Firebox (steam engine)

The firebox is designed as a large suitcase -like space within the standing boiler of steam locomotives and serves as a combustion chamber. It consists in older types of three parts: Feuerbüchsmantel, tube wall and back wall. The Feuerbüchsdecke is often tilted backwards so that it will still be covered even when driving downhill at low water level.

The firebox is connected to the firebox by means of bolts, that it is surrounded on all sides by water. The water area should be kept far, so that the vapor bubbles up well able to flow and new water to be evaporated can flow unimpeded.

Down the firebox is completed through the grate, which receives the fuel and the air supply is used for combustion chamber and also ensures the deposition of ash and slag. The compound of the firebox with the outer casing of the back boiler is formed by the bottom ring, which simultaneously also forms the lower end of the water chamber and are fastened to said support bars of the grate. Under the bottom ring of the ash pan is also appropriate.

Also located in many boilers in the front of the firebox a flat arched fire screen made of refractory bricks or refractory mortar. This protects the pipe wall from excessive heat, acts as a heat storage and further provides for the turbulence of the combustion air and the hot gases, so that fresh fuel heat and ignite quickly leaves. In the Feuerbüchsrückwand is the fire hole is closed by the fire door.

Newer boiler often still contain the combustion chamber, which connects to the firebox. In this case, the pipe wall is further moved in the elongated vessel in, so that the radiation heating (and thus the efficiency of the boiler ) is increased.

In operation of steam locomotives with liquid fuels such as heavy oil is omitted in the firebox grate, the combustion chamber is formed by the ash pan and the actual firebox. Since the oil produced fire from the burners (1,600 ° C) produces a very high radiant heat, the ash pan and large parts of the actual firebox must be lined with fire bricks.