (as in a petrol engine) rather than turbines.


Land Speed Record
Steam technologies have a proud record in setting automotive land speed records.  More details to follow.


Ted’s Own Experience with a Stanley Steam Car
Ted’s favourite story about a Stanley Steam Car involves the time he took four fellow-workers for a "joy-ride" in Melbourne, Australia. 

In Alexandra Avenue, next to the Yarra River, he accelerated quickly when the lights turned green at Chapel St.  A modern car with only the driver on board followed Ted’s progress around Como Park, up Williams Rd.  The other driver then drew along side Ted at the next set of red lights. 

When the lights turned green, the cars travelled together until the other driver changed gear, at which time the Stanley left him.  The other driver called out at the next set of lights for Ted to stop, as he wanted a closer look.  After stopping, Ted found that the other driver was a new car dealer, and that he was driving the latest Ford V8!

It should be noted that the Stanley engine, a conventional "simple" type, expanded the steam only 3 to 1.  On that basis, the efficiency was not high enough for modern conditions, and was significantly below modern Pritchard applications.

On another occasion, the editor of  the “Truck and Bus Transportation Journal” said of the 5 ton truck fitted with a Pritchard steam power unit, “The performance was really nippy.  As to be expected, take-up was very smooth.  [Acceleration] was reminiscent of aircraft power”.


Stationary Power: The S5000
In 2004 Ted Pritchard finalised the design of a new generation of single cylinder Pritchard steam engines.  The new engine has been designed with the intention of producing a small and light engine to be used for electricity production from solid fuel.

In early 2005, as the first step towards constructing three demonstration engines, the company commissioned 3D modelling of the detailed engineering drawings of the engine. These digital files will be used for several purposes including getting accurate costing of all parts to be manufactured, developing an animation of the finished engine, and to directly drive computerised cutting tools for the manufacture of some of the engine parts.

Multiple Fuels
The S5000 is nominally a 5kW biomass-fuelled engine primarily designed to drive an appropriately sized alternator via a pulley and belt.  The engine will have multi-fuel capability.  While the demonstration engines will be optimised to burn wood, wood chips or wood pellets derived from fuel crops, the project aims to develop a furnace and fuel feed hopper which will be able to cope with a wide range of solid fuels such as coconut husks, bagasse, sawdust, straw or whatever other suitable solid fuel is available.

The objective is to develop a robust and efficient engine that can be fuelled by anything available to deliver vital energy services in any situation.  Following shake down trials, fuel efficiency, power and emissions testing on solid fuels, it is intended to design components and systems that will allow the S5000 to be switched to liquid fuels when required.

Multiple Energy Services
The S5000 has the potential to deliver numerous energy services.  As well as driving an alternator to generate electricity the S5000 will also be able to provide process heat, sterilising steam, water desalination, hot water and direct belt drive mechanical power to drive any number of mechanical systems such as water pumps, sawmills, depending on requirements and system accessories coupled to the basic engine.

The process heat is supplied in the form of exhaust steam.  Steam has many advantages for process work.  These include the fact that, unlike the exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, steam is non-corrosive and non-toxic.

Scalable Power For Many Situations:
It is expected that the basic design could easily be scaled up to as much as 20kW and down to possibly 2 kW devices.

Some potential areas of application include small-scale electricity generation, direct mechanical power, water treatment and heating and cooling in:

‘Off-grid’ and ‘end-of-grid’ residential and farm applications in Australia and elsewhere;

A back-up generator where electricity supply is unreliable or the service is poor, or wherever small diesel or petrol generators are now in use;

Small factories or community facilities that require both electricity and heat such as food processing, laundry operations, health facilities, tourist facilities; and

Small enterprises that require mechanical shaft power such as mills, pumping stations or joineries.

Economic Multiplier
As purely an electricity generator, the S5000 would be suitable for all applications, in both developed and developing economies, that now use small diesel or petrol fuelled generators up to 10 kW. 

In less developed nations where liquid fuel imports consume a large proportion of foreign reserves the S5000 could provide considerable economic relief to communities that can benefit from electricity and other energy services the technology can provide, without having to earn or part with cash to purchase liquid fuels.

Additionally the S5000 or larger output engines create economic opportunities for the development of local markets in providing sustainably harvested solid fuels.  While PPA is aware that pressure on local biomass resources is a considerable environmental issue in some areas of some developing economies, we believe the potential net benefits in terms of local self-sufficiency in power generation can outweigh some local problems created by excessive demand for fuels.

In addition to developing economies, there is a strong and growing market for renewable and hybrid energy systems in developed nations in a wide range of applications.