APPENDIX. 505
On the Relation between the Temperature, Pressure, and Density
of Common Steam.
There is a fixed relation between the temperature and pressure of common steam, which has not yet been ascertained by theory. Various empirical formula have been proposed to express it, derived from tables of temperatures and corresponding pressures which have been founded on experiment, and completed by interpolation.
The following formula, proposed by M. Biot, represents with great accuracy the relation between the temperature and pressure of common steam, throughout all that part of the thermometric scale to which experiments have been extended.
Let
log. p = a - ab, 20 * t - u2b, 20
506 APPENDIX.
In pounds per square inch, and the temperature in reference to Fahrenheit's thermometer,-
The following formula was proposed by Tredgold, where p expresses the pressure in inches of mercury:-
This was afterwards modified by Mellet, end represents with sufficient accuracy experiments from I to 4 atmospheres. Let p represent pounds per square inch, and t the temperature by Fahrenheit's thermometer,-
M.de Pambour has proposed the following formula, also applicable through the same limits of the scale:-
MM. Dulong and Arago have proposed the following formula
for all pressures between 4 and 60 atmospheres:-
It was about the year 1801, that Dalton, at Manchester, and
Gay-Lussac at Paris, instituted a series of experiments on gaseous bodies which conducted them to the discovery of the law mentioned in art. (96.),p.171. These philosophers found that all gases whatever, and all vapours raised from liquids by heat, as well as all mixtures of gases and vapours, are subject to the same guantity of Fusion between the temperatures of melting ice and boiling water; and by experiments subsequently made by Dulong and Petit, this uniformity of expansion has been proved to extend to all temperatures which can come under practical inquiries.
Dalton found that 1000 cubic inches of air at the temperature of melting ice dilated to 1325 cubic inches if raised to the temperature of boiling water. According to Gay-Lussac, the increased volume was 1375 cubic incites. The latter determination has been subsequently found to be the more correct one.*
APPENDIX 507
It appears, therefore, that for an increase of temperature from 32' to 212', amounting to 180', the increase of volume is 375 parts in 1000; and since the expansion is uniform, the increase of volume for I' will be found by dividing this by 180, which will give an increase of 208 1/3 parts.in 100,000 for each degree of the common thermometer.
To reduce the expression of this important and general law to mathematical language, let v be the volume of an elastic fluid at the temperature of melting ice, and let n v be the increase which that volume would receive by being raised one degree of temperature under the same pressure. Let V be its volume at the temperature T. Then we shall have
V = v + nv (T - 32) = v [1 + n (T - 32)].
If V' be its volume at any other temperature T', and under the
same pressure, we shall have, in like manner,
V'= v 1 + n (T'- 32)
Hence we obtain
which expresses the relation between the volumes of the same gas or vapour under the same pressure and at any two temperatures. The co-efficient n, as explained in the text, has the same value for the same gas or vapour throughout the whole thermometric scale. But it is still more remarkable that this constant has the same value for all gases and vapours. It is a, number, therefore, which must have some essential relation to the gaseous or elastic state of fluid matter, independent of the peculiar qualities of any particular gas or vapour.
The value of n, according to the experiments of Gay-Lussac, is O-O0'2083, or 1/480.
To reduce the law of Mariotte, explained in (97.) p. 171., to
mathematical language, let V, V' be the volume of the same gas or vapour under different
pressures P, P', but at the same temperature. We shall then have
VP = V'P'
If it be required to determine the relation between the volumes
of the same gas or vapour, under a change of both temperature and pressure, let V be the volume at the temperature T and under the pressure P, and let V' be the volume at the temperature T' and under the pressure P'. Let v be the volume at the temperature 'I' and under the pressure P'.
By formula (7.) we have
VP = vP';
508 APPENDIX.
and by formula (6.) We have
Eliminating v, we shall obtain
or
which is the general relation between the volumes, pressures, and temperatures of the same gas or vapour in two different states.
