Chimneys for Furnaces (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883. Excerpt: ... tion of modern architectural science. The art of erecting chimneys for steamengines, and for similar purposes, has, however, fared somewhat better, since all the more substantially useful part of architecture, comprising nearly the whole of that appertaining to manufacturing industry, has for some time past, in our northern counties at least, merged into the province of the civil and mechanical engineer, technically known in Lancashire as the factory engineer. Factory engineers, however, though differing widely from architects generally on many points, are not at all agreed among themselves as to the best form and construction of a chimney for attaining the principal end in view; namely, the best draught at the least expense. In short, the problem of how to give a sufficient velocity to the air passing through the fire-grate, with a given temperature in the furnace or in the escaping products, and at a minimum rate of consumption of the fuel to be used, has scarcely yet received and adequate solution, even theoretically. Practically, the question has received many solutions--too many, one may say, for the convenience of ordinary business men--which circumstance is one of the main causes that has rendered the present work necessary, as well as contributing to some of its chief difficulties. The multitude and diversity of opinions on this subject may, in a great measure, be ascribed to the generally prevailing reliance on the dicta of some few popular professors, or rather amateurs, of chemistry; in which category we might also, perhaps without much injustice, include a few so-called scientific guide-books. I am not for decrying the present inundation of cheap scientific treatises, which is so marked a feature of the times; but, on the contrary, think such ...