Opening Pages
nh! oy ee hee Ww ithe A Review of Published every Thursday Mo <a R a bits th Ss) 962 dy APF A py IR the Hardware, Iron anu AGE ades. liam St., New York. Muryy, 4q1 7 rning by David Williams Co., 232-238 Ww Vol. LXI/1/: No. ry New Reading Matter Contents.........page 3! Classified List of Advertisers.... “ 129 Alphabetical index te Advertisers “* 136 Advertising and Subscription Rates ** 65 York, Tiwvsday, Apr z 20, 1899. $4.50 a Year, including Postaga Single Copies, Ten Cents. Interesting Facts and Official Data Pertaining to the 1899 Dyxamo Bt. Louis, Mo. <DELTIG New York TUDOR IRON N WORKS, ST. LOuIS, Mo. MANUFACTURERS BAR IRON STEEL, THE BRISTOL COMPANY, Waterbury, Conn. Bristol’s Recording Instruments, For Pressure, Temperature and Electricity. All Ranges, Low Prices and Guar- anteed. Send for Circulars, — Also Massachusetts end Phenix Brands of Sash Cord. SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, - Boston, Mass, ——, Cc KL ES. BRANCH OFFICE: 11 nay New York. Cleveland City Forge and Iron Co., - Cleveland, 0. eS 2 BESSEMER PIC. PILLING &CRAN Girard Bullding, Philada. Lewis Biock, ‘ittsburgh. 465 to 471 Kent Ave. GRAND AMERICAN HANDICAP: Number of full entries, 251, at $25.00. ..$6,275.00 " * post …
nh! oy ee hee Ww ithe A Review of Published every Thursday Mo <a R a bits th Ss) 962 dy APF A py IR the Hardware, Iron anu AGE ades. liam St., New York. Muryy, 4q1 7 rning by David Williams Co., 232-238 Ww Vol. LXI/1/: No. ry New Reading Matter Contents.........page 3! Classified List of Advertisers.... “ 129 Alphabetical index te Advertisers “* 136 Advertising and Subscription Rates ** 65 York, Tiwvsday, Apr z 20, 1899. $4.50 a Year, including Postaga Single Copies, Ten Cents. Interesting Facts and Official Data Pertaining to the 1899 Dyxamo Bt. Louis, Mo. <DELTIG New York TUDOR IRON N WORKS, ST. LOuIS, Mo. MANUFACTURERS BAR IRON STEEL, THE BRISTOL COMPANY, Waterbury, Conn. Bristol’s Recording Instruments, For Pressure, Temperature and Electricity. All Ranges, Low Prices and Guar- anteed. Send for Circulars, — Also Massachusetts end Phenix Brands of Sash Cord. SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, - Boston, Mass, ——, Cc KL ES. BRANCH OFFICE: 11 nay New York. Cleveland City Forge and Iron Co., - Cleveland, 0. eS 2 BESSEMER PIC. PILLING &CRAN Girard Bullding, Philada. Lewis Biock, ‘ittsburgh. 465 to 471 Kent Ave. GRAND AMERICAN HANDICAP: Number of full entries, 251, at $25.00. ..$6,275.00 " * post ae is ~ Be0O6 ..... 385.00 - ‘* forfeit “ 16, 8 3) a 160.00 Total, - - 278 $6,820.00 Of which total number 179 shooters used U. M. C. factory loaded Shells, being 64.39% of the entire attendance and drawing $4,955.25 of the purse of $6,820.00. This is certainly an elegaut showing and does not need any further comment. Above speaks for itself as to the quality of the goois used by the winner, the HON. THOMAS A. MARSHALL OF KEITGSBURG, ILL., Who won the handicap for the-second time with goods made by the UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO., BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Winners of Handicap, 1893, 98, '99- S|GAHALL BOILERS = % CAPEWELL HORSE NAILS. NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS, BOSTON, DETROIT, CINCINNATI, SAN FRANCISCO, PORTLAND, ORE., BUFFALO, BALTIMORE, NEW ORLEANS. THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COPIPANY, HARTFORD, CONN. '04,°95,'97> BRANCHES: Send back to san t his expense, any sheet or part of a sheet of Apollo galvanized iron not perfectly right. Apollo Iron and Steel Company, Pittsburgh, WE CLAIM THE FOLLOWING MERITS FOR JENKINS BROS.’ VALYES. Manufactured of the best Steam Metal. . Noregrinding, therefore not constantly wearing out the Seat of the Valves. - 2 3. Contain JENKINS DISC, which is suitable for all Pressures of Steam, Oil, and Acids, 4 5 6 . The Easiest Repatred, and all parts Lnterchangeable, . Every Valve Tested before leaving the factory. +» ALL GENUINE stamped with Trade Mark. JENKINS BROTHERS, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston. Brass Prices High, So Use Bright “Swedoh” Stamp- seg {lp ing Steel Easily Brass Plated and Save Money. MAGNOLIA METAL Best Anti-Friction Metal for all Machinery Bearings. Beware of Imitations. Genuine Magnolia Metal is made up in bars of which this is a oy simile : on each The yt and wade possess box and bar, and the in United States” and “ Patented June 3. — der side of each bar are stamped on the un- MAGNOLIA METAL CO., (Scxacraccurorne) 266 & 267 WEST ST., NEW YOR ee ieeg 2 THE IRON AGE Ansonia Brass gm Coprer Co. BRASS AND COPPER Seamless Tubes, Sheets, Rods and Wire. ingot Copper. Waterbury Brass Co. Established 1845. Sheet, Roll and Platers’ Brass, German BSilver, Co r, Brass ana Ger- man Silver re. Brass and Copper Tubing. COPPER RIVETS AND BURS. PERCUSSION CAPS, TAPE MEASURES, METALLIC EYELETS, Tobin Bronze (Taaps-Manx ReegisTERE.) Condenser Plates, Pump Linings, Round, Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. 9&2! cut Street, Ba at - New York. Brass Kettles, Brass Tags, Powder Flasks, Shot Pouches, &c., AND SMALL BRASS WARES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. PH R CLOWEs HICK’S PRIMERS, BERDAN PRIMERS. AN pov Cartridge Metal in Sheets or Shells WATERBURY C: ONN, a Specialty. : UFACTURERS OF= DEPOTS: 60 Centre St., New York. 126 Eddy St., Provi- dence, R. i. 38 Mechanic St., Newark, N. J. HEEMBRAS. Ss & COPPER. MILLS AT WATERBURY, CONN. }/THE NEW DEFENDER All Her BRONZE CASTINGS are made of our... Ordnance Bronze Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze & Metal Co., BRIDGEPORT, CONN. MATTHIESSEN & HEGELER ZINC €0,, LA SALLE, ILLINOIS, SMELTERS OF SPIEILTIR AND MANUFACTURERS OF GHBBET ZINO AND SULPHURIC ACID. Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use Selected Sheets for Paper and Oard Makers’ use. Stove and Washboard Blanks. ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. BRASS COODS MFC. 00," == .BRAZED BRASS & COPPER TUBES. SEAMLESS BRASS & COPPER TUBES”38"DIAM N DEPOT. 