The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-11
sUPERHEATED STEAM.
A Discourse Before the Polytechnic In
stiautc.

Discourse Before the Polytechnic In.
| sti.utc.
A paper by Professor J. W. Whitney was las
night read before the Polytechnic branch OF the
American Institute, Professor Tilman presiding.
NORMAN WIZARD, the cannon maker, then opened
the ball by dissertation ON steam. He
said that steam could be heated
to gaseous point, and then, like
other gaseous matter, il could be heated to a
great intensity. He drew diagram on the black
board showing the effects of superheated steam,
and showed how steam was superheated In all
boilers, especially Bakers He also showed
how steam was especially heated at night
when the fires had been banked and the business
was suspended During the day, and while in
operation, the steam Is called saturated" other
wise 1t is 'mOist" steam, when at night opera
tions are suspended. Then no steam is generated,
but there Is usually quantity Of steam on when
the engine ceases operation. The steam remain
ing in the boiler is then heated by the ntegss heat
remaining IL the boiler from It's operation during
the day. ,j1E :.ss.
BAKER RISES TO EXPLAIN.
Mr.. BAKER said the Fire Marshal had tried to
damage his (Baker's) heating apparatus, and
added that he 1.-THE said Fire MarshaD was a prac-
tical man who knew nothing of theory. Professor
WARDS theory was very nice, but he mr. Bakery
had never seen superheated steam alter the fire
was banked, and he didn't believe any one ever
saw it or could see it.
This brought the Fire Marshal,
NsPEDoN, TO THE FRONT,
who said :-One evening this week, after people
had gone to bed, a fire broke out at Van Valken-
burgh's, 3s4 Broadway. The felt jacket was burned
of the pipes. 1t was stated by Mr.. Baker that it
was reprehensible TO scare people who had steam
heaters. Mr.. Baker has told you that there coudbe
no superheated steam when the fires were banked.
say there can be superheated steam when the
Tires are drawn. say this after study OF
twenty days, while Mr.. Baker has studied the
subject for twenty years. Many man has studied
mechanics for twenty years, yet failed to be
mechanic. Marshal McSpedon here drew on the
blackboard q diagram OF q boiler and Its brick
jacket. "At night" said he "thc lre is with
drawn and the steam which has been gen.
Grated up TO that moment remains above
the water in the boiler. IL becomes superheatcd
by the heat remaining in the brick jacket. Per-
haps some OF you have
BAKERS OVEN.
lLaughter) 1t is built upon the same plan as q
jacketed boiler; yet after the baker has with
naming in the bricks" Then the Fire Marshal
cited case occurring on the 18th OF March last, IN
which steam pipes containing supcrheatcd steam
communicated fire to lard tanks.
VOICES-"HOw do you know" "It's OF no &C.
count" Don't prove any thing."
Marshal MCSPEDON-lt don't prove anythingl
Well, / have the record OF these cases. taken like
that Of the Kidd case-in the same manner as be.
say that know, at least more about these partcu-
lar cases than any man upon earth. The New
York Fire Department has more OF them than any
other In the world, and examine them very care.
fully-ali OF them. tApplause.)
Mr.. Wizard here came forward and bv cxperi-
ments substantiated Mr.. McSpedon's statement
violent discussion then arose with Mr.. Baker,
and In the heat OF the same the meeting was ad-
journed. rl