Practical Hand Book of Gas, Oil and Steam Engines / Stationary, Marine, Traction; Gas Burners, Oil Burners, Etc.; Farm, Traction, Automobile, Locomotive; A simple, practical and comprehensive book on the construction, operation and repair of all kinds of engines. Dealing with the various parts in detail and the various types of engines and also the use of different kinds of fuel.

by John B. Rathbun

(154) Oil-Burning Steam Tractors.

As with the straw-burning furnace, a brick arch is used in burning oil for the purpose of preventing fractional distillation of the oil during the combustion. In some forms of oil furnaces a brick checker-work is used that provides a much greater surface to the gases than the ordinary firebrick arch and therefore keeps a steadier temperature and pressure. Broken firebrick in the furnace placed in heaps with a rather porous formation is also an aid to combustion. With very heavy oils a jet of steam in the firebox is of great assistance in consuming the free carbon of the fuel (soot).

The oil in practically all cases is atomized or is broken up into a very finely subdivided state by the action of a jet of steam. The finer this subdivision the better will be the combustion for the oil particles will be brought into more intimate contact with the air. Provision is also made in the burner for either whirling or stirring the oil vapor with the air so that a rapidly burning mixture is formed. In other respects the oil burning engine is the same as the coal or wood burner.