Water drum (mining)
A water drum , also called a wind trumpet , is an air compressor powered by water power. This mechanical construction was mainly used in mining for artificial ventilation . In 1558 there is a mention of a water drum fan in a work by Giambattista della Porta . The water drum was used many times , especially in the Harz mining area. It was introduced in the Harz region by the Clausthal scholar Henning Calvör , which is why it was also called Calvör's water drum there. The water drum was first used in the Harz mining industry in 1732.
construction
The water drum consists of a wooden box that is open at the top. This wooden box is equipped with a side drain. A large wooden block is mounted on the bottom of this wooden box. In this first wooden box there is a second, smaller wooden box that is open at the bottom. This box, open at the bottom, is called a bell. There are two holes in the lid of the bell. One of the holes serves as an air outlet opening. A connecting piece is attached over this air outlet opening. A downpipe is installed in the other hole in the bell. This downpipe is also made of wood and has several holes directed from top to bottom. The downpipe opens into another water tank at the top. Although greater static water pressure is created with a greater drop, it does not make sense for the water drum to use a drop greater than 16 feet . With greater heights of fall, several water drums are built up one behind the other in a cascade.
function
The upper water tank is constantly filled with water, which then falls down through the downpipe. The water sucks air with it through the openings in the downpipe. When the water hits the block of wood in the wooden box below, it is atomized. During this process, the entrained air is released. The air now released collects below the bell and is slightly compressed by the rising water. This slightly compressed air flows out of the air outlet opening. From there, the fresh air is blown through a duct into the mine workings. The water that flows in is drained off via an overflow. In order for the water drum to work optimally, the water in the downpipe must reach a flow rate of three to four meters per second.
use
The efficiency (efficiency) of the water drum is just 15 percent. For this reason, the use of the water drum was limited to smaller mine workings. It could be used for weathering individual small stretches . The ventilation of entire pits was not possible with this construction. The effect of the flowing water was often used by letting the water fall into a narrow shaft . This jet then carried the air with it and the same effect occurred as with the water drum.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Aloys Wehrle: The pit weather. Publisher by Franz Tendler, Vienna 1835
- ↑ Franz M. Feldhaus: The technology of prehistoric times, historical times and primitive peoples . 1914, p. 371 Online (PDF; 3.1 MB)
- ↑ a b c d Gustav Köhler: Textbook of mining science. Second improved edition, published by Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig 1887
- ↑ a b c d Wilfried Ließmann: Historical mining in the Harz. 3rd edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin and Heidelberg 2010, ISBN 978-3-540-31327-4
- ↑ The history of mine ventilation online (accessed on July 9, 2012)
- ↑ a b c d Wilhelm Leo: Textbook of mining science. Printed and published by G Basse, Quedlinburg 1861
- ^ A b Emil Stöhr: Catechism of Mining Studies. Lehmann & Wentzel bookstore for technology and art, Vienna 1875
