COAL BURNING anyone???

[churchmouse]

Oh! I understand what you're saying there...

SIDEBAR: How did steam locomotives get around that? Different grade of steel for the grate in the firebox?

Water pulling the heat out of the fire box in the stem generating cycle. Without the water they would melt down or explode.

 

[indyjohn]

that and water would keep them cooler so to speak...

Water pulling the heat out of the fire box in the stem generating cycle. Without the water they would melt down or explode.

Interesting. Somebody had to figure that out at some point. Not one I would want to learn by trial and error!

Saw a story on Fox59 about the locomotive that still runs near Ft. Wayne. It's been talked about here on INGO. The engineer said "it was the Space Shuttle of the time. It was the best technology man could come up with." Cool stuff.

But I threadjack...

 

[ghitch75]

Interesting. Somebody had to figure that out at some point. Not one I would want to learn by trial and error!

Saw a story on Fox59 about the locomotive that still runs near Ft. Wayne. It's been talked about here on INGO. The engineer said "it was the Space Shuttle of the time. It was the best technology man could come up with." Cool stuff.

But I threadjack...

oh yes stream engines are bad ass!!!!!!.......there alive!!!!!!!!

 

[churchmouse]

oh yes stream engines are bad ass!!!!!!.......there alive!!!!!!!!

They are a living entity. There are no automated controls......engineers run them 100%

 

[ghitch75]

They are a living entity. There are no automated controls......engineers run them 100%

yep when they go cold there in hibernation then brought to life......nothing better than watching one working hard!!!!!

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

Big small engine show up in Portland later this month. Always has a few of the big boys chuffing along.

 

[palerider0485]

thanks alot guys, ive learned from what you have said, it is funny that alot of poeple know about coal burning but i think only one person said they do burn coal. it must really be out of style, i really like the old pot bellies which burn fuel on a shaker grate. that is what coal requires. im not an expert on coal but really looking into it.

 

[TaunTaun]

Oh! I understand what you're saying there...

SIDEBAR: How did steam locomotives get around that? Different grade of steel for the grate in the firebox?

You control the temperature with the water/air cooler and blowers. You let it get too hot, and you can jack the temp up to about 11k degrees F. Without a good stoker and rollers, this can cause a hot spot to generate in the steel very quickly, and then you'll blow the firebox. In the case of a steam engine, the temperature of the coal is not everything, yet it IS everything. Confusing, I know. You find that sweet spot that maximizes flue gas temperature and longevity of the coal. That way you minimize the amount used, and maximize flue gas output. This in turn makes the steam as it heats up the water. The next thing is what operating pressure you are working at on your steam. The higher the steam temperature, the higher the amount of work done....you just have to balance that with the coal usage.

 

[indyjohn]

You control the temperature with the water/air cooler and blowers. You let it get too hot, and you can jack the temp up to about 11k degrees F. Without a good stoker and rollers, this can cause a hot spot to generate in the steel very quickly, and then you'll blow the firebox. In the case of a steam engine, the temperature of the coal is not everything, yet it IS everything. Confusing, I know. You find that sweet spot that maximizes flue gas temperature and longevity of the coal. That way you minimize the amount used, and maximize flue gas output. This in turn makes the steam as it heats up the water. The next thing is what operating pressure you are working at on your steam. The higher the steam temperature, the higher the amount of work done....you just have to balance that with the coal usage.

Finesse. The best way to run anything.