How many fires (cause unknown?) have really originated from
the slow carbonizing of organic material on steam-pipes? It is but
recently that the hair-felt covering on the steam end of a Worthington
pumping-engine, within ten miles of us, not only burnt itself but
destroyed some thousands of dollars worth of walnut lagging. Cases of
the combustion of these organic coverings are numerous and are
well-known.
Few appreciate the great loss of heat from uncovered or imperfectly
covered pipes. Many have an indistinct impression that there may
possibly be some slight loss. But there is in many cases an absence of
knowledge upon this subject where it should be complete. The most
correct data available show that the radiation from uncovered two-inch
steam-pipe, with 60 pounds steam-pressure, is 391.83 kilo. centigrade
heat-units one foot one hour, or 21,739.78 kilos. of coal for 100 feet
per year of 300 days of 10 hours each; one kilo. equals 2,205 pounds.
Properly combining these figures we see that there are 23.97 tons of
coal lost by radiation from that uncovered pipe. If the coal costs $4
per ton, the radiation from this 100 feet of pipe will amount to $95.87.
From the same pipe covered with Wm. Berkefield's fossil meal
composition, 32/100-inch thick, the most powerful inorganic non-heat
conductor used as a covering at the time these investigations were made,
there was radiated 24,109 kilo.
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