"If I change my position, will I be able to see how the steam engine is working? You brought me here so I could check it out for you, didn't you?"
Seaman pouted, looking very aggrieved, and muttered under her breath, "Who called you? I just politely declined a little..."
After the performance of the steam boiler stabilized, Qin Mo immediately began the research and development of the reciprocating steam engine. He gathered all the reliable people, marked the dimensions and processing requirements of each component, and then, under his guidance, successfully assembled the first steam engine.
When the massive planetary gears began to rotate under the drive of the cylinders, not only were Seaman and Qin Mo's students speechless with astonishment, but even Allen, who was watching from the sidelines, was speechless with surprise.
Then, everyone cheered excitedly, already dreaming of the scene of huge warships equipped with steam engines sailing on the boundless sea.
But when Qin Mo and the others calmed down, he didn't have them study the ship's propulsion system. Instead, he started studying the water pump.
Seaman immediately wanted to argue with Qin Mo, believing that Qin Mo should fulfill his promise to install the steam engine on the warship and go to find the end of the world.
But Qin Mo only gave him a cold look, and Ximan obediently picked up the blueprints for the water pump and went to work overtime. Whether in terms of force or mechanical theory, Qin Mo had already made him lose all will to resist.
Qin Mo had his own ideas about making water pumps. Steam-powered ships are not simply about stuffing a steam engine into the hull; there are many problems involved that need to be solved one by one.
The first step is to choose which driver method to use.
There are two main types of propulsion for ships: paddlewheel drive and underwater propeller drive. As for the wind-powered propellers used in hovercraft, forget about it, as steam engines can't handle that kind of speed.
Paddlewheel propulsion was the earliest method of propulsion for steam-powered ships. Circular paddlewheels resembling waterwheels were installed on the sides or stern of the hull. The structure was simple, sturdy, and reliable, but its efficiency was very low and its wave resistance was poor. It was only suitable for low-speed navigation in calm inland seas and rivers.
Underwater propeller drive is undoubtedly the best driving method, but the sealing problem between the tail shaft and the seawater must be solved before propeller drive can be truly realized.
Qin Mo knew the solution to the tail shaft seal problem: make a tail shaft oil seal out of ironwood, and then match it with the shape of the propeller tail shaft to achieve the required seal to isolate seawater.
Ironwood has a high density, expands slightly when exposed to water, and has very low frictional resistance when wet, making it the best material for tail shaft sealing.
Ironwood is only found in Southeast Asia. Even decades after the founding of the People's Republic of China, it has been unable to escape the situation of importing it. Now, it's all waiting for Qin Mo to cut it down in his backyard in Southeast Asia!
However, even decades after steam engines were introduced to ships, minor leaks in the stern shaft seals remained a common problem, which is where the role of water pumps became apparent.
"If there were no water pumps, were you all planning to use buckets to scoop up the water from the bottom of the boat?"
Qin Mo watched the group of young people listlessly adjusting the water pump and felt a surge of exasperation. "They're all still so young, and they're already dreaming of flying high! Being a high-ranking official and the head of science and technology is truly exhausting!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com