A Test of the Power Plant of the Knoxville City Mills

Author

Horace P. Rodgers

Date of Award

5-1905

Degree Type

Thesis

Abstract

The plant consists of a 1000-H. P. cross compound Corliss engine. manufactured by Filer and Stowell, a battery of two 350-H. P. Heine boilers, an open feed-water heater (not used in test), an ejector condenser, and auxilaries as follows: One pump used to lift water from creek to top of condenser, one pump to put water into the heater from the hot well, two pumps to put water into the boiler from the heater (only one used during the test), one small engine to run the dynam: (not used during the test). All steam pipes are well covered with a compound of magnesia and asbestos.

When we started the test we put a blind flange in the exhaust line into the heater, then turned the exhaust through a surface condenser . and weighed the condensed water, thus determining the amount of steam used by the auxiliaries, We took water from the hot well end delivered it to our weighing barrels. The boiler feed pump took it from & tank under these and put it in the boiler. A Carpenter calorimeter was placed on the steam line just above the throttle of the main engine. All other observations were taken in the usual manner. The men taking these observations were as follows:

J. B. Hicks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indicator and Calorimeter

A. B. Cox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Temperatures, etc.

E. S. Haclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coal and ashes.

W. L. Newton H. P. Gant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feed Water.

G. A. Worthington . . . . . . . . . . . . . Condensed steam from auxiliaries.

The boilers and engine were both in good condition through-out the run, and all things were exactly as in ordinary use, except the feedwater heater. All instruments used were carefully calibrated and corrections have been made where necessary.

The results of the test show the plant to be in fine condition. Both engines and boilers are working far below their normal rating, 80 it is probable that under a heavier load they would show a still better economy.

Recommended Citation

Rodgers, Horace P., "A Test of the Power Plant of the Knoxville City Mills. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1905.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/14343