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Max,
The use is possibly interesting if you understand it. These and many other engines and turbines were used for a very simple reason: It is cheaper to make high pressure steam than low. This is a curious aspect of steam, the transition for liquid to gas take fewer BTUs per pound as pressure increases. So- why not make high pressure steam and then let the pressure down before you send it off to heat buildings? - Good Idea - If you try to simply reduct the pressure you end up with velocity problems. But, if you use the steam in something and then exhaust it at the desired presure and temperature, you just got the steam qaulity you wanted and some mechanical work done for the price of the steam. The reason engines like this were contracted well into the 20th century is also simple: Turbines Want Superheated Steam. Superheat is when something is heated to greater than the saturated temperature at that pressure (15psi heated to 250F 212). This requires an extras part in the boiler (steam generator) called a superheater (-duh) and makes the operation of the plant much more critical. Reciprocating engines find little value in superheat. If the engine runs a generator (like this one did) it can offset the elecric load required for any large facility. One place I worked years ago had two of these side by side. Was very much like the pictured unit. The other had a directly conected air compressor. Matt Colie - Again Maxprop wrote: This is strictly out of my bailiwick, Scott, but I am very curious--what are such engines used for? What sort of installations? And where in the Hoosier State did it go? Max |
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