Gas engines are in most cases mounted on a metal bed-plate, and for
small engines the weight of the machine is very often sufficient to
keep it in place; it is more satisfactory, however, to bolt it firmly
down to a bed of concrete or stone. Plenty of room must be allowed
round about to enable cleaning and repairs to be executed; space is
also necessary for turning the fly-wheel round if no self-starting
mechanism is provided.
Above two or three horse-power water must be used for cooling
the cylinder, mere cooling by air circulation being insufficient
for carrying off the waste heat except in very small motors. It
occasionally happens that water is laid on, which can be used for the
water jacket, the heated water being simply allowed to run to waste.
Unless the water is exceedingly cheap this arrangement is far too
expensive, and it becomes necessary to erect a separate circulating
system, in which the water is used over and over again. Makers provide
for this purpose galvanized iron tanks, which are connected by two
pipes to the water jacket. The tank being filled with water, and the
engines started, circulation takes place in a manner similar to the
ordinary household hot-water systems. The lower opening of the water
jacket is connected to the lower pipe from the tank, and the second
pipe, starting from a point near the top of the tank, is connected to
the upper opening of the cooling jacket. The difference of density
between hot and cold water causes the former to rise and flow back to
the reservoir along the upper pipe, and cold water rushes in to take
its place.
About 400 to 500 litres of cold water are required per horse-power, but
it largely depends on the rate at which the tank cools; in some cases
only 200 litres being found quite sufficient. The temperature of the
water leaving the jacket should be about 60° C. It is more economical
to let it rise to 80° C., but in this case very good lubricating oil is
required for the cylinder. A tap in the lower pipe, and a thermometer
placed against the upper one, will enable the attendant to adjust this
temperature.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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