MECHANICAL ENGINEERING COURSE 249

its efficient operation. Also, such tests prepare the student for the more
complicated plant tests.

Such stations as the University Central Heating Plant, the Capitol
Heating Plant, the central station of the Madison Gas and Electric Com-
pany, and the City Water Works Plant are used in addition to actual labo-
ratory equipment. Tests are run each year by the students at some of the
above mentioned plants. The boiler house of the University which fur-
nishes steam for all the buildings of the institution, both for heating and
for power purposes, has a normal capacity of 5196 boiler H. P. It is
equipped with special testing apparatus so that experimental work may be
carried on relating to the economy of boilers under various service condi-
tions.

The internal combustion engines range in size up to a 40-horsepower
full Diesel type engine. This is a vertical single cylinder unit, and is a
modern piece of equipment. It is a two-stroke cycle engine of the solid in-
jection type, and it will operate on a wide range of fuel oils. There is a
25-horsepower semi-Diesel engine besides some smaller units which will op-
erate on crude oil or kerosene. A 20-horsepower engine which was built
especially for test purposes can be fitted with a variety of heads, vaporizers,
valves, governors, and auxiliary equipment. This permits testing the en-
gine with city gas, producer gas, gasoline, kerosene, alcohol or other liquid
fuels as desired.

There is a suction type producer gas plant installed in the laboratory.
This consists of a 21-horsepower engine and anthracite coal producer with
an air heater and a gas scrubber.

Special automotive testing apparatus is available for testing marine,
aeroplane, automobile or truck motors. A 150-horsepower electric dynamo-
meter furnishes a most up-to-date method for testing high-speed engines
up to 3,500 revolutions per minute. By a combination of this machine and
a calibrated fan dynamometer 250 horsepower can be absorbed. There are
many automatic devices used in connection with the dynamometer unit in
order to get the greatest possible accuracy of test. Several makes of auto-
mobile and aeroplane motors are available for tests. Recently, a standard
S. A. E. variable compression engine has been installed for the study of
the detonating qualities of liquid fuels.

A hot air engine is operated on city gas to pump water and demon-
strate the possibility of an external combustion engine.

Heating and ventilating equipment is available for most any type of
experiment. An air conditioner in the laboratory is capable of washing,
cooling, humidifying, or dehumidifying air. A modern type of dust deter-
minator is used in connection with air testing. An extensive arrangement
is installed for determining the infiltration of air around doors and windows
under various conditions of wind pressure. Types of windows, metal
weather stripping, and many types of wall construction are problems under
investigation. A rotary vacuum and condensate pump is arranged for
test. This type of pump is used on vacuum steam-heating systems for
maintaining low pressure. A boiler for hot water heating system is ar-
ranged for testing either with oil burners or any kind of coal or coke.

Air measurement in the laboratory can be accomplished by a variety of
methods. A series of meters have been arranged to facilitate the compari-
son and calibration of air or gas meters. A Thomas Electric Gas Meter,
a Pitot tube, an anemometer, and orifice are some of the more important
metering devices.