Now that Clarence has mentioned this, I believe that is what I remember from my grandparent's house. The vent is bidirectional for air (when it is cold), but supposed to close when the steam arrives. Air can go in when the steam is turn off. Air can come out when the steam is first turned on, but once the steam heats the vent, it is supposed to close. If it works well, it only lets a little steam escape before it closes, and then it doesn't let any more steam out until the next cycle. If the vent continuously emits steam, it sizzles, and is too noisy, and I remember my grandfather saying, "That radiator vent needs replaced."
The steam-radiator vent is like the thermostat on the radiator of a car, except reverse acting. The car thermostat open when it reaches a certain temperature. The steam-radiator vent closes when it reaches a certain temperature.
Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry and Physics
Chair, Division of Natural and Applied Sciences
Bluffton University
Bluffton, OH 45817
(419)-358-3270
edmiston@bluffton.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Bennett
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 4:48 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Heat transfer lab
I think the vent stays open except when steam wets or heats it.
Clarence Bennett
Oakland University
Dept. of Physics, (retired)
111 Hannah
Rochester MI 48309
248 370 3418
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