Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-05-15
Anew WORDS ABOUT STEAM HEAT.
Tracing the Genealogy OF One Of the Create.
OF EeCent MOdern InNrnt,nn.


To the Editors OF the INTELLlGENcEH:
/ have noticed several articles on steam
heating in our daily papers, some OF which
convey erroneous impressions and are mis-
leading to those not more familiar with the
subject than the writers.
This, like many other improvements had
its pioneers, who, by their talents, patjent
investigation and experiment., acquired a
knowledge OF the principles involved and
the proportions required for successfully
heating our homes, factories, public build
ings, etc
We find that James Watt, after making
the steam engine a success, constructed the
nrst t0tp pressure grdCltV return radiator in
the winter of l7s4 and 1885, Ga hundred wears
ago. We find, recorded, that Mr.. Lee at
Manchester, under the direction of Messrs
Boulton a Watt, erected in 1893 vertical cast
iron radiators, which supported the floors
above; this proNmga "a success, Mr.. Lee then
heated his house with direct and Indirect
radiators, which also proved a success Then
we learn of a number of investigators in quir-
ing INTO the properties OF steam, saturated and
superheated, the powers of various materials
to transmit and radlate heat such as metals
stone glass, wood, water, air, etc So that
heating with steam was no longer AN eNperi.
Ihent, the controlling laws being we'll under
stood and published 10y these early en-
glneers, ana many manufactures were sue.
fully heated with the exhaust steam
from high pressure engines and live steam
where condensing engines were used. The
Conestoga cotton mill No. !, was built in
1913, operated In lsi7, was heated with steam
-thlrty-nine years ago, then common in
Eastern mills-by means of cast iron pipes
being the best and cheapest means then
at command, which for obvious reasons
were not well adapted 10 heating dwellings.
While steam engineers were we'll aware of
the advantages OF heating dwellings with
steam, its properties, the laws governing
II, the construction of suitable boilers the
economy OF different types Of boilers the
power 10 transmit heat aud raii,te it, of
the various materials used in buildings
It's Dement'S were not available until the
Introduction of wrought iron pipe, hy
stephen Morris, of Philadelphia, cheap
ened by many improvements in its
manufacture and competition IN trade,
made the successful introduction of steam
heating into dwellings, at reasonable cost,
practicable. Then followed AN era of sue.
successful steam heating by competent en-
glneers, also most lamentable failures by
those who only knew now To cut, thread
and screw pipes together and victinlizs their
customers with many knocks and rackets in
the pipes, big bills for alterations and repairs,
excess of heat in one room, no heat IN an
other, until II was believed bY many that
these were the unavoidable results of steam
heatng,as the menwhO put up these Jobs were
practical men and knew all about "cubic
contents best radiators, etc, etc.
We also have the house heating luw-pres-
sure DOller improvements in great variety,
many VI WHICH tlbiln 10 generate more steam
per pound oil coal than is accom- piishGd hy
the best stationary or marine boilers in use
Then we have the super heating sectional
boilers, whose inventor claims the discovery
tnat steam can be heated to 5000 without in
creaslng pressure, consequently requires one
third less boiler, coal ana radiator.
AS all upright boilers with tubes extend
ing through steam space are super heaters
ana pressure cannot be increased by heat if
steam Is not generated faster than required
ana II the gases OF combustion are allowed
TO pass out into the chimney AT high tenn
perature 10 superheat steam, there must be
more waste OF tuel than where the gases are
cooled 10 low temperature by the boiler
Such claims are at variance with both fact
ana science. From the fact that steam com
Ing In contact with surfaces at a higher tenn
perature, varying in degree with the iuten-
sity OF the lire TO the effects OF when they
are subjected, the superheatug is also
variable and makes possible the frequent
hres attributed TO steam pipes, so stouliy de-
MED by those unaCquainted with super
heated steam.
The temperature of radiatug surfaces and
immunity from fire il determined by pres
sure with saturated steam thus AT one
pound pressure the temperature il yl6 SO
degrees, at fifteen pounds pressure $50 26 de-
grees, at seventy pounds 3l6 OS degrees.
me temperature ~ determined by the
pressure and not otherwise With super
healed steam the case is different. Then the
Varlaoie Intensity OF combustion in the fur.
mace OF the boiler, which cannot be main
.aiheu AT Will, determines the additional
temperature of superheated steam revardIess
OF pressure. Herein lies the great danger OF
hfes from steam pipes. GSeo :. Jarduer ON
Steam. r SirAWM
LANCASTER, Pa, May 10. - - y "'