Blower & Damper/en: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:36, 11 March 2025

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 propelling the vehicle. As the steam is expelled from the boiler through steam chest and cylinders out into the atmosphere, fresh air is drawn to the firebox. This happens with every gear cycle, and the higher the cutoff setting the more the airflow.

However, there are two controls designed to further adjust draft - blower and damper.

Blower is usually operated by a valve. When open, it releases steam from the boiler around the chimney area. This creates vacuum, pulling in air into the firebox. This is used when a vehicle is stationary. Having the blower open while accelerating is wasteful however, because the acceleration airflow is vastly superior to blower.

Damper is usually operated by a lever. When closed (pushed down) it chokes the airflow, drastically reducing fire temperature. This is used to intentionally cut steam production when it is no longer needed.

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 <languages />
-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.
+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.
-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 {{pll|Regulator|opening the regulator}} and propelling the vehicle. As the {{pll|Steam Overview|steam}} is expelled from the {{pll|Boiler|boiler}} through {{pll|Cutoff|steam chest}} and {{pll|Cylinder Cocks|cylinders}} out into the atmosphere, fresh air is drawn to the firebox. This happens with every gear cycle, and the higher the {{pll|Cutoff|cutoff}} setting the more the airflow.
-Additionally, there are two controls designed to adjust draft: blower and damper.
+However, there are two controls designed to further adjust draft - blower and damper.
-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.
+Blower is usually operated by a valve. When open, it releases steam from the {{pll|Boiler|boiler}} around the chimney area. This creates vacuum, pulling in air into the firebox. This is used when a vehicle is stationary. Having the blower open while {{pll|Throttle|accelerating}} is {{pll|Driving Efficiency|wasteful}} however, because the acceleration airflow is vastly superior to blower.
-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.
+Damper is usually operated by a lever. When closed (pushed down) it chokes the airflow, drastically reducing fire temperature. This is used to intentionally cut steam production when it is no longer needed.
-{{See also|Regulator|Firebox}}
 [[Category:Fire Management|3]]