Mechanics of the Household: A Course of Study Devoted to Domestic Machinery and Household Mechanical AppliancesKeene, E. S. (Edward Spencer)
Science
Mechanics of the Household: A Course of Study Devoted to Domestic Machinery and Household Mechanical Appliances
Keene, E. S. (Edward Spencer)
Heating; Lighting; Plumbing
=Prevention of Frost.=--From the discussion of frost formation it is
evident that, the temperature of the dew-point being the determining
factor in its probable occurrence, any expedient that may be used
either to increase the humidity or to conserve the radiation of heat
would prevent a dangerous decline of temperature. Frost prevention is
practised in all fruit-growing regions and the method pursued depends
on the kind of vegetation to be protected.
In the protection of orchards the use of smudge pots are probably the
commonest means for preventing the loss of heat. The object is to
create a cloud of smoke over and about the orchard so that it forms a
protective covering which prevents the escape of the heat.
In the case of a light frost--that is, where the temperature falls only
a few degrees below the frost point--the plants in small gardens and
flower beds may be prevented from freezing by liberal sprinkling with
water. This is done to raise the humidity of the atmosphere surrounding
the vegetation. Most vegetation withstands the temperature at the
freezing point without particular injury, and the freezing of part of
the water liberates heat in sufficient quantity to prevent a further
decline of temperature. This heat liberated on the freezing of water is
described in physics as the heat of fusion and in changing part of the
water into ice sufficient heat is liberated to check the further fall
of temperature.
=Humidifying Apparatus.=--Opportunity for adding moisture, in the
desired quantity, to the air of the average dwelling is limited to the
evaporation of water in the heating plant, from vessels attached to the
radiators or that which goes on in the kitchen. Household humidifying
plants are within the range of possibility but there is not yet
sufficient demand for their use to make attractive their manufacture.
In the hot-air furnace a water reservoir is usually a part of the
chamber in which the air supply is heated. The water in the reservoir
is heated to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the temperature
of the furnace and vaporized both by heat and by the constantly
changing air.
In the use of a steam plant or hot-water heating plant the opportunity
of humidifying the air is very limited. One method is that of
suspending water tanks to the back of the radiators from which water
is vaporized. While this method is fairly efficient as a humidifier it
is inconvenient and therefore apt to be neglected. In houses heated by
stoves there are sometimes water urns attached to the top of the frame
which are intended for the evaporation of water but as a rule they are
not of sufficient size to be of appreciable value.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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