Steam boiler explosions, in theory and in pactice; . , and exposed to low temper-atures. In such cases the expansive force exerted,when freezing, by the formation of ice and the increaseof volume accompanying the formation of the crystals,either drives out the plug, sometimes projecting ithundreds of yards (Fig. 3), or actually bursts the thickiron case. In the more familiar cases of purposely producedexplosion, the expansion is caused by the production olgreat quantities of gas previously in solid form. The * Phenomena of Hunt: Cazin. 34 STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS. violence of the familiar explo
Steam boiler explosions, in theory and in pactice; . , and exposed to low temper-atures. In such cases the expansive force exerted,when freezing, by the formation of ice and the increaseof volume accompanying the formation of the crystals,either drives out the plug, sometimes projecting ithundreds of yards (Fig. 3), or actually bursts the thickiron case. In the more familiar cases of purposely producedexplosion, the expansion is caused by the production olgreat quantities of gas previously in solid form. The * Phenomena of Hunt: Cazin. 34 STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS. violence of the familiar explosives as used in ordnance,in mining operations, is commonly due to this combinedeffect of heat and chemical action, occurring by thesudden action of powerful forces. In the steam-boilerexplosion, mighty forces previously long held in subjec-tion, finally overcome all resistance, and their suddenapplication to external bodies constitute the disaster. 9. Explosion and Bursting are terms which, asoften technically used by the engineer, represent radi-. Fig. 4.—An Explosion. cally different phenomena. The explosion of a steam-boiler is sudden and violent disruption, permitting thestored heat-energy of the enclosed water and steam tobe expended in the enormously rapid expansion of itsown mass, and, often, in the projection of parts of theboiler in various directions with such tremendous poweras to cause as great destruction of life and property as ifthe explosion were that of a powder-magazine. The EXPLOSION AND BURSTING. 35 bursting of a boiler is commonly taken to be the rup-ture, locally, of the structure, by the yielding of itsweakest part to a pressure which, at the moment, maynot be deemed excessive, but which is too great for theweakened spot. The collapse of a flue is a form ofrupture which is ordinarily considered as of the secondclass. With high steam-pressure, the bursting, or thecollapse, of a flue, may occur with a loud report, andmay even cause some displacement of t
Size: 1964px × 1273px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectsteambo, bookyear1887
