Moisture in Steam

—lIt is important to ascertain the quality of the steam in making boiler and engine tests. When the condenser test cannot be made, the steam may be tested by a calorimeter as follows: A perforated 4 inch pipe is inserted into the main steam pipe near the boiler. Steam is taken through this pipe and led through a hose thoroughly felted, to a barrel holding 400 lbs. of water, set upon a platform scale, and provided with a valve for allowing the water to flow to waste, and with a small propeller for stirring the water. After weighing barrel and water, and noting open a of the latter, steam is turned on and the hose suddenly thrust into the water, and propeller operated until temperature is increased to, say, 110°. The hose is quickly withdrawn, temperature noted and weight again taken. The moisture in the steam may then be calculated as follows: Q= gr1 [E W umera]; in which Q=quality of the steam, saturated steam being ity. H=total heat of one lb. of steam at observed pre ure. T= total heat of one lb. of water at temperature of steam of the observed pre ure. A=total heat of one lb. of condensing water, original. r Eaa heat of one lb. of condensing water, nal. W=Weight of condensing water, corrected for apparatus. w=weight of steam condensed. Percentage of moisture=1-Q.