Franco-Crosti Boiler for Steam Trains

[NW Mailing List]

At least in the automotive and aeronautics industries, both turbochargers and superchargers send fresh air (never exhaust gases) to the engine (whether  carbureted or fuel injected).  Both compress the fresh air gas entering the combustion chamber (cylinders) to increase the quantity of O2 available so more fuel can be burned in each stroke producing more power.   Where they differ is that superchargers are driven mechanically (by belt or gears) off of the engine power output (usually the crankshaft).  Turbochargers are driven by diverting expanding exhaust gas through a turbine that in turn drives a compressor.  

Not sure why a different arrangement would be used in the railroad industry (about which I know nothing), but if that is indeed the case the difference would be interesting, as would be understanding why.  

That said, I am skeptical about reinjecting partially combusted exhaust gas as that would reduce available O2 and reduce the power output of any combustion engine.  i do not understand why there would be a different result in a steam boiler as the chemistry of combustion to produce heat is fundamentally the same.  One would want more available O2 to burn fuel (wood, coal, oil) more rapidly to produce more heat and hence more steam.   

Bill Demarest

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 9, 2020, at 8:03 AM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
>  Gents, 
> This email with my comments is the one that I meant to send you. 
> Thanks, 
> Norris 
> 
> Norris Deyerle
> Blue Ridge Chapter, National Railway Historical Society Chairman of Virginia's Rail Heritage Region Partners
> Info: www.blueridgenrhs.org
> 744 Chinook Place
> Lynchburg, Virginia 24502-4908
> Cell: 434-851-0151
> From: NORRIS DEYERLE <RAILCOW at msn.com>
> Sent: Saturday, February 8, 2020 4:17:39 PM
> Subject: Fw: Franco-Crosti Boiler for Steam Trains
>  
> Railroad friends, 
> Wayland sent me this link that his son Dan sent him. Dan is a professional railroad employee. The concept made me think about superchargers and  turbochargers on engines. Various forms of super and turbo chargers were used on car, truck, boat and airplane engines! In simple terms I explained the differences to my car customers between the two that a supercharger forced fresh air through the engine to boost power where as a turbocharger recirculated partially burnt exhaust gas back through the engine to be burned a second time. I guess it could be argued that both had their advantages and disadvantages. 
> Check out this video. 
> Thanks Wayland! 
> Norris 
> 
> Norris Deyerle
> Blue Ridge Chapter, National Railway Historical Society Chairman of Virginia's Rail Heritage Region Partners
> Info: www.blueridgenrhs.org
> 744 Chinook Place
> Lynchburg, Virginia 24502-4908
> Cell: 434-851-0151
> From: Wayland Moore <waym00re at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Saturday, February 8, 2020 3:24:53 PM
> To: Norris Deyerle <railcow at msn.com>
> Subject: Fw: Dan sent
>  
> Check this out, the stack is on the side of the engine about half way back.  Look at the video.
> 
> 
> Franco-Crosti boiler
> The Franco–Crosti boiler is a type of boiler used for steam locomotives. It was designed in the 1930s by Attilio Franco and Dr Piero Crosti.
> The main difference between it and conventional feedwater heaters widely used on the continent is that the Franco-Crosti boiler uses both exhaust steam and exhaust gases from the firebox. Conventional feedwater heaters only use exhaust steam.(114 kB)
> 
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIdgsghT3ak&feature=youtu.bem
> 
> 1973 Vapore in Val Pusteria 1/Dampf im Pustertal 1 - YouTube
> nell'ottobre del 1973 sono stato per la prima volta in Val Pusteria. Ho girato le locomotive a vapore del Gruppo 741. Ho visto il 741 262, 142, 046 Il filmato è stato girato in Super-8 e con ...
> www.youtube.com
> 
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