The Steam-Engine and Other Heat-Engines
Description:... Excerpt from The Steam-Engine and Other Heat-Engines
When I undertook some years ago to prepare an article on the Steam-Engine and other Heat-Engines for the Encyclopaedia Britannica it seemed that the subject might be appropriately treated by following the general lines which had been found suitable in lecturing to students of engineering. The article was accordingly written on these lines, but necessarily in a very condensed form.
From the time of its publication I have hoped to expand it into a University Text-book, and have been encouraged by more than one other teacher to believe that such a text-book might be useful. The present work is the outcome of that intention: it is based on the Encyclopaedia article, but the additions and changes have been so considerable that except for parts of one or two Chapters the book is virtually new.
The design has been to treat not only of the thermodynamics of the steam-engine, but of other aspects of the subject which admit of theoretical discussion, such as the kinematics of the slide-valve and the kinetics of the governor and of the moving mechanism as a whole, and also to give a general, if brief, account of the forms taken by actual engines and of the manner of their working. No attempt has been made to describe details particularly, but the distinguishing features of certain types have been indicated. In doing this the greatest amount of space has been given to the less familiar forms, on the principle that a student need be at no loss to learn the construction of engines of the commoner kinds. Air, gas, and oil engines are noticed, as well as steam-engines.
The endeavour throughout has been to make evident the bearing of theory on practical issues.
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