To apply this general formula to the case of the vapour of water, let T'= 212'. It is known by experiment that the corresponding value of P', expressed in pounds per square inch, is 14-706; and that V', expressed in cubic inches, the water evaporated being taken as a cubic inch, is 1700. If, then, we take 0-002083 as the value of n, we shall have by (8.),
If, by means of this formula (9.). and any of the formulae (I.),(2.),(3-), (4-), (5.), T were eliminated, we should obtain a formula between V and P, which would enable us to compute the enlargement of volume which water undergoes in passing into steam under any proposed pressure. But such a formula would not be suitable for practical computations. By the formulae (I.) to (5.), a table of pressures and corresponding temperatures may be computed; and these being known, the formula (9.) will be sufficient for the computation of the corresponding values of V. or the enlargement of volume which water undergoes in passing into steam. In the following table, the temperatures corresponding to pressures from I to 240 lbs. per square inch are given by computation from the formulae (2.) to (5. ), and the volumes of steam produced by an unit of volume of water as computed from the formula (9.).
The mechanical effect is obtained by multiplying the pressure in pounds by the expansion of a cubic inch of water in passing into steam expressed in feet, and is therefore the number of pounds which would be raised one foot by the evaporation of a cubic inch of water under the given pressure.
509
510
511 APPENDIX.
In the absence of any direct method of determining the general relation between the pressure and volume of common steam, empirical formulae expressing it have been proposed by different mathematicians.
The late Professor Navier proposed the following:-Let S express the volume of steam into which an unit of volume of water is converted under the pressure P, this pressure being expressed in kilogrammes per square metre. Then the relation between S and P will be
where a = 1000, 6 = 0-09, and m 84.
This formula, however, does not agree with experiment at pressures less than an atmosphere. M. de Pambour, therefore, proposes the following changes in the values of its co-efficients :-Let P express the pressure in pounds per square foot; and let a = 10000 b = 0-4227 m = 0-00258,
and the formula will be accurate for all pressures. For pressures above two atmospheres the following values give more accuracy to the calculation:
a = 10000 b = 1-421 tn = 0-0023.
where
These values of a and b will be sufficiently accurate for practical purposes for all pressures, and may be used in reference to low pressure engines of every form, as well as for high-pressure engines which work expansively.
When the pressure is not less than 30 pounds per square inch, the following values of a and b will be more accurate: a = 4347826 b = 618.
On the Expansive Action of Steam.
The investigation of the effect of the expansion of steam which has been given in the text, is intended to convey to those who are not conversant with the principles and language of analysis, some notion of the nature of that mechanical effect to which the advantages attending the expansive principle are due. We shall now, however, explain these effects more accurately.
512 AFPENDIX-
The dynamical effect produced by any mechanical agent is expressed by the product of the resistance overcome and the space through which that resistance is moved.
Let P= the pressure of steam expressed in pounds per square foot.
S= the number of cubic feet of steam of that pressure produced by the evaporation of a cubic foot of water.
E= the mechanical effect produced by the evaporation of a cubic foot of water expressed in pounds raised one foot.
Then we shall have E = PS; and if W be a volume of water evaporated under the pressure P, the mechanical effect produced by it will be WPS.
By (10.) we have
Hence, for the mechanical effect of a cubic foot of water evaporated under the pressure P we have
E = a- bS.
Let a cubic foot of water be evaporated under the pressure P', and let it produce a volume of steam S' of that pressure. Let this steam afterwards be allowed to expand to the increased volume S and the diminished pressure P; and let it be required to determine the mechanical effect produced during the expansion of the steam from the volume S' to the volume S.
Let E'= the mechanical effect produced by the evaporation of the water under the pressure P' without expansion.
E"= the mechanical effect produced during the expansion of the steam.
E= the mechanical effect which would be produced by the evaporation under the pressure P without expansion.
Et= the total mechanical effect produced by the evaporation under the pressure P' and subsequent expansion.
Thus we have
Et= E'+E".
Let s be any volume of the steam during the process of expansion, p the corresponding pressure, and e" the mechanical effect produced by the expansion of the steam. We have then by (10.)
