After discussing the merits of every kinds of mechanical stoker of locomotive engine historically, the author explains the mechanism and ability of steam jet system splatter stoker which has come to be applied to locomotive engines in this country.
The mechanism is as follows the coal is transported from tender to furnace inlet automatically by screw conveyer which is set between them, and crushing of coal is also carried out.At f urnace inlet, after coal is fallen on the splatter table, splashed out on grate by steam jet.The uniformity of coal splash is maintained by the guide plate on spaltter table and jet velocity.The prime mover of conveyer is 2 cylinder double acting steam engine, and steam consumption for prime mover and jet is about 1-2% of steam generated.
The ability of coal transportation is very good for a large range of 450 kg/hr-1925 kg/hr.An example of crushing ability of coal is reported that if coals of only 25-35mm diameter are, fed, the size at outlet of conveyer is under 13mm diameter 52%, original size being 13%.
By the use of this mechanical stoker, the combustion is very much improved, and for example, when excess air is 25%, by hand fired system C0% is 0.4%, but by this stoker, it is decreased to 0.05%.The reason of this improvement is the decrease of excess air during coal charging and the improvement of combustion by steam jet.
But, on the contrary, the boiler efficiency is decreased than by hand fired system.And by actual test on rail road, when combustion rate is 400-450 kg/m
2hr, calorific value of coal being 5510 kcal/kg, the boiler efficiency is lower about 6% than by hand fired system, and this is about 7% increase by coal consumption.The reason of this is supposed to be the increasement of cinder loss.
But, these shortcoming is perhapg improved before long, and with the increasement of locomotive boiler capacity, the mechanical stoker will become indispensable.
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