Ideally if you wanna go steam the best way to do it is with a free power generator and electric motors.
I'm getting back into backyard casting and I want it to be off the grid. I first thought about piston steam (cause it sounds cool), but realistically turbine steam power is what ships and power plants use because its efficient.
Its not really hard just get an impeller from an old turbo, and route your steam to it. Gear the output down to alternator speeds (6000 rpms) and drive either a series of alternators (like a junkyard rat) or one large power generator. Gather up the electrical charge till you get 150 volts DC (I wanna say thats what the prius bank is), and hit those electric motors with the juice.
Then you can burn whatever carbon you want for fuel. Gasoline, coal, used motor oil, new motor oil, light bunker oil,,,,, hippies.
