Penberthy injector

A special section just for steam engines and boilers, as without these you may as well fit a sail.
Post Reply
johnp
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead
Posts: 242
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:43 pm
Boat Name: Cardinal Queen
Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Penberthy injector

Post by johnp »

When i open the watr supply line i have water coming out the overflow. the pressure from the boat sitting in the water is causing this. how do i get it to stop? even when the steam is open it doesn't seem to close the flapper and inject water into the boiler. is it a supply line throttle that i need to adjust?
User avatar
artemis
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead
Posts: 465
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:13 am
Boat Name: Pond Skimmer
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Contact:

Re: Penberthy injector

Post by artemis »

Suggest you get someone experienced to show you how to operate an injector or check online for instructions.

I googled: penberthy operating instructions and came up with http://www.tycoflowcontrol.com/valves/I ... jector.pdf as well as many other "hits". I selected this (it was also first) because it will tell you a lot about your injector that you should know to maintain and operate it properly.

P.S. Lopez Mike and gondolier88 are both right on in the quick opening of the steam valve. And just like with a feedwater pump, the supply (suction) line must have ABSOLUTELY NO air leaks, This is frequently one of the biggest problems with injectors - there just must be ABSOLUTELY NO air leaks. Just remember, ABSOLUTELY NO air leaks.
Last edited by artemis on Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Ron Fossum
Steamboating Magazine Editor
http://www.steamboating.org
User avatar
Lopez Mike
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead
Posts: 1925
Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2011 6:41 am
Boat Name: S.L. Spiffy
Location: Lopez Island, Washington State, USA

Re: Penberthy injector

Post by Lopez Mike »

My experience with injectors from toy to full sized locomotive has been that one shouldn't be shy about opening the steam supply all the way and relatively quickly. You are more likely to get a non flow situation from being too careful.

These mysterious little beasts like to suck. You could probably throttle back the water supply a bit and see if that helps.

All of the problems I have ever had came down to either too hot of supply water, debris in the injector, and opening the steam valve very slowly.

Not to ask an embarrassing question but they won't work if the shutoff valve or check valve between the injector and the boiler are closed or messed up.

That link to Penberthy is a good one.
If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.
Dalai Lama
User avatar
gondolier88
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead
Posts: 290
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:54 pm
Boat Name: No Boat Yet

Re: Penberthy injector

Post by gondolier88 »

Lift the injector above the waterline by around 6-10", Penberthy's have a good lifting head- the 6-10" is to keep the head as low as possible, while taking into consideration roll of the boat, trim and waves.

I'm sure you have checked simple things like;

- the check valve into boiler is the right way round,

- that the water coming through is from the water supply, and not coming from the boiler,

Once set up Penberthy's are just the bees knees and will give years of service with no problems at all.

Greg
Don't get heated...get steamed up

http://www.simpsonboatbuilding.co.uk
Post Reply