STEAM ENGINE:

The energy of steam generated in a boiler can be converted into mechanical work in rotary-type or
reciprocating-type prime movers. Steam engine is a reciprocating-type prime mover which converts
heat energy into mechanical work. As the combustion of fuel takes place in boiler placed outside the
cylinder, steam engines are classified as external combustion engines. In such engines, the steam
forces the piston to reciprocate in the cylinder. Therefore, it is also known as reciprocating steam
engine.

Classification of Steam Engines:

Steam engines can be classified on account of the following considerations:

1. On the basis of position of axis of the cylinder as:

❖ Horizontal Steam Engine: Here the axis of the cylinder is horizontal.
❖ Vertical Steam Engine: Here the axis of the cylinder is vertical.
❖ Inclined Steam Engine: Here the axis of the cylinder is inclined.

2. On the basis of the action of steam on the piston as:

❖ Single-Acting Steam Engine: Steam pressure always acts on one side of the piston. The
other side of the piston is open to the atmosphere.
❖ Double-Acting Steam Engine: Steam pressure acts on both sides of the piston alternately,

3. On the basis of number of cylinders as:

❖ Simple Steam Engine: Total expansion of the steam takes place in one cylinder.
❖ Compound Steam Engine: Total expansion of the steam takes place in more than one
cylinder.

4. On the basis of exhaust system as

❖ Non-Condensing Steam Engine: Steam is exhausted into the atmosphere.
❖ Condensing Steam Engine: Steam is exhausted into the condenser.

5. On the basis of governing method as

❖ Throttle Governing: Engine speed is controlled by a throttle valve.
❖ Cut-Off Governing: Engine speed is controlled by an automatic cut-off governor.

6. On the basis of nature of expansion as

❖ Non-Expansive Engine: Steam is supplied throughout the stroke.
❖ Expansive Engine: Steam is supplied for a part of the stroke and thereafter it is allowed to
expand.

7. On the basis of speed of crankshaft as

❖ High Speed: Speed of the crank shaft is above 250 rpm.
❖ Medium Speed: Speed of the crank shaft is in the range of 100 to 250 rpm.
❖ Low Speed: Speed of the crank shaft is below 100 rpm.

8. On the basis of type of valve used as

 ❖ Simple D-valve.
❖ Balance plate valve.
❖ Riding cut-off valve.
❖ Poppet valve.
❖ Corliss valve.

9. On the basis of their use as

❖ Stationary.
❖ Locomotive.
❖ Marine.
❖ Pumping.

Components of a Double acting Steam Engine

1. Frame: It supports the moving parts in proper relative positions and gives rigidity to the various
members.
2. Engine Cylinder: It is a hollow cylindrical shell forming a chamber in which the piston
reciprocates to and fro due to action of steam. One end of the cylinder is covered with head cover. The
other is covered with crank cover through which piston rod passes.
3. Steam Chest: It is the reservoir of steam from which the steam is admitted into the cylinder during
admission stroke of the piston.
4. Piston: It is a cylindrical disk reciprocating inside the engine cylinder. Its function is to transmit
steam pressure acting on it to the crosshead through piston rod.
5. Piston Rod: It connects the piston with the crosshead.
6. Crosshead: It slides in between the parallel guides and prevents the motion of the piston rod other
than reciprocating motion.
7. Connecting Rod: It converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into rotary motion of the crank.
One end of it is connected to the crosshead and other end is connected to the crank.
8. Crankshaft: It is supported by the main bearings but is free to rotate in it. It carries a flywheel and
an eccentric. The rotary motion of the crankshaft is used to run generators, pumps, wheels, etc.
9. Eccentric: It converts the rotary motion of the crankshaft into the reciprocating motion of the slide
valve.
10. Eccentric Rod: It connects the eccentric and the slide valve rod.
11. Knuckle Joint: It is a connector between the eccentric rod and the valve rod. It prevents bending
of the valve rod.
12. Valve Rod: It connects the eccentric rod and the slide valve.
13. D-Slide Valve: It is placed in the steam chest. The valve reciprocates on its seat relative to crank
so that admission and exhaust of the steam to and from the cylinder takes place at proper
14. Main Bearing: It is a device which supports the revolving crankshaft and confines its motion.
time.
15. Flywheel: It is a heavy rim which absorbs part of the energy when the power supply is greater
than the demand and gives it out when the demand is greater than the supply. Thus, it maintains a
constant angular motion of the crank within a cycle.

WORKING OF DOUBLE ACTING STEAM ENGINE

1) Admission (Steam admission with respect to port A):

With reference to the figure ‘a’, the piston is on the cylinder head Side (IDC) and ready for the
forward stroke i.e., rightward movement. The port ‘A’ is open (At this instant, port ‘A’ is opened with
respect to inlet side of the steam) and steam from the steam chest enters the cylinder on the left side
of the piston. The high pressure steam pushes the piston in rightward direction and motion of the
piston moves the crank, the crank shaft, and the eccentric. Admission of steam continues till the
eccentric moves the D-slide valve leftwards i.e. towards port ‘A’.

Figure (a)
2. Expansion:
With reference to the figure ‘b’, movement of D-slide valve in the leftward direction will cover the
port ‘A’ and as a result cut off takes place and the supply of the steam to the cylinder is stopped. From
this instant, steam start expanding in the cylinder with the further movement of piston in the rightward
direction. Volume of the steam space (i.e., the space inside the cylinder occupied by the steam)
increases with corresponding fall in pressure and work is done.

Figure (b)

3. Exhaust:
With reference to the figure ‘c’, towards the end of the forward stroke, the D-Slide valve opens the
port ‘A’ (but this time the port ‘A’ is opened with respect to exhaust side of steam) and release of
steam occurs to the atmosphere here. Therefore, the pressure on this side of cylinder falls to the
atmospheric pressure or condenser pressure or back pressure. That completes the forward stroke and
the system gets ready for the backward stroke. As the piston reaches ODC position port ‘B’ opens to
the entry side of the steam and the admission of the steam starts simultaneously. After the ODC
position the piston reverses its direction of motion and the return stroke starts. The steam is admitted
through port B and exhausted on the IDC side.
A similar process is repeated on the other end of the cylinder when admission and expansion take
place on crank end side exhaust and compression take place on the cylinder head side.
 Figure (c)

HYPOTHETICAL OR THEORETICAL INDICATOR DIAGRAM

The indicator diagram is a representation of the variations of pressure and volume of steam inside the
cylinder on P-V diagram for one complete cycle of operation. The theoretical P-V diagram for a
single acting steam engine is shown in Figure below without and with clearance.
The sequence of operations is as follows :
Process 1–2 : The steam is supplied to cylinder at constant pressure P1. The steam is cut-off at point
2.
Process 2–3 : The steam expands in the cylinder till the piston reaches the ODC position. The
expansion process is isothermal), i.e. P.v = const.
Process 3–4 : The pressure falls from point 3 to point 4 at constant volume instantaneously due to the
opening of the exhaust. The point 3 is called the point of release as the pressure is allowed to fall
suddenly to the back pressure Pb.
Process 4–5 : It represents the exhaust of used steam at constant pressure.
Process 5–1 : It represents steam admission to cylinder at constant volume. The pressure rises form Pb
to P1.
The working cycle is completed within two strokes of piston or one revolution of crank.