4F30.20 - Steam Engines

Code Number:
4F30.20
Demo Title:
Steam Engines
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Thermal Expansion of H2O
Area of Study:
Heat & Fluids

Disclaimer

Equipment:
Small Working Steam Engine, Electrical Generator and Light Bulb, and Working Steam Engine Model.
Procedure:

Fill the reservoir with water to the top of the gauge glass port.  Make sure the steam valves are open to avoid excess pressure buildup.  Plug in the engine and in 3 to 5 minutes the water will be heated sufficiently.  Close the valve on the top of the water reservoir so that the steam will begin to flow through the piston.  When steam is observed to shoot out of the exhaust port turn the flywheel to start the engine.  If desirable you may show the action of the engine when doing work such as electrical generation.  Use a large rubber band as a belt to connect the flywheel of the steam engine to the generator which is mounted in its stand.  After the steam engine is running at a very good speed turn on the light bulb.  The engine will almost come to a stop and then will slowly begin to increase rpm's to the former level.

The steam engine model actually works with compressed air.  The cutaway views allow you to see how the piston and valve assembly operate during each phase of the engine cycle.

References:
  • B. T. G. Tan, "Physics and the Development of Railway Steam Engines", TPT, Vol. 57, #8, Nov. 2019, p. 538.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "Apparatus Named After Our Academic Ancestors, III", TPT, Vol. 52, #6, Sept. 2014, p. 360.
  • H. Richard Crane, "The Pop-Pop Boat", TPT, Vol. 35, #3, Mar. 1997, p. 176.
  • Roy Euslide and Scott Welty, "Steam Engine Efficiency", TPT, Vol. 24, #5, May 1986, p. 308.
  • Allen P. Feldman, "A Model of the Savery Steam Engine", TPT, Vol. 19, #6, Sept. 1981, p. 414.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "What Did James Watt Really Invent?", TPT, Vol. 61, #4, Apr. 2023, p. 266.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "Steam Engine"  AJP, Vol. 90, #11, Nov. 2022, p. 825.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "Steam Engine Model (Photo)", AJP, Vol. 79, #5, May 2011, p. 469.
  • G. S. Kell, "Heat Engines That Use a Gravitational Field", AJP, Vol. 42, #3, Mar. 1974, p. 209. 
  • Davidi F. Channell, "The Problem of Two Back-Pressures: The Development of Watt's Separate Condenser", AJP, Vol. 42, #1, Jan. 1974, p. 65.
  • Edwin H. Marston, "A Room Temperature Steam Engine", AJP, Vol. 41, #5, May 1973, p. 726
  • Johanna Miller, "Solar Steam Generator Needs no Lenses or Mirrors", Physics Today, Vol. 69, #11, Nov. 2016, p. 17.
  • Veronique Greenwood, "Career Advice From A Steam-Engine Mechanic", Popular Science, Vol. 286, #6, June 2014, p. 30.
  • G. D. Freier and F. J. Anderson, "Hn-3", A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
  • George M. Hopkins, "Force of Steam", Experimental Science, p. 195.
  • Rev. J. Lukin, "One or Two Engines", The Boy Engineers, 1901, p. 200.
  • John Henry Pepper, "On the Steam Engine", Cyclopadic Science Simplified, p. 179.
  • Rick Beyer, "Ancient Hero", The Greatest Science Stories Never Told, p. 6.
  • "How to Make A Toy Steam Engine", The Boy Mechanic Makes Toys, p. 47.
  • "Formula For Total Heat of Saturated Steam", The Boy Scientist, p. 160.
  • "A Model Steam Engine", The Boy Scientist, p. 55.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "1.4, Molecular Motion Simulation", Turning the World Inside Out, p. 116.
  • Prof. Robert Griffith, "A Boys' Steam Engine and Its Construction", Boys' Useful Pastimes, p. 32.
  • Prof. Robert Griffith, "A Toy Steamer", Boys' Useful Pastimes, p. 46.
  • Joseph Frick, "# 367 & 368 & 369 - The Steam-Engine & Models of Steam-Engines & The Locomotive", Physical Technics: Or Practical Instructions for Making Experiments in Physics and the Construction of Physical Apparatus with the Most Limmited Means, p. 439.
  • Dr. Gordon Stables, R.N., C. Stansfeld Hicks, J. N. Maskelyne, Rev. Harry Jones, M.A, Dr. Stradling, Captain Crawley, Rev. A. N. Malan, M.A., F.G.S., and Many Others, "Chapter X - The "Boy's Own" Model Launch Engine", The Boy's Own Book of  Indoor Games and Recreations, A Popular Encyclopaedia for Boys, p. 138.
  • Dr. Gordon Stables, R.N., C. Stansfeld Hicks, J. N. Maskelyne, Rev. Harry Jones, M.A, Dr. Stradling, Captain Crawley, Rev. A. N. Malan, M.A., F.G.S., and Many Others, "VI - Model Boilers and Their Construction", The Boy's Own Book of  Indoor Games and Recreations, A Popular Encyclopaedia for Boys, p. 134.
  • Dr. Gordon Stables, R.N., C. Stansfeld Hicks, J. N. Maskelyne, Rev. Harry Jones, M.A, Dr. Stradling, Captain Crawley, Rev. A. N. Malan, M.A., F.G.S., and Many Others, "V - The Oscillating Engine", The Boy's Own Book of  Indoor Games and Recreations, A Popular Encyclopaedia for Boys, p. 131.
  • Dr. Gordon Stables, R.N., C. Stansfeld Hicks, J. N. Maskelyne, Rev. Harry Jones, M.A, Dr. Stradling, Captain Crawley, Rev. A. N. Malan, M.A., F.G.S., and Many Others, "IV - The Horizontal Engine", The Boy's Own Book of  Indoor Games and Recreations, A Popular Encyclopaedia for Boys, p. 127.
  • Dr. Gordon Stables, R.N., C. Stansfeld Hicks, J. N. Maskelyne, Rev. Harry Jones, M.A, Dr. Stradling, Captain Crawley, Rev. A. N. Malan, M.A., F.G.S., and Many Others, "Chapter IX - Model Steam Engines, and How to Make Them", The Boy's Own Book of  Indoor Games and Recreations, A Popular Encyclopaedia for Boys, p. 117.
  • Dr. Gordon Stables, R.N., C. Stansfeld Hicks, J. N. Maskelyne, Rev. Harry Jones, M.A, Dr. Stradling, Captain Crawley, Rev. A. N. Malan, M.A., F.G.S., and Many Others, "How to Make A Small Marine Engine for a Boat Four or Five Ft. Long", The Boy's Own Book of  Indoor Games and Recreations, A Popular Encyclopaedia for Boys, p. 81.
  • "Working Model of Steam Engine", Pike's Illustrated Catalogue of Scientific & Medical Instruments, 1984, p. 385.
  • The Queen Catalogues Vol. II, Catalogue of Physical Instruments, No. 5097, p. 71.
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Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.