[Steam-engine] Firebox door (rookie question #999,999)

[Andy glines]

Maybe there is need for the secondary air to aid in
combustion of gasses in the front of the return-flue
boiler.
--- Andre' Blanchard <andre at usermail.com> wrote:
> A clean efficient burn requires some percentage of
> secondary air (air 
> coming in above the grates) if it is heated  so much
> the better.  The 
> problem is getting it well mixed with the gases from
> the fire so that they 
> can be burned, this is where poorly designed
> furnaces fail and send a 
> significant volume of unburned gases (mostly carbon
> monoxide) up the 
> stack.  A lot more thought goes into primary and
> secondary air control on 
> stationary boilers then on traction engine boilers. 
> Traction engines seem 
> to be designed more toward the max amount of power
> out of a minimum size 
> boiler and efficiency is of a lesser concern, the
> fuel is cheap.  So 
> cooling the door is probably one of the more
> important uses for the 
> secondary air on a traction engine.
> _________
> Andre' B.  Clear Lake, Wi.
> 
> At 07:39 AM 4/27/2005, you wrote:
> >Jeff and James, thanks for the input.  I kind of
> >suspected that it had someting to do with cooling
> but
> >wasn't sure.  I've see openings on other boilers
> and
> >even coal/wood stoves and could never understand
> their
> >function.  Even SIAM's little vertical boiler has a
> >damper in the door.  Seems like it would be
> >counterproductive to ever open it almost the same
> >effect as opening the door all of the time..  Guess
> >that I worry to much.
> 
> 
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> 

Andy Glines
Evansville, IN

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