226 Lane : R ESTE CHICAGO.ILL. * S mE Address all | SPECIAL eommunica - GOODS tions to the MADE TO factory. ORDER, BRONZE DOOR ENOBSB, Bronze and Plated Roses, Combined Rose and Escutcheon Pla et Shells, Patent Mirror Cushion Business Cards, Mucilage Brushes. Novelties yo ay new design ded order. me SALESROOM: 117 Chambers St., New York. FACTORY: 86-92 Third St., Se. Brooklyn, HENDRICKS BROTHERS, Proprietors of the Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, Brasicrs’, Bolt anced Bheathing COPPER. COPPER WIRE AND RIVETS. Importers and Dealers in ingot Copper, Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. THE PLUME & ATwooo Mr6. Co., —AxD— WIRE PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMAN SILVER AND GILDING METAL, COPPER RIVETS AND BURRS. Pins, Brass Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kere- sene Burners, Lamps, Lamp Trimmings, &c. 29 MURRAY ST., NEW YORK. 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. 199 LAKE 8T., CHICAGO, ROLLING MILL : ’ FACTORIES : THOMASTON, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN. SCOVILL MFG. C0., Manufacturers of BRASS SHEET, WIRE, TUBES, Hinges, Buttons, Lamp Goods, Nipples, Pumps and Oilers for Bicycles, Braziers’ Solder, Aluminum. Factories, WATERBURY, CONN. New York, JOHN DAVOL & SONS, AGENTS FOR Brooklyn Brass & Copper Co., DEALERS IN COPPER, TIN, SPELTER, LEAD, ANTIMONY. 100 John Street, New York. WILLIAM §. FEARING, 256 Broadway, NEW YORK, SELLS TO THE TRADE Sheet Brass, Fancy Sheet Brags, German Silver, Copper, Brass and German Silver Wire, Brazed and Seamless Brass and Copper Tubes, Brass and Cop- per Rods, Brass Ferrules, Pure Copper Wire, Sheet and Ingot Copper; Spelter, Tin, Antimony, Lead, £&c. THE BRIDGEPORT BRASS 6O., BRIDGEPORT, CONN. 19 Murray St., New York. 85-87 Pearl St., Boston. 17 N. 7th St., Philadelphia. MANUFACTURERS OF Brass {SHEET AND TUBING Copper | WIRE. Lamp Goods of all Kinds, BRASS AND COPPER GOODS In Great Varieties, a ‘THE IRON AGE. TuHurRspay, Aprit 20, 1899. The Gumphert Shaking Grate. The design and operation of the double acting shaking and dumping grate here illustrated will be readily under stood. The distribution of air through the bars is such that the most complete combustion takes place, leaving but a very small residue. For the easy removal of the ashes it is only necessary to insert the shaking lever in the device attached to the front of the boiler and move it slightly to and fro. The locking device is raised by the lever automatically, and the bars are moved in such a manner that the upper surfaces of adjacent bars assume a crossed position in relation to each other similar to the letter X. This is shown in the rear portion of the engrav ing. This removes the ashes, leaving the fire bright and clean, and yet does not allow any large openings through which unconsumed coal can fall into the ash pit. The fire can be dumped by moving one of the bracket levers for iH] Wilhiiiress | HH —— HII i ST va = THE GUMPHERT ward and the other backward, when all the bars will as sume a position with their upper surfaces parailel with each other and at an angle with the horizontal, so that whatever is on them will fall through to the ash pit. By this means all cleaning can be done from the front with- out the use of the common fire tools and with the furnace doors shut. The grate rests on legs, and is entirely inde- pendent of the boiler setting, and any expansion or con- traction of the grate or side walls will have no effect on its working. The frame requires no bolting together, the end frames dropping into dovetails on the side frames, and the only bolts necessary on the whole construction are those holding the legs to the frame, and for the shak- ing device, which is outside the front and consequently entirely away from the fire. The bars are so short and of such form that they are not liable to warp or get out of shape and lock the grate. This grate is built by the Gumphert-Marrin Engineering Company, 302 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. Bids were opened on the 13th inst. for supplying the city of Chicago with 7000 tons of cast iron water pipe. Only two bids were received, and the successful bidder was the United States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Com- pany. Their bid was $23.48 per ton, an advance of $7.50 over the price of last year. The bid of the American Pipe & Foundry Company was $24.43. The pipe is to be ready for delivery in September. There are 372,000 feet to be contracted for ail The American Foundrymen’s Association, The fourth annual convention of the American Foundrymen’s Association will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., May 16 to 19. For many weeks committees have been actively at work perfecting all the necessary arrange- ments for the entertainment of the large number who are sure to take advantage of the reduced railroad fares granted from all parts of the country. A very interesting programme has been prepared, but the committee report that they are not nearly through yet, and contemplate many exceedingly interesting features which will make this convention a most memorable one both from an en- joyable as well as a practical and educational standpoint. SHAKING GRATE. We are advised by Secretary John A. Penton that the programme, so far as is outlined by the committee co operating with the secretary, will be about as follows: Tuesday morning, reception and registration of dele- gates and their friends, and the opening of the convention, at which time addresses of welcome will be delivered by the Mayor, W. J. Diehl, representing the city. Clarence Burleigh, city attorney, will deliver an address on behalf of the local foundrymen. It is interesting to know, at this point, that Mr. Burleigh was originally a molder, having served his regular apprenticeship at the business. These, and possibly other addresses, will be responded to on behalf of the association by the president, C. S. Bell.’ The rest of the morning will be devoted to reports of officers, together with the reading of one or more of the many interesting papers of a technical character con nected with the association’s work. Tuesday afternoon the delegates and their friends will enjoy a trolley ride about the city and be shown some of the chief points of interest. Tuesday evening two papers of an unusually interesting character will be read and illustrated by the aid of a stereopticon, comprising an account of some of the recent improvements in foundry designing and erec tion, foundry equipment, &c. On Wednesday morning there will be a business meeting of the association. Wednesday afternoon the entire association will be taken a en eee Pe re ee O28 ya ween ayy Fe ee +e ve : 2 by train to Wilmerding, a few miles from Pittsburgh, where they will have an opportunity of visiting the plant of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, famous for many orig- inal methods of doing work. Wednesday evening an in- formal reception will be held at one of the hotels of the city. Thursday morning.