This section is from the book "The English And American Mechanic", by B. Frank Van Cleve. Also available from Amazon: The English And American Mechanic.
The theoretical economy of using steam expansively is as follows - a like volume of steam being expended in each case, and expanded to fill the increased spaces.
Point Of Cutting Off. | Expansion Number. | Mean Pressure of Steam | Gain per cent in Power |
•1 | 10. | 3.302 | 230. |
•125 | 8. | 3.079 | 208. |
•166 | 6. | 2.791 | 179. |
•2 | 6. | 2.609 | 161. |
•26 | 4. | 2.386 | 139. |
•8 | 3.33 | 2.208 | 120. |
.333 | 3. | 2.099 | 110. |
•376 | 2.66 | 1.978 | 97.8 |
•4 | 2.5 | 1.916 | 91.6 |
Point of Cutting Of. | Expansion Number | Mean Pressure of Steam. | Gain per Cent. in Power. |
6 | 2. | 1.693 | 69.3 |
•0 | 1.66 | 1.507 | 50.7 |
•626 | 1.6 | 1.47 | 47. |
.666 | 1.6 | 1.405 | 40.5 |
•7 | 1.42 | 1.351 | 861 |
•75 | 1.33 | 1.285 | 22.3 |
•8 | 1.26 | 1.228 | 20.5 |
•876 | 1148 | 1181 | 181 |
•9 | 1.11 | 1104 | 10.4 |
In this illustration, no deductions are made for a reduction of the temperature of the steam while expanding or for loss by back pressure.
The same relative advantage follows in expansion as above given, whatever may be the initial pressure of the steam.
 
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