The Traveling Engineers Association | Page 3

oxygen in the air
with the carbon in the fuel; this is called rapid combustion. Slow
combustion is the decaying of wood or iron by the elements.
14. Q. Is air necessary for combustion?
A. Yes.
15. Q. About how many cubic feet of air is necessary for the
combustion of a pound of coal in a locomotive fire-box?
A. About 300 cubic feet of air must pass through the grates and fire for
complete combustion of one pound of coal.
16. Q. Why must air be heated before combining with coal?

A. Air, like coal and its gases, must be heated before they will unite to
form what is known as combustion and so as not to reduce the
temperature of the fire-box below the igniting point of the gases.
17. Q. Why is it necessary to provide for combustion a supply of air
through the fuel in the furnace?
A. In order to supply the oxygen necessary for combustion.
18. Q. What is the effect upon combustion if too little air is supplied? If
too much air is supplied?
A. If too little air is supplied, combustion is not complete, and only
one-third as much heat is obtained. If too much air is supplied,
combustion is complete; but the excess air must be heated, resulting in
a lower temperature. If twice the amount of air required for complete
combustion be supplied, the temperature of the fire-box will be about
one-half as high.
19. Q. Give a practical definition of the igniting temperature.
A. In all ordinary combustion there is a definite temperature, called the
ignition or kindling temperature, to which combustible substance must
be heated in order that it may unite with the gas in supporting the
combustion. The burning substance must not only be heated up to the
kindling temperature, but it must be kept as high as this temperature, or
combustion will cease.
20. Q. State why such temperature is necessary and at what place in the
fire-box it is most required.
A. The center is the hottest part of the fire-box. There is a much lower
temperature in the fire-box at the sides and end sheets, due to the water
on the opposite sides of the sheets being of a lower temperature than
the fire-box; therefore if we get as high a temperature as possible at the
side and end sheets, we will increase the steam-making efficiency of
the boiler. The gases which are liberated from the coal as soon as it
becomes heated must attain a temperature of about 1,800 degrees

Fahrenheit, known as the "temperature of ignition," before they will
unite with air which must also be heated up to that point.
21. Q. How is draft created through the fire?
A. Exhaust steam escaping through the stack reduces the pressure in the
smoke-box below the pressure of the atmosphere outside, therefore the
air tends to force itself into the smoke-box through all openings; with
everything in good condition, the easiest and largest passage for it is
through the grates and other openings into the fire-box and from it
through the tubes into the smoke-box and up the stack.
22. Q. Is smokeless firing practicable?
A. Yes, but it is necessary in order to obtain good results that boiler and
fire-box be in good condition, coal broken to the proper firing size;
then, with the hearty and intelligent co-operation of both engineer and
fireman, smokeless firing is both economical and practicable.
23. Q. In what condition should the fire be in order that the best results
may be obtained from the combustion of the coal?
A. The fire should be as light as the work being done by the engine will
permit, evenly distributed over the grates and free from clinkers.
24. Q. How should the blower be used?
A. A blower should be used very lightly, being careful not to draw too
much air into the fire-box and through the flues, especially when fire is
being cleaned or thin on grates.
25. Q. What is the result of opening the fire-door when the engine is
working steam?
A. It will cause a cooling effect in the fire-box and is liable to start the
flues leaking.
26. Q. What is the effect of putting too many scoops of coal on a bright
fire? Is this a waste of fuel?

A. It has the effect of temporarily deadening and cooling the fire,
causes emission of quantities of black smoke, as only a limited amount
of gas can be burned in a fire-box at a time; all in excess of that amount
escapes from the stack and is a waste of fuel.
27. Q. What effect has the fire upon a scoopful of coal when it is placed
in the fire-box?
A. The heat from the fire drives