—This time will again be given up to the business of the association, and possibly the business of the meeting may be entirely closed up at that time. Thursday afternoon delegates and their friends will be taken on an excursion to the Homestead plant of the Carnegie Steel Company. Thursday evening an informal gathering, in all probability a smoker. will be held at some convenient point in the city. On Friday, if there is no association business requiring attention, an opportunity will be given to all visitors to see any of the foundries or other objects of interest in and about Pittsburgh. The Local Entertainment Committee, of which I. W. Frank is chairman. will see that all possible assistance is given. Every foundryman, whether or not a member of the association, will be welcome, and while the American Foundrymen’s Association, of course, likes to include in its membership as many as are eligible, it will not dis- criminate in any character between those who are mem- bers and those who are not. — a = Key Duplicating Machine. The machine here illustrated, built by the Builders’ Iron Foundry of Providence, R. I., will-accurately dupli- eate Yale, Corbin or similar keys in less than one min- Fig. 1.- Power. TLE IRON AGE. April 20, 1899 the “ Southern Cross” from London on August 22, 1898, under Capt. C. E. Borchgrevink. The steamer landed its captain, ten men, dogs and supplies at Cape Adare, the nearest point of Victoria Land, and has reached New Zealand on its return. Cape Adare is in 71° 23’ south latitude, 169° 56’ east longitude, and Captain orchgrevink proposed to winter there and then start toward the south pole in the spring. The Germans are now organizing a still larger expedition to be sent south under Dr. Erich von Drygalski, a distinguished Green- land explorer, at an estimated cost of $200,000. The Brit- ish Royal Geographical Society has voted $25,000 to as- sist in this exploration. All these evince the reawaken- iug interest in explorations in the neighborhood of the south pole. i, —_ lechanical Engineers’ Convention. The thirty-ninth meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers will be held in Washington, May 9 to 12, with headquarters at the Arlington. The open- ing session and informal reception by the president and officers of the society will be held on the evening of the 9th. On Wednesday afternoon the society will be re- ceived by President McKinley in the White House. During the sessions the following papers will be read: J. B. Stanwood, “ Standards for Direct Connected Gen- erating Sets;”’ R. S. Hale, “ Boiler and Furnace Efficien- cies;” F. L. Emory, “ Test of a Steam Separator;” Gus C. Henning, “ Investigations of Boiler Explosions;” F. L. Emory, “ Relation Between Initial Tension and Power KEY DUPLICATING MACHINE ute. The key to be duplicated is placed in the right hand clamp and the blank in the left hand clamp. The backs of the keys should bear their entire length on the shoul- ders of the clamps, with the shoulder of the key and of the blank close to the left hand side of the clamp jaws. The guide disk is adjusted so that when it is at the shoulder of the key the wheel will just touch the corre- sponding part of the blank: Then with the wheel revolv- ing the hand lever is moved from right to left until the wheel ceases to grind the blank. The blank will then be an exact duplicate of the original key. By varying the relative position of the guide disk with reference to the face of the wheel, keys may be cut narrower or wider than the pattern. The machine is furnished with a pul- ley for either flat or round belt, or with gears when it is desired to operate it by hand. The emery wheel is % inches in diameter, % inch face and has a 7-16 inch hole. a = On August 16, 1897, Lieutenant Girlache of the Bel- gian Navy sailed from Antwerp for the purpose of ant- arctic exploration. He was accompanied by a staff of scientists, including Dr. F. A. Cook of Brooklyn, and was last heard from on December 27, 1897, near Tierra del Fuego, bound for Graham’s Land. He was due at Melbourne in April, 1898. Another expedition was or- ganized at the cost of Sir George Newes, who sent out Transmitted by a Belt;” C. L. Newcomb, “ Experiments on Various Types of Fire Hydrants;” G. W. Bissell, “Experiences with Deep Well Pumping Rods;” A. F. Nagle, “ Pipe Flanges and Their Bolts;” George R. Hen- derson, “Manufacture of Car Wheels;” R. P. Bolton, “Equipment of Tall Office Buildings in New York City;” Storm Bull, “The Central Heating Plant of the University of Wisconsin;” E. A. Darling, “The Power Plant of a University;” G. I. Alden, “ The Plunger Ele- vator;”’ C. R. Pratt, “ Elevators;” C. H. Quereau, “ The Allen Valve for Locomotives;” John Fritz, “ Rolling Mill Fly Wheels;” F. W. Gordon, “New System of Valves for Steam Engines, Air Engines and Compres- sors.” in —_—— On and after May 1 the headquarters of the Japan- American Commercial and Industrial Association in New York City will be located in the Singer Building on lower Broadway, where the association has rented the fourth floor, consisting of 12 rooms. The organization now has 600 members in Japan and 300 in this country, and is doing much toward increasing the trade between the two countries. Charles E. Locke, formerly of the _ National Association of Manufacturers, is manager of the Japan-American Association, the president of which is Shizuo Kondo. April 20, 1899 Central Steam Condensing Plants.* During the last 20 years steam condensation for mining and rolling mill machinery has been developed to a con- siderable degree. By bearing in mind that with central- The Fig. 1. Weiss Condensing Plant. THE IRON AGE. 3 the same districts not less than 50,000 hcrse-power have been installed in mining plants. The construction of such central condensing plants for steam machinery in iron works was started in the seven- ties. The Dingler’sche Maschinen Fabrik at Zwei- briicken in 1878 built a central condensing plant for the iron works of the Dillingen Duisburger Maschinenbau Act- ien Gesellschaft in 1878 and in 1880 constructed two central condensing plants for iron works, one for the Georgs-Ma- rienhuette at Osnabrueck, and the other for Thyssen & Cie. in Milheim a. d. Ruhr. That these plants, which even in regard to size may be compared with more modern installations, proved to be a valuable and economical investment is shown by the very fact that they are running to-day after 20 years of service. At the beginning a more general introduction of central condensation was prevented by the difficulty of securing the considerable amount of fresh cooling water needed. The last ten years witnessed a rapid development of this new branch of steam engineering for the following reasons : i. With suitably constructed condensers the cooling water can be used much more thoroughly than in former systems. 