How do steam locomotives work

More modern locomotives had their throttles located in the smokebox. The dry pipe carries the steam from the dome forward to the superheater, an improvement that came into wide use around The superheater is simply an arrangement of tubing that conducts the steam back through extra-large flues, where it is heated to a higher temperature, before returning it to the steam delivery pipes leading toward the cylinders.

The use of superheated, as opposed to saturated, steam brought a percent increase in the efficiency of the steam locomotive. As a pressure vessel, the boiler must be carefully managed, lest it blow up. Safety valves are designed to automatically let steam escape if the boiler pressure gets too high.

The top of the firebox, called the crown sheet, must be covered with water at all times. Devices like the water gauge, or glass, are provided in the cab for the crew to monitor water level. Low-water alarms are found on newer locomotives.

From the steam delivery pipes, the steam enters the valve chests one on each side. The valves, by moving back and forth, allow the steam to enter the cylinders at times when it can usefully push the pistons.

When the steam has done its work, the valve has moved to let it escape, at considerably diminished pressure, to the blast pipe in the smokebox. The motion of the valves is derived from the crosshead, which moves according to the rotation of the driving wheels and also is connected to the valve gear. Counterweights placed opposite the point of attachment of the rods keep the driving wheels balanced. The earliest locomotives had one pair of drivers, while the largest number of wheels driven from a single set of cylinders was six pairs.

Because of their great size or the need for flexibility, many locomotives had two engines — two sets of driving wheels, each powered by a set of cylinders. To help guide it into curves, many locomotives also had a small set of wheels either one pair or two in front beneath the smokebox called a lead or pony truck.

Similarly, a two- or four-wheel trailing truck was placed at the rear of the locomotive to support the firebox. After the steam is used in the cylinders, it enters the smokebox via the blast pipe. As the exhaust steam blasts upward toward the stack, it provides draft for the fire by drawing the gases through the flues and into the smokebox. Coal or oil are the fuels used for heating the water coal is shown in the diagram.

Coal is carried in the tender of the locomotive and is hand-shoveled by the fireman into the firebox. Water is carried in the tender in a tank surrounding the coal. The water passes to the locomotive through a device called an injector. By spreading the coal evenly throughout the firebox, the fireman creates a level fire above the grates. Air flows up through the grates allowing the coal to burn hotter.

However, the disposal of spent radioactive fuel rods, the vulnerability of the nuclear power plants to earthquakes and other issues leaves the public and the environment at great risk. Geothermal power is power generated using steam produced by heat emanating from the molten core of the earth. Geothermal power plants are relatively green technology. Solar thermal power plants can also use steam turbines to generate their power.

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Notify me of new posts via email. Skip to content Steam locomotives are fondly remembered for their essential role in the Industrial Revolution and are seen as one of the greatest inventions of all time.

But how do they work? An unusual view of a steam locomotive from above, showing a tender full of coal and a hot firebox. Share this: Twitter Facebook. Like this: Like Loading Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:. Email required Address never made public. Name required. Follow Following.

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