Power of Beam Engines· Page 3 · AditNow Community

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

I cant get this quote to work for some reason.

I was going to quote Mr Spitfires last but one.

If the condenser isn't really doing anything, then why did those marvellous engineers of the Victorian age incorporate one into their engines?

My avatar is a poor likeness.

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#42

The cylinders are double acting and working in conjunction with each other on the same crank axle on a 2 cylinder loco or on say a 4 or 3 cylinder locomotive on 2 axles. The valve gears typically employed were key to efficiency in getting steam in and out the cylinders at high speed, clean controlled manner.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#43

"royfellows" wrote:
I know nothing about steam locos, so please advise. I understand that there is a cylinder each side of the loco.
Are they acting together or alternately?

They can be 2,3 or 4 cylinder, 2 cylinder tend to have the crankpins at 90 degrees for dead centre starting purposes.

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#44

I cant get this quote to work for some reason.

I was going to quote Mr Spitfires last but one.

If the condenser isn't really doing anything, then why did those marvellous engineers of the Victorian age incorporate one into their engines?

My avatar is a poor likeness.

spitfire
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#45

Two and four cylinder engines are set at 90 degrees 3cylinder at 120 and six cylinder at 60

spitfire

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#46

"royfellows" wrote:

If the condenser isn't really doing anything, then why did those marvellous engineers of the Victorian age incorporate one into their engines?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnot_cycle .

The bottom line is if you have steam acting on a piston at say 20 PSI above atmospheric pressure you can increase that effective pressure by up tp 14.7 PSI if you have a vacuum under the piston = more power!

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#47

Gentlemen, I have enjoyed your company and the lively discussion, but I am now shutting down for the evening.

EDIT
Final thought before I shut down. We are never all going to agree on this one.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

spitfire
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#48

Before I go I ought to tell you I have owned and worked with steam engines for over fifty years

spitfire

mikebee62
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#49

I have just uploaded a document refering to the sale of plant at Grenville United mines which I think you will all find interesting especially the price!!

'Of cause its safe, just dont touch anything !!'

mappakernwick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#50

Thanks everyone for the info, Just had some info semt by Kinglsey for comparison:

Robinson's engine (80in.) at South Crofty built 1854 was 335hp.

Taylor's engine at East Pool & Agar (90in.), built 1892 is rated at 425hp.

I have tried using the formula but my answers are out by a magnatude, think I have unit problems. Schoolboy error stuff!I'll keep trying changing the units until somthing looks semi sensible.

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#51

I just like watching and listening to them working. I'm not bothered about anything more technical than that. :confused:

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#52

"mappakernwick" wrote:
Thanks everyone for the info, Just had some info semt by Kinglsey for comparison:

Robinson's engine (80in.) at South Crofty built 1854 was 335hp.

Taylor's engine at East Pool & Agar (90in.), built 1892 is rated at 425hp.

I have tried using the formula but my answers are out by a magnatude, think I have unit problems. Schoolboy error stuff!I'll keep trying changing the units until somthing looks semi sensible.

Looking at the No 1 engine at Crofton the HP required to lift 12 tons/min to 40 feet would be very roughly 32 HP.

A rough calculation of the steam cylinder HP at 12 strokes/min seems to come out at 72.5 HP (at an MEP of 6 PSI @ 26 HG Vacuum).

An 80 inch piston is 3.26 times the area and would work out at 236 HP for the same steam pressure, I would guess that South Crofty had a MEP of 9 PSI.
The difference between the apparent HP required and the HP available from the engine is all to do with friction and the power required to accelerate the mass of the engine/water column from rest each stoke.

Edit: No allowance needed at Crofton for increased discharge head.

spitfire
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#53

Working on the formula that I first posted ( which I explained was a simplistic one ) my figures for the Robinson engine come out at just 6HP less than the 335 given by Kingsley.

My figures are based on a MEP of 24lbs stroke 10 feet at 10 strokes per min

This engine has been pushed to 12 strokes per min so that would increase the figure even more

spitfire

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#54

Do you have any figures for gall/min pumped and the total head pumped against?
Would be interesting to see the water HP versus engine HP.

spitfire
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#55

From memory I think the rising main was 15" pumping from a depth of 335 fathoms this would deliver 520 gal's per min'
All pumps were plunger pumps at 50 fathom stages with the exception of the puppy lift which was a bucket lift.
I make that 17,420 gallons in motion at each stroke, that would be just over 771/2 tons

spitfire

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#56

Impressive, just to overcome the static head will take 270 hp.

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#57

That's very roughly the laden weight (give or take a bag or two) of an Airbus A380, is it not ICLOK ?

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#58

I think the A380 is 560T take off weight, so its even more impressive effectively lifting heavier... in fact thats a huge weight.... same as picking up 6 class 47 diesel locomotives in a row !!!! 😮

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#59

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe4BOWG8-gQ

😉

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#60

Fabulous.... I have to admit I taught my self alot of stuff with lego.... I remember making my first stephensons link motion... and it kinda worked... basic mechanics... but I was only 9!!! :lol:

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!