Read the passage about the components of steam engines and choose the correct word.

There are two fundamental components of a steam plant: the boiler or steam generator, and the "motor unit", referred / refer to itself as a "steam engine". Stationary steam engines in fix / fixed buildings may / can have the boiler and engine in separate buildings some distance apart. For portable or mobile use, such as steam locomotives, the two are mounted / are mounting together.

The widely used reciprocate / reciprocating engine typically consists / consisted of a cast iron cylinder, piston, connecting / connected rod and beam or a crank and flywheel, and miscellaneous linkages. Steam was / is alternately supplied / supplying and exhausting / exhausted by one or more valves. Speed control was / were either automatic, using / used a governor, or by a manual valve. The cylinder casting contained / contains steam supply and exhaust ports. Engines equipped / equip with a condenser are a separate type than those that exhaust / exhausted to the atmosphere.

Other components are often present; pumps (such as an injector) to supply / supplied water to the boiler during operation, condensers to recirculating /recirculate the water and recover / recovered the latent heat of vaporization, and super heaters to raised / raise the temperature of the steam above its saturating /saturated vapor point, and various mechanisms to increase / increased the draft for fireboxes.

 

LISTENING

11. Listen to the text and chose the statement which was not mentioned in the text:

– invention of a noncondensing engine;

– invention of a uniflow engine;

– application of steam for a power cycle;

– application of steam for electricity generation;

– benefits of the steam engine.

 

Listen to the text and insert the missing words.

Further improvement in the design of _______ is afforded by the uniflow engine, which uses the _______ itself as a valve and in which all portions of the cylinder remain at approximately the same _______ when the engine is operating. In the uniflow engine, steam moves in only one _______ while entering the cylinder of the engine, expanding, and then leaving the cylinder. The inherent _______ of the uniflow system are such that engines of this type were usually chosen for use in large installations, although the initial cost of the engines is considerably _______ than that of conventional steam engines. One virtue of the uniflow engine is that it permits the efficient use of _______ steam in a single cylinder engine without the necessity of compounding.

13. Comment on the following statements if you agree or disagree:

- noncondensing engine is a steam engine releasing exhaust steam to the atmosphere rather than condensing it to hot feedwater;

- uniflow engines allow greater expansion in a single cylinder without the cool exhaust, this allows high thermal efficiency;

- any suitable form of energy can be used to produce steam;

- there should be a great amount of energy to make the steam;

- a steam engine does not start at once, this process takes a long time and hence a steam engine cannot be started at a moment's notice;

- a steam engine has low efficiency;

- a steam engine could be located anywhere because water is heated in a separate boiler to produce steam.

 

SPEAKING

Work in pairs. Discuss what is common and different between the steam engine and the steam turbine. Complete the diagram and share your opinion with the group. Justify you ideas. Use the following phrases.

- In contrast to …

- Rather similarly …

- On the contrary …

- In addition to …

- It resembles …

- The same way of …

- It is similar to …

- It differs from …

- With the purpose of …

- In order to …

STEAM ENGINE STEAM TURBINE

Work in 3 groups: engineers, consumers and manufacturers. There are a few reasons to consider the green steam engine as an alternative to wind and solar systems. You can add your ideas. Engineers make up the advertisement for the steam engine application and present it to the groups of consumers and manufactures. Consumers and manufacturers prepare questions and suggestions how to produce and sell steam engine devices. Discuss the possibilities and process of production, profit and expenditures.

The following information may help you:

– steam engine cars can run 24 hours a day regardless of location, weather or daylight;

– there are no construction costs, towers, roof panels required;

– there is no noise or environmental impact associated with steam power;

– the Green Stem Engine may be powered by the widest range of alternative fuels, including solar and geothermal;

– no back-up power required as it is for wind and solar systems;

– nearly zero lubrication;

– can be assembled and disassembled in minutes;

– devices run on very low steam pressure and low volume;

– extremely lightweight;

– can run in any position like an electric motor;

– vary small profile for economy of space;

– high torque at low speeds;

– no transmission requirement;

– has long life with low maintenance.

Use the following phrases.

- It can dramatically simplify …

- It limits …

- It uses less / more …

- It is a breakthrough in …

- Because of …

- It provides advantages such as …

- The properties allow to …

- It makes possible / impossible …

- It may require …

- The result is …

 

Work in pairs. Read the text about the Industrial revolution and the steam engine (See Appendix A, p. 89-90). Write a short summary (200-250 words) of the text, present it to your partner and discuss the ideas expressed.