2.5 Maintenance needs
The modern oil free steam engine power system will be similar to a heat pump and refrigeration system where the working fluid is well defined and operates in a closed loop. The steam engine proper is therefore expected to have a long life time without any maintenance needs. The primary energy input will be conversed to mechanical energy ( electricity ) and almost all of the rest 60 - 65 % will be rejected as heat in the condenser. The heat losses occurring in the steam generator rejected as exhaust gas is less than 5 % and at low temperature and no expensive exhaust gas system is involved which has to be replaced. In CHP applications where heat losses are utilised all heat losses are harnessed in the condenser. In order to collect and recover all heat losses from an ICE- engine several heat exchangers have to be used as for instances an exhaust gas heat exchanger , oil cooler, coolant water and intercooler. Further more , the condenser where the waste heat is collected operates with working fluids (condensing steam and water ) in closed loops which eliminate fouling problem. The only components involved in the SSSP which is expected to require maintenance is the burner and to some extent the steam generator.