Condenser

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

one who or that which condenses. ducing to a liquid form the steam in front Steam-engine. An apparatus for reof the piston, so as to obtain a partial vacuum at that point, and thus utilize the natural pressure of the atmosphere. Watt invented the injection condenser and the separate condenser. The surface condenser has a series of flat chambers or tubes, usually the latter, in which the steam is cooled by a body of water sur rounding the tubes. Distilled water for ships' use is obtained by the condensation of steam in a surface condenser. Distilling. The still-condenser is an apparatus generally made of the wormtub form; the coil containing the alcoholic vapor traversing a tub which receives a constant accession of cold water, condensing the vapor in the coil. The liquid escapes at a cock valve below. Metal. An apartment in which metallic or deleterious gaseous fumes are condensed to prevent their escape into, and contamination of, the atmosphere. The device consists of a prolonged duct for the fumes, with showers of water to condense the volatile matters. Electricity. (1) An instrument for concentrating electricity by the effect of induction. It usually consists of a confolded sheet of tin-foil, whose layers are separated by a thin sheet having a nonconducting surface. (2) Wit With induction apparatus, a device for absorption or suppression of the extra current, induced by the rapid breaks in the main current. (3) An instrument in which an electric spark passes between the poles in a closed glass cylinder, so as to be employed in burning metals in an atmosphere of any given tenuity or specific chemical character, to obtain the spectra of metals or gases free from accidental characteristics of the general atmosphere for the time being.