Abstract
LONDON. Institution of Mechanical Engineers, September 30.—Mr. E. H. Carbutt, President, in the chair.—A supplementary paper by Major Thomas English, R.E., on the initial condensation in a steam cylinder, was read and discussed in connexion with the paper by the same author on the distribution of heat in a stationary steam-engine, read at the spring meeting on May 17, an abstract of which has already appeared in NATURE (vol. xxxvi. p. 115). The supplementary experiments were carried out in a portable engine of ordinary type, the cylinder of which was jacketed on the cylindrical portion but not at the ends. The steam was admitted directly from the boiler into the steam chest, and the quantity required for each experiment being small compared with the capacity of the boiler, no question of priming or condensation before admission can arise. The connecting-rod was disconnected, and the piston was rigidly blocked at the end of the stroke furthest from the crank, the interior of the cylinder surrounding the piston-rod being entirely filled up with wood and iron packing. The steam passage between the valve seat and the end of the cylinder next the crank was also solidly filled up; and the port itself was closed by a brass plate scraped down to the level of the valve seat. The port admitting steam to the end of the cylinder furthest from the crank was left open; and the crank shaft, eccentric, and valve were driven by another engine. The steam pressure in the boiler was maintained at a uniform amount, and the regulator was kept open during a trial. The steam was measured by connecting the exhaust port with a surface condenser and collecting the resulting water. The results of the experiments appeared to indicate that the net initial condensation, or excess of condensation, over re-evaporation by the clearance surface varies directly as the initial density, and inversely as the square root of the number of revolutions per unit of time. The paper was discussed, and was followed by one on irrigating machinery on the Pacific coast, by Mr. John Richards, which dealt very fully with the forms of pumps required for the various services to be performed. The discussion of this paper was adjourned.
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Societies and Academies . Nature 36, 551–552 (1887). https://doi.org/10.1038/036551b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/036551b0