"I find also that about 200 surface feet of steam-engine cylinder-case
will condense about as much steam as will produce 15 gallons of water
per hour, and will consume about 4 bushels in twenty-four hours to
keep the temperature of 212 degrees. One bushel of coal will raise
the temperature of 3600 lbs. of water from 40 to 212 degrees.
"A boiler, as the drawing, will contain 1200 lbs. of water, and
consume one-third of a bushel of coal to raise the water from 40 to
212 degrees. It has 40 surface feet of hot sides giving out its heat.
The 12-inch fire-tube in the boiler would raise the temperature to
212 degrees in about forty minutes. By these proofs it appears that
50 feet of surface steam sides will require 1 bushel of coal every
twenty-four hours to keep up the boiling heat; therefore this boiler,
having 40 surface feet, would give out the heat from one-third of a
bushel of coal in twelve hours.
"Now suppose this charge of heat required to be thrown off in either
more or less than twelve hours, the circular curtain would adjust the
heat and time for extracting it.
[Illustration: HOT-WATER ROOM-WARMER.]
"By the foregoing this coal and surface sides would heat to 60 degrees
for twelve hours a space of 6800 cubic feet, equal to a room of 25
feet square and 11 feet high. If this boiler was placed in a room
with a chimney, its water could be heated by having a small shifting
wrought-iron chimney-tube of 4 inches diameter and 2 or 3 feet long
attached to the end of the boiler while it was getting up steam, after
which it might be removed, and the doors at both ends of the boiler
closed; and as the boiler contains and retains its heat for twelve
hours, more or less, it might be run on its wheels to any fire-place
or chimney to get charged with heat, and then run into any room, where
there was no chimney, or into bed-rooms, offices, or public buildings;
it would be free from risk, not having either steam or loose fire.
The circular curtain, being fast to a wood table, would by being
drawn up or down adjust the required heat and hide the boiler, and
would be warm and comfortable to sit at. I think this plan would save
three-quarters of the coal at present consumed; the expense of the
boiler will not exceed 5l. When you have taken it into consideration,
please to write me your opinion.
"I remain, Sir,
"Your very humble servant,
"RD. TREVITHICK.
"P.S.--Boiler, 3 feet diameter, 3 feet long; fire-tube, 12 inches
diameter, placed in the boiler, the same as my old boilers, made of
iron plates 1/8th of an inch thick, weighing about 2 cwt.
"I had a summons to attend at Guildhall last Saturday on the coal
trade, and was requested to attend a committee at Westminster for the
same purpose, in consequence of my applying small engines to discharge
ships.
"I attended, but with difficulty, from my ill-health."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account