Rathcel Pump

Part of Technology of Otheia
A Racthel pump is a form of steam/powered pump used for draining flooded mines of water, commonly used in the Steel Realm of Otheia. Invented by a Coer Racthel (incidentally a co-inventor of the modern diving bell and several types of improved scientific equipment, among other items), he was granted a patent for the invention some 50 years ago, which was then extended, so that it lasts into the modern day.
First a container is filled with water via a pipe, which extended through the top of the container to nearly the bottom. The bottom of the pipe would be submerged in the water, making the container airtight. The container is then heated to make the water boil. The steam generated pressurized the container, but the inner pipe, immersed at the bottom by liquid, and lacking an airtight seal at top, remained at a lower pressure; expanding steam forced the water at the bottom of the container into and up the pipe to spurt out of a nozzle on top.
Racthel first demonstrated the use of a full-scale version of his pump (other, smaller versions had been used to power fountains before) at the Thesara Mine, an anthracite mine which had become flooded about a decade before. After a week, the line was drained.
In the current day, about one hundred of the pumps are in existence, with most examples found in the Steel Realm, though some dozen or so are in use across the Augkarate
Category:Technology of Otheia