2. Even with quantities of cooling water which admit of obtaining only a low vacuum considerable saving may be effected through condensation. 3. The necessary quantity of cooling water may be re- duced by making use not only of the cold contained in the water as liquid, but also of the cold secured from part of the water in evaporating. 4. Cooling water, once used and therefore warm, may be cooled and be used over again; thus only the loss of cooling water resulting from evaporation and handling must be made good. Among the pioneers in this new field F. T. Weiss, C. E., in Basel, deserves mention. By his clear and ex haustive publications on this subject he first called at- tention to this special branch Before entering into a more detailed description of the central steam condensing plants, the advantages and dis- advantages as compared with single condensation may be mentioned. There is no more disadvantage in the fact that all ma- chinery of a works depends upon one or more central sta- tions than there is in the dependence of many machines upon a single boiler plant or a single steam pipe. It is easy to provide for areserve. A central steam condensing ~ Sy ‘is ae ee oad Dist 6 jot $ WereE " Mr UY) 165 4 ae Bk 4k Ade SE is BF 2 3 ae os I a “ais : 2 aa t Fig. 2.—The Baleke Closed Condensing Plant. CENTRAL STEAM ized steam condensation goes a saving of from 10 to 40 per cent. of the coal bill. it will readily be appreciated why since 1889 over 290.000 horse power have been connected with centralized condensing plants in the iron works of Rhineland and Westphalia. During the last two years in *From Stahl und Eisen, February, 1899. CONDENSING PLANTS. plant, from the very start, is much more carefully de- signed, for the reason of its importance to the whole estab- lishment, than a single condenser. Being perfectly inde- pendent of the steam engines, the condensing pumps may be constructed and run in fall harmony with their purpose. Of course the designer must avail himself thoroughly of these advantages by giving sufficient dimensions to the . 1 THE IRON AGE. pumps, letting them run slowly and making them easily accessible, conditions which rarely can be met in direct coupled condensing engines, and even less in modern high speed steam engines. In the case of central condensation a vacuum exists when the engines are started; this fact is of prime im- portance to rolling mill engines, which, as a rule, must start often and under a heavy load. As a rule, engines running continuously and under a constant load may be provided advantageously with inde- pendent condensation. But for rolling mill engines mat- ters are different. Most of them run intermittently and ander very variable load, heavy in starting. Therefore with rolling mill and mining engines centr al condensation is preferable under all circumstances. Centralized plants, as they have been built in practice, can be arranged in two main groups—Viz. : 1. Mixing or jet condensers 2. Surface condensers. Both systems differ mainly by the fact that in the first system cooling water and exhaust are mixed together and pass through a common outlet, whereas in the second sys tem both are kept separate. In all designs, regardless of the class to which they may belong, one general require- ment holds good—that is, under all circumstances, what- ever the variations of the amount of steam used by the engine may be, no stoppage of the condenser is allowed to happen. Whether a condenser is able to meet this con- Plan Fig. 3. : April 20, 1899 a method suggested in 1889 by Weiss. The advantages of this principle are so well known that it is not necessary to explain thein here any further. Fig. 1 presents the Weiss condenser. The condenser itself is mounted in a rather elevated position. The ex- haust enters from below through B, the cooling water ~ 4 ; + ae ». i ves ——— - y ; 5 Y= = Ml i! } 4 / y ‘ iN, 4 ath SN Ae ' . : st Ny . f N\ ey \ DAN} \ IK BY 1 th AS oH ‘ Fae 3 — =a eB Uy a= Ze) ys Ui), 72 > 6s j Wy =" ane j a i be PH, | ~ U/// @ W/, 4 f Nie ch Ria 4 ae “rr , Fig. 4.—The Klein Cooling Tower. Fig. 3.—Plan and Elevation of Dehne Oil Extractor. CENTRAL STEAM CONDENSING PLANTS. dition can be determined in advance by means of formule. It is essential with the condenser to have a great range of elasticity, that is to say. the quantity of water contained in the condenser must be sufficient to overcome a sudden rush of a maximum of steam without an excessive rise of temperature in the condenser itself, a condition which in practice is successfully met by providing large quantities and automatic circulation of cooling water. Jet Condensers. All designers of modern centralized jet condensers have water and exhaust circulating in opposite directions, enters at the top D, and is furnished by a rotary pump, M. The air is exhausted at the top E, and the warm water (cooling water and condensed exhaust) is delivered through the tube A. The quantity of cooling water is in- dependent of the vacuum, therefore constant as long as the number of revolutions of the pump does not change. Weiss arranges the quantity and feed of the cooling water in such a way that even with the maximum quantity of exhaust the temperature in the condenser is kept below 100 degrees Celsius Any danger of failure of the apparatus with considerably varying quantities of exhaust is there- fore excluded, since the feed of the water is assured. April 20 1899 The pressure in the condenser varies considerably, corre- sponding to the quantities of exhaust coming in. Asa consequence the column of water contained in A hasa tendency to oscillate up and down. Difficulties arising from this source, which were serious in the early days, Weiss lessens with the aid of the valve. THE IRON AGE. 5 3) surface condensers on ocean steamers. During the last years this system has been introduced in stationary plants, also, especially where the use of condensed exhaust for boiler feeding seems advisable. Such is the case when the water at hand is wholly unfit for boiler use and the feed water must be bought from city service at high Elevation Fig. 5. Fig.5.—The Weiss Central Condensing Plant. CENTRAL STEAM CONDENSING PLANTS. Surface Condensers, in the surface condenser the cooling water and condensed exhaust circulate separately. Im case that all engines of an establishment are connected with the central condensa- tion the condensed water, together with the water from the cylinder jackets, covers the whole amount of feed water required for the boiler, with the exception of 2 to 5 per cent. of loss due to leaky connections, &c. Therefore the same water keeps circulating through the boilers, which circumstance caused the general introduction of prices, and when the water of an existing supply must be purified before it can be used. Theintroduction of surface condensation may lead to substantial advantages even when the feed water can be used directly but shows a tendency to form scale in the boiler. Surface condensa- tion, besides reducing the coal bill considerably: 1, Les- sens the cost of feed water; 2, lessens the cost of cleaning and maintaining boilers; and 3, improves the heating sur- face of the boilers. As to the relative value of surface and jet condensers a So 6 THE IRON AGE it must be borne in mind that with the former the first cost is always higher, and the quantity of cooling water is from 15 to 20 per cent. greater than with the latter. Con- densed water from a surface condenser is not by any means pure distilled water, but it contains all the oil used in lubricating the cylinders, and this oil must be elim- inated before the water can be used as feed water for boilers. As in jet condensers the aim is to arrange for the coun- ter current system in surface condensers The different plants constructed in practice may be grouped as follows: 1. Closed Condensers.—The cooling water circulates through a system of pipes arranged 1n a circular boiler, and the exhaust is in contact with the outer surface of the pipes. 2. Open Condensers.—The exhaust circulates through a system of pipes laid in ponds containing cooling water. 3. Trickling Condensers.—Cooling water runs over cooling surfaces (pipes, hollow plates) through which ex haust steam circulates. The circulation of air and the evaporation of the cooling water taking place in this class of apparatus effects a saving of the cooling water. 4. Evaporation Condensers.—The cooling water having become warmed by exhaust steam is, inside of the con- denser proper, by mechanical means brought into close contact with a current of air produced by afan. An in- April 20, 1899 is such that a settling of gypsum in condensers is prac tically excluded Fig. 2 represents a closed surface condenser of Balcke & Co. of Bochum. The exhaust to be con- densed passes through the pipe B first into an oil separator, to be described more fully later on, and from there into the condenser. The latter consists of a closed wrought iron vessel containing a great number of brass pipes. By means of horizontal partition walls the vessel is divided into four branches, so that the exhaust to be condensed must travel through the vessel four times before it reaches the exhaust pipe E connected with an air pump, L. In the pipe E a water trap is provided to prevent condensed water from going to the air pump. Through the pipe C the condensed exhaust is drawn off. The circulation of the cooling water is kept up by the piston pump K, which takes it by pipe L from the cooling tower, forces it through the pipe D into the condenser, and from there through pipe A back to the cooling tewer. The Removal of Oil from Cooling Water and Con- densed Exhaust. In jet condensers the cooling water and exhaust be- come mixed together, and in this mixture the cylinder lubricating oil is contained. When the water is used over again the oil must be eliminated, if the risk is not to be run of having trouble from oil deposits in the con. Figs. 6-9.—Jet Condensing Plant. CENTRAL STEAM CONDENSING PLANTS. tense evaporation and cooling is thus produced. Such designs were brought forward at a time (1888) when the modern plants were not yet kaown and means had to be provided to reduce the quantity of cooling water. The success of such designs with a Theisen condensing plant was proven by a 550 horse-power machine. The consump- tion of condensing water was only 1 pound per pound of steam. In the same plant the condenser absorbed 2.8 per cent. of the useful effect of the steam engine. Surface condensers accommodate themselves more readily to varying quantities of exhaust steam than jet condensers. Open or tank condensers, on account of the great quantity of cooling water they contain, arc espe- cially suitable in cases where the quantities of exhaust steam are very variable. The action of the different salts contained in cooling water as affected during their passage through the con- denser is a matter of the highest importance. This ques- tion is especially important with surface condensers, which, as a rule, use bad cooling water—that is to say, cooling water possessing a great tendency to form scale. Of the carbonates and sulphates contained in cooling waters carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia and gyp- sum are most common. In regard to carbonate of lime researches by Prof. Dr. H. Bunte of Karlsruhe show that objectionable settling of carbonate of lime need not be feared in cooling water circulating through the condenser in a contiDuous current and provided a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees C. is not exceeded. Carbonate of magnesia acts in a similar way. The solubility of gypsum in water denser and cooling apparatus. The removal of the oil from the condensed water becomes even more important in surface condensation where the water is to be returned to the boilers. Feed water containing oil is just as bad as water forming boiler scale. The oil may be removed, 1, from the exhaust: 2, from the products of condensation. C. Kiesselbach seems to have first called attention to the possibility of eliminating oil from exhaust steam. Apparatus embodying this principle deserve the preference over those based upon the second method, because the condenser is kept free from oil. Apparatus of the first kind, which eliminate the oil by a sudden change of the velocity and direction of the exhaust, have repeatedly been put into successful practical operation by Sack & Kiesselbach. Fig. 2 shows the Balcke condensing plant with an oil extractor, which is designed as a feed water heater also. The oil eliminator consists of a wrought iron vessel containing a number of ribbed cast iron pipes in which the jet of steam scatters and deposits its iL The oil, together with some con- ~ densed water, runs down the pipes. and is drawn off by an oil water pump, 2, which forces the mixture to an oil purifying apparatus. Pump 1 force the condensed water through the ribbed pipes to the feed water tank, where, as a rule, the water from the cylinder jackets is directed, too, and where it naturally increases the heat of the feed water. Means to free condensed exhaust of oil have ‘been known for a long time, and are often used, especially on shipboard. The simplest way is to have water and vil April 20, 1899 separate in large tanks or ponds by specific gravity. An- other way is to combine the settling tanks with pebble or coke filters. In the apparatus of A. L. G. Dehne, Halle a. S., special substances, hydrate of alumina, barytes, are added to the oil and water. These substances form flocculent bodies in the water, to which ol and fat particles adhere ; finally the water is filtered. Fig. 3, a, b, c, shows the disposition of a Dehne plant for 8000 liters per hour. This plart is in THE IRON AGE. 7 Exhaust Steam Pipe Line. As a rule, the exhaust of the individual engines is con- ducted into a common pipe line of suitable dimensions to carry the exhaust of them all at an average velocity of the steam of 350 feet per second. The arrangement of this pipe line must be such that the vacuum of the central station is conveyed as effectively as possible to every single cylinder. Leakage and sharp curves, there- fore, must be avoided. A small difference in the pressure Figs. 10-12.— Open Condensing Plant at Recklinghausen Shaft. CENTRAL STEAM CONDENSING PLANTS. successful operation day and night. Water to be purified etiters at A into a vessel, B, where a considerable part of the oil settles. D receives the special substance, and in C this is mixed with the water. From C the water passes through E to the filter presses, and through F to the settling vessel G. At the bottom of G the purified water uns off, and at the top of G the oil may be thrown off. When the condensed exhaust inust at the same time be freed of air before being used as feed water it is heated up to a high temperature. The Lundkoist oil extractor, built at the Howaldt Works at Kiel. and introduced into the navy, heats the water up to 90 degrees C. at both ends of the line must exist; from present tech- nical literature no data regarding this loss can be collected, but - well constructed lines it may be assumed to be very sma The exhaust does not flow continuously to the con- denser, but in intervals, and since the condenser is able to work up only a certain quantity of steam in a certain time periodical variations of pressure must result. Cal- culations show that, if in the moment the piston goes back the tension in front of the piston is to be as nearly as possible equal to the mean tension in the condenser, the volume of the condenser and the exhaust pipe line s+) open a cn i + 7 ae ti ve 6 THE IRON AGE it must be borne in mind that with the former the first cost is always higher, and the quantity of cooling water is from 15 to 20 per cent. greater than with the latter. Con- densed water from a surface condenser is not by any means pure distilled water, but it contains all the oil used in lubricating the cylinders, and this oil must be elim- inated before the water can be used as feed water for boilers. As in jet condensers the aim is to arrange for the coun- ter current system in surface condensers The different plants constructed in practice may be grouped as follows: 1. Closed Condensers.—The cooling water circulates through a system of pipes arranged 1n a circular boiler, and the exhaust is in contact with the outer surface of the pipes. 2. Open Condensers.—The exhaust circulates through a system of pipes laid in ponds containing cooling water. 3. Trickling Condensers.—Cooling water runs over cooling surfaces (pipes, hollow plates) through which ex haust steam circulates. The circulation of air and the evaporation of the cooling water taking place in this class of apparatus effects a saving of the cooling water. 4. Evaporation Condensers.—The cooling water having become warmed by exhaust steam is, inside of the con- denser proper, by mechanical means brought into close An in- contact with a current of air produced by a fan. April 20, 1899 is such that a settling of gypsum in condensers is prac tically excluded Fig. 2 represents a closed surface condenser of Balcke & Co. of Bochum. The exhaust to be con- densed passes through the pipe B first into an oil separator, to be described more fully later on, and from there into the condenser. The latter consists of a closed wrought iron vessel containing a great number of brass pipes. By means of horizontal partition walls the vessel is divided into four branches, so that the exhaust to be condensed must travel through the vessel four times before it reaches the exhaust pipe E connected with an air pump, L. In the pipe E a water trap is provided to prevent condensed water from going to the air pump. Through the pipe C the condensed exhaust is drawn off. The circulation of the cooling water is kept up by the piston pump K, which takes it by pipe L from the cooling tower, forces it through the pipe D into the condenser, and from there through pipe A back to the cooling tower. The Removal of Oil from Cooling Water and Con- densed Exhaust, In jet condensers the cooling water and exhaust be- come mixed together, and in this mixture the cylinder lubricating oil is contained. When the water is used over again the oil must be eliminated, if the risk is not to be run of having trouble from oil deposits in the con. Oe Figs. 6-9.—Jet Condensing Plant. CENTRAL STEAM CONDENSING PLANTS. tense evaporation and cooling is thus produced. Sach designs were brought forward at a time (1888) when the modern plants were not yet known and means had to be provided to reduce the quantity of cooling water. The success of such designs with a Theisen condensing plant was proven by a 550 horse-power machine. The consump- tion of condensing water was only 1 pound per pound of steam. In the same plant the condenser absorbed 2.8 per cent. of the useful effect of the steam engine. Surface condensers accommodate themselves more readily to varying quantities of exhaust steam than jet condensers. Open or tank condensers, on account of the great quantity of cooling water they contain, arc espe- cially suitable in cases where the quantities of exhaust steam are very variable. The action of the different salts contained in cooling water as affected during their passage through the con- denser is a matter of the highest importance. This ques- tion is especially important with surface condensers, which, as a rule, use bad cooling water—that is to say, cooling water possessing a great tendency to form scale. Of the carbonates and sulphates contained in cooling waters carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia and gyp- sum are most common. In regard to carbonate of lime researches by Prof. Dr. H. Bunte of Karlsruhe show that objectionable settling of carbonate of lime need not be feared in cooling water circulating through the condenser in a contiDuous current and provided a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees C. is not exceeded. Carbonate of magnesia acts in a similar way. The solubility of gypsum in water denser and cooling apparatus. The removal of the oil from the condensed water becomes even more important in surface condensation where the water is to be returned to the boilers. Feed water containing oil is just as bad as water forming boiler scale. The oil may be removed, 1, from the exhaust; 2, from the products of condensation. C. Kiesselbach seems to have first called attention to the possibility of eliminating oil from exhaust steam. Apparatus embodying this principle deserve the preference over those based upon the second method, because the condenser is kept free from oil. Apparatus of the first kind, which eliminate the oil by a sudden change of the velocity and direction of the exhaust, have repeatedly been put into successful practical operation by Sack & Kiesselbach. Fig. 2 shows the Balcke condensing plant with an oil extractor, which is designed as a feed water heater also. The oil eliminator consists of a wrought iron vessel containing a number of ribbed cast iron ig in which the jet of steam scatters — and deposits its oil. The oil, together with some con- densed water, runs down the pipes. and is drawn off by an oil water pump, 2, which forces the mixture to an oil purifying apparatus. Pump 1 force the condensed water through the ribbed pipes to the feed water tank, where, as a rule, the water from the cylinder jackets is directed, too, and where it naturally increases the heat of the feed water. Means to free condensed exhaust of oil have ‘been known for a long time, and are often used, especial ly on The simplest way is to have water and vil shipboard. April 20, 1899 separate in large tanks or ponds by specific gravity. An- other way is to combine the settling tanks with pebble or coke filters. In the apparatus of A. L. G. Dehne, Halle a. S., special substances, Sodivete of alumina, barytes, are added to the oil and water. These substances form flocculent bodies in the water, to which oul and fat particles adhere; finally the water is filtered. Fig. 3, a, b, c, shows the disposition of a Dehne plant for 8000 liters per hour. This plart is in THE IRON AGE. 7 Exhaust Steam Pipe Line. As a rule, the exhaust of the individual engines is con- ducted into a common pipe line of suitable dimensions to carry the exhaust of them all at an average velocity of the steam of 350 feet per second. The arrangement of this pipe line must be such that the vacuum of the central station is conveyed as effectively as possible to every single cylinder. Leakage and sharp curves, there- fore, must be avoided. A small difference in the pressure — i i v | . a : 7 1 : SS N . - } J ¥ +} } | 4 : SECTION A B Figs. 10-12.— Open Condensing Plant at Recklinghausen Shaft. CENTRAL STEAM CONDENSING PLANTS. successful operation day and night. Water to be purified etiters at A into a vessel, B, where a considerable part of the oi] settles. D receives the special substance, and in C this is mixed with the water. From C the water passes through E to the filter presses, and through F to the settling vessel G. At the bottom of G the purified water uns off, and at the top of G the oil may be thrown off. When the condensed exhaust inust at the same time be freed of air before being used as feed water it is heated up to a high temperature. The Lundkoist oil extractor, built at the Howaldt Works at Kiel. and introduced into the navy, heats the water up to 90 degrees C. at both ends of the line must exist; from present tech- nical literature no data regarding this loss can be collected, but 4 well constructed lines it may be assumed to be very sma The exhaust does not flow continuously to the con- denser, but in intervals, and since the condenser is able to work up only a certain quantity of steam in a certain time periodical variations of pressure must result. Cal- culations show that, if in the moment the piston goes back the tension in front of the piston is to be as nearly as possible equal to the mean tension in the condenser, the volume of the condenser and the exhaust pipe line =—+— +e ee Raa =—, — ae a See 4g 2S 3 a. f sh es i 8 must be the larger the more slowly the engine connected to the condenser is ranning. Thus, with hoisting engines, slowly revolving blowers, &c., larger vessels are often inserted into the exhaust steam pipe to reduce the pressure. Sometimes the exhaust is supposed to re-evaporate water condensed in the exhaust pipe. Theoretical re- searches show this to be impossible, and therefore means must be provided to take Such water out of the exhaust steam pipe. Several designs for its continuous or tem- porary elimination are in successful operation. Safety valves must also be attached to the exhaust "ey line, disconnecting the condenser in case it should ail. Re-cooling of Cooling Water. About eight years since the plan was proposed to build appliances independent of the condensation plant proper for the purpose of cooling the water after it has been used in the condensing plant, in cases where cooling water was scarce. All of these designs aim at transferring the absorbed heat from the water to the surrounding air. The systems in practical use are: _ 1, Cooling tanks or ponds in which the water gives off its heat to the walls and the air. With modern big plants and where property is high in price such tanks cannot be used. 2. Cooling towers. To cool water quickly and effect- ively it is advisable to spray it in fine drops. and have these drops pass currents of air. Cooling towers are built of wood or iron, and about as high as the warm water is pumped. From the top the water falls over bundles of thorns, inclined surfaces, &c., forming drops, which pass currents of air secured by induced or natural draft. These cooling towers may be divided into open or closed coolers. Open coolers are towers 12 tu 24 feet high, pro- vided with means for spraying the water. The design must be such that free circulation of air is gusranteed. The closed or chimney cooler consists of a water spraying apparatus, distributing the water over a great number of boards arranged like stairs, where the water is sprayed in drops. In the middle a passageway is left open to secure accessibility and increase ventilation. The whole apparatus is housed in a wooden frame work covered by boards. In the lower part holes are provided to allow entrance of air. The structure acts like a chimney. Should the area available for building the cooler on happen to be very small the hight of the structure must be increased. Another way of increasing the working capacity of a cooler is artificial ventilation. As a rule, complication attendant upon the use of machinery is avoided. but nevertheless in increasing existing plants me- chanical draft sometimes will be found very advantageous. Koerting Bros. of Koenigsdorf have introduced sprinklers with the object of scattering the hot water so as to promote evaporation. A fixed screw in the nozzle gives the water a rotary motion. Leaving the nozzle the water, owing to its inherent momentum, is sprayed in every direction. A pressure of one atmosphere is suffi- cient for this purpose. The openings of the nozzle.vary from 4 to 25mm. In cooling tanks or ponds a greater number of these sprinklers are arranged at a distance of abont 3 m. one from another. In practice 30 nozzles of 13 mm. diameter have proven sufficient to cool 200 c. m. per hour, a water pressure of 10 m. being used. Some Plants Erected in Practice. In the following the dispositions of some larger modern centralized condensing plants are given: A Weiss Central Condensing Plant.—This plant was designed to cool 1060 c. m. water per hour. The exhaust pipe line A, Figs. 4 and 5, is divided in two branches in front of the central, and delivers the steam to two con- densers of identical construction. The warm water es- capes through pipe C; the air goes through D and E to the air pumps H. he two steam engines T, in addition to the air pumps, run two rotary pumps, M and N, of which the former one lifts the cooling water to the top of the cooling tower, and the latter pumps the cooled water through the pipe line O to the condenser. Both condensers can work independently, and thus the plant forms a reserve in itself. A Jet Condensing P:ant.—This plant was built by Sack & Kiesselbach of Rath, Germany, to recool 1500 c. m. of cooling water per hour. The exhaust of a number of blowing engines and an electrical central station enters through the steam pipe A, Figs. 6 to 9, into a con- denser of 10 m. length and 22m. diameter. Jet water is drawn in through the pipe B from the tank of the cooling tower. The water baving circulated through the con- denser in opposite direction to the exhaust, it 1s drawn off by the piston pumps D, and lifted to the cooling tower to which pipe T leads. The air is exhausted through the pipe E by means of the two air pumps G. A com- pound engine, also connected to the condensation by means of pipe L, keeps all pumps running. The whole plant covers an area of only 120 sq. m. A Surface Condensing Plant.—This plant was built by THE IRON AGE. April 20, 1899 the Maschinen & Armaturen Fabrik vormals Klein, Schauzlin & Becker of Freudenthal, Germany, to cool 650 c. m. of water per hour. This plant is in operation at the Recklinghausen II shaft, near Herne, Westphalia. Connected with it are the pumping plant hoisting engine, ventilator. air compressor, coal washer and lighting engine. The plant belongs to the so-called open condens- ers, especially suitable for very varying quantities of ex- haust. The condenser proper consists of four bundles of brass pipes, having a cooling surface of 750 sq. m., and lying in open cooling ponds. The water remains about 13.3 minutes in the condenser. Pipes A and B, Fig. 10, unite at a short distance in front of the condenser, and the exhaust brought in by them is distributed to the pipe system, where it condenses. At the lower end the con densed steam and air enter a vertical vessel, D, Fig. 11. about 1 m. diameter and 2 m. in hight. Here air and water separate, and the air is drawn off through the pipe E by a Weiss air pump. The condensed water is forced by a piston pump of 351 mm. diameter and 200 mm. stroke to a big receiver, F, which is usually termed a preliminary filter. where a partial separation of oil takes place. From here the water goes to two pebble filters, G, of 2x40 = 80 sg. m. area. One division of the pond may be cleaned while the other is in service. A iarge part of the oil collects on the surface. The filtered water enters the perforated pipes H lying at the bottom of the layer of the pebble filter and passes from these through J, K and L, Figs. 11 and 12. into the pure water tank M. There it is met by the water from the cylinder traps. The plant furnishes feed © water of 50 to 60 degrees C., the waste veing 2 to 5 per cent. The centrifugal pump O, of a capacity of 650 c. m. per hour, forces the water to the top of the cooling tower through the pipe R. From there the water runs back to the condenser. The cooling water used in this plant contains much salt, but that in no way hinders the operation of the condenser. The open cooler covers an area of 640 sq.m. The power to run the condensing plant amounts to 49 horse-power. If the ratio of exhaust and cooling water is taken as 1 : 30, and 1 horse-power hour equal to 10 kg. of steam, it follows: Condensed steam, per hour........... — = 21,667 kilograms. , 21,667 Indicated horse-power................ yp = 2,166.7 horse-power. 4900 F ID