The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-30

the basement oil the DullulngS " Uc Heatcu
The boxes are so constructed that what
ever water-condensation there is, Is depos
tied In them and carried up BY the service
pipes continually, thus leaving the main
free for steam.
In the mean time the water extracted
from the junction boxes by the service
pipes Is largely reconverted into steam II
the cellar OF each house before heat distri
button begins throughout the building, II
this wise: 4 high pressure OF from fifty 4
sixty pounds being carried in the belle
and mains, the water OF condensation Is
the degree OF heat due to that pressure
when Il reaches the regulator" valve In
side the cellar walls. At that point It II
wiredrawn, and by q reduction ofpressurt
the reconyersion takes place. The steam
then passes on to the radiators, hereafter
to be described, where II is again convert
ed into water.
The cellar.regulators invariably reduce
the pressure Of the steam as 1t enters each
building to from two TO four pounds poi
square inch, and in this method Of regl!a'
ton consists in great degree the economy
of the system. Through the comparative
" small and inexpensive pipes used as
street.mains an immense quantity OF steam
can be forced at high pressure, whereas at
low pressure very much larger and more
costly mains would be required; and by
the reduction OF pressure the moment the
steam enters building all the advantages
OF the low.pressure system are secured.
With o pressure OF two to four pounds oil
steam in house costly iron-heaters may
be done away with. An Explosion" at
such pressure Is OF course impossible; q
leak would not he likely TO result in seri-
GUS damage, and many OF the heaters are
therefore made OF sheet.copper, galvnniz-
ed iron, and tin. Their forms and colors,
OF course, may be as original and hand.
some as any ones skill and taste can de-
wise. ........
Thus the old belief that steam could not
be carried long distance effectively on &C.
count Of its too rapid condensation has
been demolished, and at the same time
whatever condensation there may be is
utilized. Some special and accurate ex.
periments through q mile and half OF
continuous small pipe, protected as de-
scribed, have resulted in showing the
small loss by condensation, and TO what
extent the loss can DO turned into gain.
The hot water, with portion OF steam
from the heaters or radiators in any build.
ing, having performed its Office Of direct
heating, passes to steam trap in the base
ment, which is part Of the system. and
where the water is separated and circulated
through cells OF pipe within brick in.
closure. Through this inclosure or box
air is passed from the outside OF the build.
ing, which, heated by the coil, passes up
ward through registers. In this manner
there is no waste OF heat at all, for the hot
water which enters the house or which is
condensed after il arrives there is made to
perform the duty Of furnace below; and
thus, by an indirect as well as a direct pro-
cess OF radiation, every ray OF heat which
enters is made to do service until 1t ex.
pires.
Moreover, after hot water has done this
last service in the coil 1t flows into tank
in the cellar, the overflow OF which runs
into the sewer. From this tank, filed con.
stantly with water which is chemically
pure, a supply Of water is carried to all
parts ofthe dwelling, either by atmospher-
ic pressure or by the application oil steam
By means OF this continuance, operated by
the ordinary steam pressure in each house,
without extra pump or engine, water can
be drawn for bathing and toilet purposes
in every apartment or fed 10 tank in the
attic above. And this water can be hot or
drawn cool at pleasure. Steam is discharg-
ed directly, yet without noise, into water
in bath.tubs or elsewhere, raising 1t n a
very few minutes to the boiling point, and
thus doing away with the old system OF
hot.water circulation in houses.
But the new system is adapted not to
house.warming purposes alone. 1t is
claimed that steam can be served under it
to do cooking, laundry-work, and to aid in
many other household and business oper-
atoms, besides running machinery. In
many large hotels the cookingis now done
by steam, and il will be melancholy to
many people to hear that the present ex.
pensiye apparatus for that purpose may
be superseded by steanl.stoves, which will
bring the custom into general use. Cook.
ing, It is claimed, can be done cheaper and
better than by a wood or coal stove, and
without danger OF burning, and with the
avoidance of extreme heat in the room
during warm weather.
Laundries, greenhouses and conserva.
served by the system by means OF old or
improved local appliances. Machinery
for great variety Of light mechanical and
manufacturing purposes, such as exist in
cities, can be operated and exhaust used
for heating in the same building, so that
the two purposes will be accomplished at
one cost. Steam tire.engines, it is claimed,
will be greatly simpliiied in construction
and the cost reduced one half or more, as
the local boiler and furnace will DO entire.
~ dispensed with. On the streets Of cities
and villages having q reservoir system
steam will be taken from the main 10 the
curbstone, where pipe will come to the
surface beside the street hydrant. The
engine will DO comparatively cheap and
portable, and. after the alarm, will arrive
on the ground without the frightiul noise
and confusion attending the ordinary
steam fire.engine. It will at once take
power from the pipe and suction from the
hydrant. The power will always be ready.
and by having the steam.pipe impinge
against the base OF tho hydrant freezing
will be prevented in the coolest weather.
While this arrangement will not, per
haps, reduce the number OF the hremen, il
will increase their efficiency and greatly
diminish the cost and current expenses OF
the FIRE departments. The effectiveness Of
steam itself as an agent applied directly to
the extinguishment Of fires is well known
in the oil regions. In burning buildings
the FIRE often RACES under the floors be,
tween the joists, where 1t cannot be reach
ed By water. Steam, being lighter than
air, when poured into such a building in
sufficient quantity, rises and suffuses these
spaces, thus preventing combustion. a
two.inch pipe, at sixty pounds pressure
will deliver 5000 cubic feet Of steam pei
minute, which would make body o.
steam two feet deep below the ceiling in {
room 25xl00 feet.
Washington Pa, Items.
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