Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-12


While not yet tested under actual work
ing conditions, 1t is believed by many
that this Rus
Believe Problem Is sian engineer has
Solved by Russia. the problem Of
energy utilization. II his invention proves
to be the success he believes 1t to be, the
results will be more far-reaching than
anything that has occurred in the engi-
neering world since the time of Watts
and Stephenson. Under present engineer
ing practice the utilization of 10 per cent
of the energy contained in the fuel used
is about as much as the average estab-
lishment can hope to do. The other 30 per
cent OF this energy is absolutely wasted.
II the invention of the Russian works
we'll we may be using the 80 per cent and
wasting only the 10 per cent. This would
SO affect the conservation problem as to
remove fuel from the class of things de-
handing the pressing attention Of the
conservationiSts- 1t also Will overcome
nearly all of the trouble experienced as a
result of the smoke nuisance. There Will
be no occasion for chimneys to factories.
AZ the Russian intends that his boiler
shall be a chimneyless one.
The use OF oil as a fuel in the opera
ton OF steam engines Is rapidly being
proved to be more economical and more
efficient than the use OF coke. A signifi-
cant lesson was taught recently by the
experiments that have been made with
the United States cruiser Cheyenne With
coal as fuel used, the steaming raoius
of this vessel was 800 miles. Since the
introduction of ol-burning furnaces ii is
found that the steaming radius has been
increased to 1900 miles. If this ratio
were kept up on all the war vessels of
the navy IL would give an efficiency hith-
PRODUCTION of oil as fuel increased the
steaming radius of the Cheyenne, but il
also has made her faster vessel.
A crusade is being waged by the steam
engineers of the country against boiler
explosions. At the
Efforts to Prevent present time these
Boiler Explosions. a. the rate Of
about two a day throughout the 313
working days OF the year. In thirty years.
in Germany. ending with 1907, there were
seventy-two fewer boiler explosions in
the entire empire than there were in the
United States in the year 1909 alone.
There were only one twenty-seventh as
many fatalities connected with boiler ex-
plosions In Germany in that time as there
were in the United States during the
year. This ratio is maintained also in
the factories of Great Britain. showing
that American boiler explosions are more
the result Of carelessness than of neces-
sity.
Not long ago a boiler explosion occurred
In factory in Canton, Ohio. the results
Of which were unusually gruesome. The
body of one Of the victims OF the accident
was hurled a distance of more than $50
feet. 1t passed entirely through a house.
breaking through the notwithstanding
at both sides IL IL had been a cannon
ball. The body continued on it's fight for
fifty yards after having pierced both
walls Of the house.
When boiler explodes Ii Is not an in
Simultaneous action. but a series of actions
following in quick succession. First there
Is a small hole opened at the weakest
point, and the explosion takes place
gas In its anxiety to get through the hole
at once. The energy in cubic foot of
highly heated water is equal to that in
a pound Of gunpowder. In boiler with
100 cubic feet OF water space and eighty
cubic feet of steam space the total energy
this were expended directly In driving a
10000 pound steam boiler IL would be
enough to hurl it into the air more than
two miles.
Several Of the journals Of the engineer
ing profession devote considerable space
to a discussion of methods for the pre-
vention Of boiler explosions. These dis
cussions take the form of correspondence
school lessons in boiler operation. 1t is
pointed out that much of the damage
done to steam boilers is through care
less firing at times when the boilers are
not I'm actual operation. When a factory
10 fired up in the morning, before begin
ming operations. 1t is usually done by the
night Waterman. not by the engineer
force. The Waterman knows but little
about the principles of boiler operation.
There Is a movement on foot among the
engineers of the country to have all state
legislatures enact laws requiring all OPP
orators Of steam boilers to be licensed
before they can qualify as engineers.
TOmOFrow-National Bakers Assoc