Hydro Differential pressure exchange over unity system.

[neptune]

Glycerine is a good idea. Second thought . A denser liquid would give greater buoyancy , but this would be offset by slower movement .

[mondrasek]

I think it scales better for a model though.  A less dense fluid would cause a faster action, but in a model you want it to move slower so you can witness everything.  I think it might actually make a model act more like an actual small scale replica of a larger unit.  Not sure of course.

M.

[neptune]

OK.At this stage we need to make a sort of mental "Block diagram" of what is required to build this model . Here are my initial thoughts.
1 A tank of water.
2 A "block" of 3 concentric cylinders . Need not be transparent in the mark 1 model , use empty food cans.
3 Some kind of frame or lever system to allow[2] to rise and fall a fixed amount without falling over .
4 a flexible tube to connect [2]  to [5]
5 A pump to force water or air as required into [2]. This could consist of a large vertical hyperdermic syringe .
  By pushing it down with a weight , we can measure input energy [weight x distance it falls. ]


By causing [2] to raise a weight, we can measure output energy. [weight x distance it rises.]

  Until and unless we can, by the above methods, show that output exceeds input, it would be futile to proceed further in our attempts to build a self runner .


Anyone agree, disgree? Comments? Total cost thus far less than 10 dollars?

[mondrasek]

I think you are missing the fact that each cylinder is separated from the next by a ring that is attached to the bottom of the "tank".  We must create three "rings of water" into which the three cylinders fit.  The outside ring could be a tank as you suggest, but I think another cylindrical shape best represents the concept.  This is because to change the entire head pressure means you must change the fluid level in the outermost "ring."  So having a tank means more fluid to move to raise or lower the head and therefor less efficiency.  You want to minimize the amount of fluid in each ring, without making the gap between the ring and cylinder so small that Reynolds drag impedes the exchange of the fluid.

So for three cylinders, and three "rings", you need a minimum of 6 nesting cylinders that have enough clearance to allow for an adequate amount of fluid to exist that can be exchanged easily (at least on the outside chamber).  This is where I thought trying to make one out of acrylic would get expensive...

M.

[TinselKoala]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNOXFiJ4IDU