Hence by integrating we obtain
e"=a log. s - be + C
513 APPENDIX.
which, taken between the limits s=S' and s=S, becomes
But by (11.) we have
Hence it appears that the mechanical effect of a cubic foot of water evaporated under the pressure P may be increased by the quantity a log S/S', if it be first evaporated under the greater pressure P', and subsequently expanded to the lesser pressure P.
The logarithms in these formulae are hyberbolic.
The volume of steam admitted to the cylinder per minute will therefore be VA (I + c), the part of it employed in working the piston being VA.
514 APPENDIX.
Hence we shall have
Since by (10.) we have
By which the pressure of steam in the cylinder will be known, when the effective evaporation, the diameter of the cylinder, and speed of the piston, are given.
If it be required to express the mechanical effect produced per minute by the action of steam on the piston, it is only necessary to multiply the pressure on the surface of the piston by the space per minute through which the piston moves. This will give
VAP = W a/1+c - Vab; (17.)
which expresses the whole mechanical effect per minute in pounds raised one foot.
If the steam be worked expansively, let it be cut off after the piston has moved through a part of the stroke expressed by e.
The volume of steam of the undiminished pressure P' admitted per minute through the valve would then be
The pressure P', till the steam is cut off, will be
The mechanical effect E' produced per minute by the steam of full pressure will be
E' = P'AVe = Wae/e+c -AVbe;
APPENDIX. 515
Hence the total effect per minute will be
If the engine work without expansion, be
as before; and the effect per minute gained by expansion will therefore be
which therefore represents the quantity of power gained by the expansive action, with a given evaporating power.
In these formulae the total effect of the steam is considered without reference to the nature of the resistances which it has to overcome.
These resistances may be enumerated as follows -
1. The resistance produced by the load which the engine is required to move-
When the engine is maintained in a state of uniform motion the sum of all these resistances must always be equal to the whole effect produced by the steam on the piston. The power expended on the first alone is the useful effect
APPENDIX. 516
must therefore be equal to the total resistance multiplied by the space through which that resistance is driven. Hence we shall have
This quantity RVA, being the product of the resistance RA, of the load reduced to the surface of the piston, multiplied by the space through which the piston is moved, will be equal to the load itself multiplied by the space through which it is moved. This being, in fact, the useful effect of the engine, let it be expressed by U, and we shall have
The value of the useful effect obtained from these formulae will be expressed in pounds, raised one foot per minute, W being the effective evaporation in cubic feet per minute, A the area of the piston in square feet, and V the space per minute through -which it is moved, in feet.
Since a resistance amounting to 33,000 pounds moved through one foot per minute is called one-horse power, it is evident that like horse power H of the engine is nothing more than the useful effect per minute referred to a larger unit of weight or resistance; that is to 33,000 pounds instead of one pound. Hence we shall have
H=U/33000
Since the useful effect expressed in (24.) and (25.) is that due to a number of cubic feet of water, expressed by W, we shall obtain the effect due to one cubic foot of water, by dividing U by W. If, therefore, produced by the effective evaporation of a cubic foot of water, we shall have
APPENDIX. 517
If the quantity of fuel consumer per minute be expressed by F, :the effect produced by the unit of fuel, called the DUTY Of the it , will, for like reason, be
If fuel be expressed in hundred weights of coal, then D will
express the number of pounds' weight raised one foot by a (29.)
The evaporation necessary per horse power per minute will be n i by putting 11 = I in these formulae.
It will be observed that the quantities A and V, the area of cylinder and the speed of the piston, enter all these formulae
as factors of the same product. Other things, therefore, being the speed of the piston will be always inversely as the or the cylinder. In fact, VA is the volume of steam per
I te employed in working the piston, and if the piston be in
- ed or diminished in magnitude, its speed must be inversely
APPENDIX. 518
varied by the necessity of being still moved through the same number of cubic feet by the same volume of steam.
It has been already stated in the text, that no satisfactory experiment* have yet been made, by which the numerical value of the quantity r can be exactly known. In engines of different magnitude and power, this resistance at very different proportions to the -whole power of the machine. In general, however, the larger and more powerful the engine, the tea* that proportion will be.
