Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1892 — Steam Boiler Explosions. [ARTICLE]

Steam Boiler Explosions.

A theory in regard to the causes oi steam boiler explosions which will strike many engineers as revolutionary in its character has been promulgated by the Manchester (England) Steam-Users’ Association. They renounce the doctrine—supported though it is by the general belief and by a multitude of what seem* to have been convincing illustrations—that boiler explosions are usually attributable to a shortage of water, oi* that such shortage is, generally speaking, calculated to produce that result,’ The real oause, in their view, of such explosions are imperfect construction of the boiler, corrosion of plates through want of proper care ahd attention, and. consequent weakness and inability to resist sudden internal pressure. In numerous experiments made by them it was found that the introduction of cold water to a red-hot boiler, running at low water, strained the seams of rivets and flattened the furnace crowns, but did not burst the boiler nor disturb the setting.