The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-01

We take much pleasure in presenting the public the
| following communication from commission OF engi-
neers who requested by the Secretary OF the Treas
Jury examine into the operation Of and report upon,
the utility OF an apparatus for supplying fresh water TO
boilers in marine steam navigation successful IN
PRODUCTION OF such instrument would be attended
with economy in the operation of steamers, and would
go very far TO remove the of all explosions OF boil
ers-an insufficient water level.
The report will be by perusal of il, the
field very fully and will be found of interest not only to
professional persons but to all others pays just tribute
to the talent and discrimination of Secretary Walker for
this is not case where the head OF department was
but the agent for the expenditure of appropriation
the subject OF which had been before considered and by
othersbut the experiment one of his own creation
and confidence Many members of the profession, imme-
datey connected with the subject admirers of the posi-
ton of Mr. Walker in this matter and cheerfuly accord to
him the honor he richly merits This great and pro-
gressve age. tits full OF bold propositions and of
many visionary projects II is not easy to discriminate
truth from mposture-valuable inventions from wild
specuatons. 1t requires much sagacty to know what
is worthy of experiment and what is nowhat may JUS
tiy the employment OF the public funds, and what is al
together visionary and mpractcable The executive Of
fcer risks something of his good name in author
izng and bold experiment for the good OF the
Service and those who witness its success, cannot but
appreciate his moral courage well as his sagaciy.
Some credit therefore certainly due to the Secretary
of the Treasury for the results Of the following nvest
CATION:
| New York, October 3lst, 1S47.
SIR In acceptance of your invitation Of the Nth ultimo
we the undersigned had the honor to meet together in the
upon a apparatus invented By Captain John Ericsson for
the purpose of supplying the boilers Of marine steam en-
gnes with continuous supply of fresh water, and applied
By him, under direction in the u revenue steamer
Legare, oo.c,, - vrnopr tb,, IN tho 2ad
u,imo we embarked Ia tn. Legae at H. m proceeded to
sea-, and remained on board TIN the following morning
we had ample opportunity of examining the means employ
ed for suppyngit with water, and the results produceu
navigation boilers are supplied with the Of condeN
sato, composed of the steam that is Withdrawn from tie
It's condensation. Hence, boiler in operation constant
y parting with steam (resh water and receiving salt
uenced by corrective, would be- that in few hours
degree OF saraton OF the water in the boiler would be
naces and ues scale ol sufficient thickness the
passage of heat The surrounding waters and the
destructive of their tenacity The corrective in use is
the removal Of the water as il approaches sauraon and
In the operation of either Of these methods it is apparent
that there loss of the heat that has been impaired to
the blown pumped of, that neglect to open or
shut the blowof cock the admission Of the required
supply OF waer the duration ol e Eoe
and and the safety OF the vessel Even when all
be deposited in long voyages particularly in the middle
atudes and accumulate to extent that renders its
cult and under the favorable circumstances
imperfect operation and when this depose coats the
an extent unsued economy of mercantile enterprise
and to the duration of operation requisite for naval
This evil may be avoided by furnishing the boilers with
full supply OF fresh water; and as the weight could not be
sumen, and fuel for the solo purpose of dstng the
quantity required, obvious that the furnished by
boiler must he returned to it, after being condensed by
the radiation heat cold Surfaces and by the adj
Of Ihs msasd ana hns *
some extent by an instrument invented by Mr.. Samuel
vessels in some Of which, Notwithstanding its mperec-
tons it is ye, used has failed however, TO answer the
full purposes desired and anticipated
In the arrangement Of Mr.. Hall, great number of thin
metal tubes from onsha to hreefourths of inch in d
Of cold from the sea. and into which the
steam from the cylinder admitted, for the abstraction
tubes Now, it is evident that by this arrangement the
condensed steam would down the surface of the
ubes in its passage presenting nonconducng lining
Them and in its collection their bottom obstacle the
of the steam and dimnuton of the effective rad
With this method of condensation it will be perceived that
that has passed through the engine fol-
lows hen that all escapes OF steam from the boiler engine
placed by llaon at an expense of fuel directly as the
evaporation. Further, continued ofths instrument ex
tubes from the Of oil and taow, in the cylinder
and the valve fhces which, acting non-conductor
materially INSTRUCTED the condensation of the steam
The apparatus of Captain Ericsson designed to OBJ
the difficulties and deficiencies developed in that of
Mr. Hall, and is composed of two distinct Instruments
Condenser and Evapoator the first for the purpose of
condensation and the latter for supply OF fresh to
provide for any losses Of from the boiler by
escapes, leaks, gauge vents, &c. &c.
The Condenser cylindrical vessel, set at slight
clnation from horizontal line, containing the requisite
of radang surface Ia metal tubes of inches
with open space at each end BY this arrangement
there space the pass and for
the condensed down the lower side of the
tubes without presenting lining OF water intercept ad
alton, obstruction the course of the steam. Con-
neced with this is pump by which water from the is
and the inner surface Of the shell condenser Thus
the latent heat of the absorbed by with the
tubes and condensation is effected for the double
of atfordng for the engine and of restoring fresh
the boiler for continuous evaporation and conden-
| sation, meet the requirements of the engine.
The Evapoato constructed, paralleoppedon with
sccylindrical and boom the lower portion OF which
soccuped by number of tubes similar those in the
denser which communicate with valve each end OF
the steam cylinder worked by the engines around these
tubes, and for distance above thein from the
is admitted for the purpose Of being evapoated and
the above this water is to the condenser and
consequently This instrument being designed to
furnish fresh replace that which may lost its
effected in the following manners When the piston
the termination OF its stroke the valve referred
to- opens, (above below, the may BEL and
closes when the piston begins its stroke by this
very nearly performed its full expansive effect and,
passing into the tubes of the evaporntor, alb
sorbed by the water surrounding them; and this
Is IL readily boils at low temperature and
densed with the from the cylinder and is supplied to
| the boiler.
Upon the experimental trial which you pleased
to request attention. all practicable arrangements
acquire full and progressive of the operations
apparatus, the observations OF the various
ded to special committees which, upon the conclusion of
the trial. reported full for furnishing the following