That part. of this resistance which arises from the reaction of the uncondensed vapour on the piston is very variable, owing to the more or less perfect action of the condensing apparatus, the velocity of the piston, and the magnitude 'and form of the steam passages. M. de Pambour states, that, by experiments made With indicate the mean amount of this resistance in the cylinder is 2i lbs. per square inch more than in the condenser, and that the pressure in the latter being usually I i lb. per square inch, the mean amount of the pressure of the condensed vapour in the cylinder is about 4 lbs. per square inch. Engineers, however, generally consider this estimate to be above the truth in well-constructed engines, when In good working order.
In condensing low pressure engines of forty horse power and upwards, working with an average load, it is generally considered that the resistance produced by the friction of the machine and the force necessary to work the pumps may be taken at about 2 lbs. per square inch Of Piston surface.
Thus the whole resistance represented by r in the preceding formulae, " applied to the larger class of low pressure engines, may be considered as being under 6 lbs. per square inch, or 864 lbs. per square foot, of the piston. It in necessary, however, to repeat, that this estimate must be regarded as a very rough approximation and as representing the mean value of a quantity subject to great variation, not only in one engine compared with another, but even in the same engine compared with itself at different times and in different states
In the same -class of engines, the magnitude of the clearage is generally about a twentieth part of the capacity of the cylinder, so that c = 0-05 that part of the resistance which is proportional to the load, and on which the value of m in the preceding formulae depends, is still more variable, and depends so much on the form, magnitude, and the arrangement of its parts, that no general rule can be given for its value. It must, in fact, be determined in every particular case.
In the practical application of the preceding formulae in condensing engines we shall have
519
520
a = 5'96131330259
Log a1= 1.82340688
Log.b1=- -0.013097
Log a2= 0.745698
Log b2= -0.002125
The relationship between the temperature i with reference to the centesnial thermometer, and the pressure p in millimeters of mercury at the temperature of melting ice, will then be expressed by the following formula:-
Formulae have, however, been proposed, which, though not applicable to the whole scale of temperatures, are more manageable in their practical application than the preceding.
For pressures less than an atmosphere, Southern proposed the following formula, where the pressure is intended to be expressed
In these investigations I shall adopt the following modified formula. The symbols S and P retaining their signification, we shall have
a = 3875969 6 164.
SP = a - bS.
To apply these principles to the actual case of a double acting steam engine,
Let L = the stroke of the piston in feet.
A = the area of the piston in square feet.
N = the number of strokes of the piston per minute.
Therefore, 2nAL = the number of cubic feet of space through which the piston moves per minute.
Let cLA = the clearage, or the space between the steam valve and the piston at each end of the stroke.
Therefore the volume of steam admitted through the steam valve at each stroke of the engine will be 2n AL (I + c).
Let V= the mean speed of the piston in feet per minute,
Therefore 2nL =V.
Let W = the water in cubic feet admitted per minute in the form of steam through the steam valve.
S = the number of cubic feet of steam produced by a cubic foot of water.
VA (e + c);
and the ratio of this volume to that of the water producing it being expressed by S', we should have
S' = VA (e + c)/W
The final volume into which this steam is subsequently expanded being VA (I + c), its ratio to that of the water will be
S = VA(1 + c)/W
P' = Wa/VA(e + c) - b
and the effect E" per minute produced by the expansion of the steam will by (12.) be
2. The resistance produced by the vapour which remains condensed if the engine be a condensing engine, or of the atmospheric pressure if the engine do not condense the steam.
3. The resistance of the engine and its machinery, consisting of the friction of the various moving parts, the resistances of the feed pump, the cold water pump, &e. A part of these resistances are of the same amount, whether the engine be loaded or not, and part are increased, in some proportion depending on the load.
Let R = the pressure per square foot of the piston surface, which balances the resistances produced by the load.
Let R = the pressure per square foot, which balances that part
of the friction of the engine which is proportional to load.
r = the pressure per square foot, which balances the sum of all those resistances that are not proportional to the- load.
The total resistance, therefore, being R+mR+r, which, when the mean motion of the piston is uniform, must be equal to the mean pressure on the piston.. The total mechanical effect
D=U/F