A donkey water heating system, or donkey boiler, is the name given to a steam boiler on a ship deck that is used to supply steam to machinery on the deck when the main boilers are shut down.
They are based upon the general theory of heat rising. In context, if a metal drum or barrel was filled with water and heated from the bottom simultaneously with an outlet close to the top of the drum, the hot water would rise to the top of the drum and fall out of the outlet whilst the cold water would stay at the bottom close to the heat source.
In order to make a donkey boiler there is no "correct" or standardized method. It is necessary to use a metal drum as metal conducts heat and would allow the water inside the drum to be warmed up. It is also advisable to allow the release of pressure on the hot water outlet in order to avoid any accidents.
The following text shows a step-by-step method for creating such a system:
-Acquire some form of metal drum. The size of the drum should be dependent on preference. It is advisable to use a drum that already has 2 inlets/outlets, as this will save any welding and creating holes in the drum.
-Attach metal pipes to the top and bottom of the drum. Using valves on inlets/outlets that already have a threading can do this, otherwise holes will have to be made and pipes welded onto them. The fittings should be airtight.
-The pipe at the top of the drum should have another pipe attached to it pointing directly upwards; this will diminish the pressure on the water.
-The drum should then be set on some sort of stand so that the barrel sits off the ground enough that a fire can be made underneath it but not so much that it sits above the main body of the flame.
-Water should be fed into the bottom pipe continuously.
-A fire or other heat source should then be positioned directly underneath the drum.
-Hot water will then rise to the top of the drum and out of the high outlet.
They are based upon the general theory of heat rising. In context, if a metal drum or barrel was filled with water and heated from the bottom simultaneously with an outlet close to the top of the drum, the hot water would rise to the top of the drum and fall out of the outlet whilst the cold water would stay at the bottom close to the heat source.
In order to make a donkey boiler there is no "correct" or standardized method. It is necessary to use a metal drum as metal conducts heat and would allow the water inside the drum to be warmed up. It is also advisable to allow the release of pressure on the hot water outlet in order to avoid any accidents.
The following text shows a step-by-step method for creating such a system:
-Acquire some form of metal drum. The size of the drum should be dependent on preference. It is advisable to use a drum that already has 2 inlets/outlets, as this will save any welding and creating holes in the drum.
-Attach metal pipes to the top and bottom of the drum. Using valves on inlets/outlets that already have a threading can do this, otherwise holes will have to be made and pipes welded onto them. The fittings should be airtight.
-The pipe at the top of the drum should have another pipe attached to it pointing directly upwards; this will diminish the pressure on the water.
-The drum should then be set on some sort of stand so that the barrel sits off the ground enough that a fire can be made underneath it but not so much that it sits above the main body of the flame.
-Water should be fed into the bottom pipe continuously.
-A fire or other heat source should then be positioned directly underneath the drum.
-Hot water will then rise to the top of the drum and out of the high outlet.
