The Steam Engine Familiarly Explained and Illustrated: With an historical sketch of its invention and progressive improvement; its applications to navigation and railways; with plain axioms for railway speculatorsLardner, Dionysius
History
The Steam Engine Familiarly Explained and Illustrated: With an historical sketch of its invention and progressive improvement; its applications to navigation and railways; with plain axioms for railway speculators
Lardner, Dionysius
Steam-engines -- Early works to 1850
Thus far the mechanical agency employed in elevating the water is the
atmospheric pressure; and the power of steam is no further employed
than in the production of a vacuum. But, in order to continue the
elevation of the water through the force-pipe F, above the level of
the steam vessel, it will be necessary to use the elastic pressure of
the steam. The vessel V is now nearly filled by the water which has
been forced into it by the atmosphere. Let us suppose that, the
regulator being shifted again, the communication between the tube T
and the boiler is opened, the condensing cock removed, and that steam
flows into V. At first coming in contact with the cold surface of the
water and that of the vessel, it is condensed; but the vessel is soon
heated, and the water formed by the condensed steam collects in a
sheet or film on the surface of the water in V, so as to form a
surface as hot as boiling water.[9] The steam then being no longer
condensed, presses on the surface of the water with its elastic force;
and when that pressure becomes greater than the atmospheric pressure,
the valve B is forced open and the water, issuing through it, passes
through E into the force-pipe F; and this is continued until the steam
has forced all the water from V, and occupies its place.
[Footnote 9: Hot water being lighter than cold, it floats on the
surface.]
The further admission of steam through T is once more stopped by
moving the regulator; and the condensing pipe being again allowed to
play on V, so as to condense the steam which fills it, produces a
vacuum. Into this vacuum, as before, the atmospheric pressure on L
will force the water, and fill the vessel V. The condensing pipe being
then closed and steam admitted through T, the water in V will be
forced by its pressure through the valve B and tube E into F, and so
the process is continued.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account