Yep, the Besler brothers figured out how to make it work way back in the early 1930s:
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges; When the Republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus
It would be interesting to see what could be done with this idea today. Given all of the advances in technology - carbon fiber, electronics, and other new technologies. How cool would it be to have an experimental aircraft that had a closed steam plant with heat for the boiler generated using electric heating elements? Depending on weight and efficiency it might be possible to run some sort of alternator/generator to replenish and store electricity in batteries. Of course there would be mechanical upkeep to take care of all of the moving parts and the batteries but the intervals for service shouldn't be any more frequent than conventional vehicles.
If a closed steam plant proved to be to large, heavy, or impractical for other reasons the range of the aircraft would be limited by the amount of water the aircraft could carry as fuel. As long as you'd be filling up with tap water there should be a substantial cost savings over conventional aviation fuels. Best of all, if it works for aircraft why not adapt it to other vehicles?
Anyone happen to be personal friends with Burt Rutan or Sir Richard Branson?
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges; When the Republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus
