A smoked boiler is a device used to heat water and turn it into steam to power machinery. It was commonly used in the 19th century and reduced the number of boiler explosions by using a round heating surface. A dome is often added for strength and a large chimney is needed for oxygen flow.
A smoked boiler, sometimes known as a shell boiler, is a type of device used to hold water, heat that water, and turn it into steam that can be used to power machinery. Such components were used in the 19th century primarily as a means of driving steam engines for trains or other equipment. The chimney boiler features a large cylindrical casing in which water can be stored; within that shell, a conduit or duct runs the length of it, sometimes returning to the original side of the entrance. This fireplace is heated by fire, which in turn heats the water and creates steam.
The use of steam as a power source was common in the 19th century, both for vehicles and for factory components. Older boiler designs had a tendency to explode due to flaws in the way the water was boiled; the smoked boiler helped reduce the number of boiler explosions while creating steam at higher pressures by ensuring the heating surface was round rather than flat. Round surfaces tend to be stronger than flat ones, especially when heated, so the flues in a smoky boiler were better equipped to handle the thermal stresses necessary for efficiency.
Very often the end of the chimney boiler chamber will have a dome. This provides more strength when it comes to resisting the pressures created by steam production. This is especially common in shorter boiler cylinders, as the pressure can become much higher. High pressures are further increased when a smoke return boiler design is used; This means the chimney enters the cylinder, then curves into a U shape and returns to the original entry point on one side of the chamber. This design was created to ensure that enough heat can be produced in a smaller space, as the flue must be quite long to effectively heat the water.
A large chimney is often required to ensure plenty of oxygen is flowing to the fire. In many models of chimney boilers, the airflow supplied the fire itself, and without it, the fire would go out and the chimney would not produce enough heat to heat the water and produce steam. The chimney is usually placed at one end of the cylinder to ensure quick access to the chimney and quick transfer of oxygen directly to the fire that heats the chimney.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
