Working of a Single Cy-Linder Double Acting Steam Engine

Working of a Single Cy-Linder Double Acting Steam Engine Points : Working of a Single Cy-Linder Double Acting Horizontal Reciprocating Steam Engine The superheated steam at a high pressure (about 20 atmospheres) from the boiler Is led into the steam chest. After that the steam makes its way into the cylinder through any of the ports ‘a’ or ‘b’ depending upon the position of the D-slide valve! When port ‘a’ is open, the steam rushes to the left side of the piston and forces it to the right. At this stage, the slide valve covers the exhaust port and the other steam port ‘b’. Since the pressure of steam is greater on the left side than that on right side, the piston moves to the right. When the piston reaches near the end of the cylinder, it closes the steam port ‘a’ and exhaust port. The steam port ‘b’ is now open, and the steam rushes to the right side of the piston. This forces the piston to the left and at the same time the exhaust steam goes out through the exhaust pipe, and thus completes the cycle of operation. The same process is repeated in other cycles of operation, and s such the engine works.