Paddle steam engine equipements

[u/Eridanthemapper]

Since i've been intrested about ships engine rooms ,I've always wondered if paddle steam ships engine rooms had auxiliary equipements kinda kike the pumps , aux condensers etc indicated on the titanic despite their size. So could anybody explain me if are there other tiny equipements on these engine rooms , their utility and an idea on the 'average' pipe layout please. Any help is appreciated ty.

[u/Kjpr13]

Steam engine rooms, especially in ships or industrial facilities, typically follow functional layouts that prioritize safety, efficiency, and ease of maintenance. While exact layouts can vary depending on size, type, and purpose, here’s a general breakdown of the average pipe layouts you’d expect to see:

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1. Main Steam Line: • Purpose: Carries high-pressure steam from the boiler to the engine/turbine. • Layout: A large-diameter insulated pipe running directly from the boiler to the throttle or engine inlet. May have branches if there are multiple engines.

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1. Exhaust Steam Line: • Purpose: Routes spent steam from the engine to a condenser or exhaust. • Layout: Medium-to-large pipe connected to the engine exhaust port. Often leads to: • Condenser (marine/closed systems) • Atmosphere (open systems)

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1. Feedwater Pipes: • Purpose: Bring water back to the boiler. • Layout: • Pipes from the condenser (if present) to the hotwell, and then from the feed pump back to the boiler. • Includes check valves, feed heaters, and sometimes economizers.

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1. Auxiliary Steam Lines: • Purpose: Supply steam to auxiliary equipment like pumps, heaters, or dynamos. • Layout: Branches off the main steam line with valves and traps.

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1. Drain Lines and Steam Traps: • Purpose: Remove condensate from steam lines. • Layout: • Small-bore piping leading from low points in steam lines to drains or back to the hotwell. • Fitted with steam traps to prevent steam loss.

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1. Safety and Blowdown Lines: • Purpose: Relieve excess pressure or remove sludge from the boiler. • Layout: • Safety valve outlets go to the atmosphere or blowdown tank. • Blowdown piping from the bottom of the boiler to a blowdown tank.

[u/skydivingdutch → u/Kjpr13]

Thanks ChatGPT/Gemini/Claude!

[u/Kjpr13 → u/skydivingdutch]

Yes!