Let’s Keep ‘Em Puffing

Locomotive Type = Dia of waist² x Length overall
6

All dimensions in feet, overall length is of tubes.

Vertical boilers, just the part under water.

Example Locomotive Type

Waist Dia 40′ Length 14′

The heating surface 268

Manufacturer’s Rating 25 hp.

Rating by Rule 25.9 hp.

Hold it a minute before you go out and measure the old gal’s
‘Vital Statistics.’ Let’s go back and review my first
statements which I made of steam power exceeding its factory
ratings. We know a cubic inch of water will make a cubic inch of
water will make a cubic foot of steam. At this time I do not intend
to go to a lot of details on this. But we must remember the fact,
the more lbs. of steam per hour we make, the more power we have.
The amount of steam depends on the amount of feed water, the type
of fuel, and the method it is fed.

Wood is probably the most common fuel that has been used in the
main years of steam power. First let’s see what makes wood do
the job.

The main idea to be shown is that the value of all wood is about
the same in calorific value, depending on moisture contained. Now
remember one thing. wood differs in weight. We find the values as
follows:

Hickory & Hard Maple 4,5000 lbs. = 1,800 lbs. soft coal

White Oak 3,850 lbs. = 1,540 lbs. coal

Red & Black Oak 3,250 lbs. = 1,300 lbs. coal.

Poplar & Elm 2,350 lbs. = 940 lbs. coal.

Pine 2,000 lbs. = 800 lbs. coal

From this it is safe to say 2 pounds of dry wood is equal to 1
lb. of good soft coal.

At this time we will not go into lbs. of fuel per sq. ft. of
grate. That is a subject for later. It seems as though I am
skipping a lot of details; that’s true, I am.

The average wood contains 51% carbons; 6.5% hydrogen and 42%
oxygen. 1 lb. of wood is 8170 B.T.U. if proper combustion is
permitted. The calorific value of 1 lb. of carbon = 14,500 B.T.U. 1
lb. of hydrogen = 62,000 B.T.U.

We must realize the smaller the fuel is, ‘shall we say cut
up,’ the faster it is burned and the more lbs. per minute is
consumed. Therefore skipping details again as usual, we find we can
evaporate 3.95 pounds of water with 1 lb. of wood, ‘evaporated
from 212 degrees F’ that is.

Now we go to a different situation when we go to coal. Most
boilers are fired with Bituminous ‘Soft coal,’ because it
breaks down faster and we get’ the heat quicker. It contains a
large amount of hydrogen and volatile matter ignites readily, burns
with long yellow flame and produces a great deal of smoke,
‘unless properly dealt with.’ I agree with Mr. Alva
Hulbert’s March-April article ‘I am Concerned.’ So with
this agreement, let’s see what we can do about burning coal
properly.

To burn coal we must have good combustion. Combustion is the
union of the carbon and hydrogen of the fuel with oxygen. The
oxygen conies from the air; approx. 20%. Each atom of carbon
combines with two atoms of oxygen. 2.66 lbs. of oxygen are required
for perfect combustion of 1 lb. of carbon which we get carbonic
acid gas called carbon dioxide; prefix ‘di’ meaning
‘two,’ thus implying 2 atoms of oxygen, 1 carbon and as we
said before, we get 14,500 units of heat per lb. If we do not get
enough oxygen, we get carbon monoxide, prefix ‘mon’ meaning
‘one.’ That’s toxic.

Carbon monoxide produces 4,400 units of heat. The sight of smoke
‘does not necessarily mean air pollution.’ We cannot say
this until we analyze it. By admitting excess air to our
combustion, we will get a cleaner burn, ‘Like a black smith
forge.’

As I said before Bituminous coal has a large amount of volatile
matter which is thrown off as soon as it feels the heat. It flashes
into flame as though it was sprinkled with petroleum. During this
stage of combustion, a great deal of oxygen is required for so
large amount of combustion gas, and it is difficult to get the
oxygen in fast enough without cooling the gases below point of
ignition.

In this case a slower method should be used, by firing one side
of the furnace at a time, having always one side bright to maintain
the temperature and ignite the gases distilled from fresh coal.
This method reduces smoke and increases economy. Smoke is imperfect
combustion.

Let us look at an act of combustion closely and see what does go
on. I have found with experimenting, we get two separate
explosions; first from the hydrogen, then the carbon. I will not,
and cannot, advertize a product in any article I write, but I will
say that myself and associates have patent on a product that is
used for combustion; it is a catalyst. With this we find the atoms
of hydrogen and carbon unite and ignite together. Therefore, we get
62,000 plus the 14,500 units of heat in one explosion which we find
more heat, no excess carbon and carbon monoxide. We find we can
burn coal with good results. I will continue this subject in the
next issue and try to explain how to fire these old steamers and
yet keep harmony with the public, after all I chose the heading of
my articles, ‘Let’s Keep ‘Em Puffing’ and
that’s exactly what I intended to do. We cannot allow a
beautiful, what can I call it ‘Heritage?’ to fall apart
when so many people each and every year enjoy it. As I have tried
to point out the power is unlimited and with the proper care we can
make a good show and not too much smoke. Much success, if handled
right, has been produced with some coke added to the coal. In many
areas we may have to use some. If used in the right amount it will
not hurt the grates.