Blower & Damper: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:04, 18 March 2025

On a steam engine , the firebox temperature, as it burns fuel , mostly depends on the available airflow, since oxygen in the air fuels the fire.

The primary way to feed air to the firebox is by opening the regulator and cutoff fully, and propelling the vehicle. As the steam is expelled from cylinders out into the atmosphere through the chimney, with every gear cycle, it creates a vacuum in the firebox, drawing in fresh air.

However, full acceleration isn't always desirable, which is why there are additional controls to adjust airflow: blower and damper.

The blower is usually operated by a valve. When open, it releases some steam from the boiler to the chimney. This creates vacuum in the firebox, drawing in fresh air. However, since this airflow is vastly inferior to the acceleration airflow, the blower is only efficient when used on a stationary engine.

The damper is usually operated by a lever. When closed (pushed down) it chokes the airflow, drastically reducing fire temperature, even if the vehicle is accelerating. This is used to intentionally cut steam production when it is no longer needed, although doing so with a well-timed water injection is an even more efficient alternative.

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-Intensity at which the fuel is burning, and thus setting the temperature of the firebox, is controlled by the air intake in the firebox. Oxygen in the air kindles fire.
+On a {{pll|Steam Overview|steam engine}}, the {{pll|Firebox|firebox}} temperature, as it burns {{pll|Fuel Storage|fuel}}, mostly depends on the available airflow, since oxygen in the air fuels the fire.
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-The most basic way the air gets fed into the firebox is simply by draft from opening the regulator and propelling the vehicle. As the steam from the cylinders is expelled through the blastpipe, it draws fresh air into the firebox with every cycle. The higher the cutoff setting the higher the draft.
+The primary way to feed air to the firebox is by opening the {{pll|Regulator|regulator}} and {{pll|Cutoff|cutoff}} fully, and propelling the vehicle. As the steam is expelled from {{pll|Cylinder Cocks|cylinders}} out into the atmosphere through the chimney, with every gear cycle, it creates a vacuum in the firebox, drawing in fresh air.
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-Additionally, there are two controls designed to adjust draft: blower and damper.
+However, full acceleration isn't always desirable, which is why there are additional controls to adjust airflow: blower and damper.
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-Blower is usually operated by a valve. When open, it releases steam from the boiler around the chimney area. This creates draft, bringing more air into the firebox. This is used when there is a desire to increase the temperature of the firebox, but not to accelerate, such as in the case of going downhill or being stationary. Having the blower open while accelerating is wasteful however, because the acceleration draft is superior and the blower in that case simply wastes steam into the atmosphere.
+The blower is usually operated by a valve. When open, it releases some steam from the {{pll|Boiler|boiler}} to the chimney. This creates vacuum in the firebox, drawing in fresh air. However, since this airflow is vastly inferior to the acceleration airflow, the blower is only {{pll|Driving Efficiency|efficient}} when used on a stationary engine.
 <!--T:5-->
-Damper is usually operated by a lever. When closed (pushed down) it chokes the airflow, drastically reducing fire temperature. This is used to reduce steam production when it is no longer needed.
+The damper is usually operated by a lever. When closed (pushed down) it chokes the airflow, drastically reducing fire temperature, even if the vehicle is accelerating. This is used to intentionally cut steam production when it is no longer needed, although doing so with a well-timed {{pll|Injector|water injection}} is an even more efficient alternative.
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-{{See also|Regulator|Firebox}}
 [[Category:Fire Management|3]]