Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-09-24
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS spy.

! oh5nioS WIN iuihisn an apology for the
lew remarks, which are about to be submit
tea upon an invention, which has been hith-
erto, but imperfectly described, and the prin
clPles OF which, therefore, it cannot be sup
posed, should be sufficiently mprehended Nv
the writer OF this article to afford an opportu-
nifty OF fairly discussing them. Without at all
controVertns the statements which have been
made respecting the operations of the machine.
50 far as the same are said to have been tested
by actual experiments, it may nevertheless be.
that the account given of it in 6 DIR. Brews.
ter's Edinburgh Philosophical Journal,n and
w 'n, account appeared in the Spy of the
IOth instant, gives all air Of mystery and won.
der to the invention which it does not de.
| serve.
1t is possible that Mr.. Perkins has made
some discoveries in the principles of natural
philosophy, which have been hidden from the
observation Of all other philosophers and me-
chanlcians, as seems to be supposed by the au-
thor OF the article in DR.. Brewster's Journal.
and which arc now brought into action to pro-
once the astonishing effects and results ascrib.
cd to this new machine. II is less difficult to
believe, however, that Mr.. Perkins, in con.
stTucting his engine, has proceeded upon prin-
clples which have been long since known and
FULLY understood, and that the whole merit of
ms invention consists in applying these princi-
pies IN different manner, or in different pro-
portions, from what has been heretofore done,
An explanation OF these principles, as UNDER
stood by the writer of this article, shall be
gwen with view of. solving the mystery.
"nicn appears, at present, to envelope the
subject under consideration.
| 1t Is believed, then, that the improvements.
made by Mr.. Perkins, consist entirely in re-.
duc'ng The quantity, and raising the ienapsra-
ture, Of the ~ater employed, beyond the usual
annals. Now it has long since been ascertain
ed that the expansive force Of steam is in pro-
portion to ats temperature, and that this tenn
perature may be indefinitely increased. These
principles were certainly understood by Mr..
Woolf, who constructed a table by which
to ascertain the power of steam, at any given
temperature between 212 and 282 degrees,
Fahrenheit. 1t seems, also, that Mr.. Evans
OF Philadelphia, was acquainted with the same
principles as long ago as 1904; for he then OBJ
tanned letters patent for improvements in the
steam.ensine founded upon these principles.
the discovery of which he claimed to have
made, probably not having heard of the ex-
peFiments of Mr.. Woolf. The higher the
temperature of the water is raised, the less
Will be the quantity needed, as the steam pro.
duced from it will exert a greater force, than
when at low temperature, by striving to &C.
| cupy larger space.
IL must also be apparent that no more wa,
ter need be employed than may be sufficient
10 iurnlsh the quantity of steam required for
steam, at gwen temperature, provided it be
conhned within certain limits, will exert the
same force, whether it proceed from large
or small body of water. This being we'll
established tact, it occurred no doubt to Mr..
Perkins, as it probably has to many others,
'hat much greater quantity Of water is gene
raily employed than can be necessary or use
'ui' as II VIII always require a propoHioRate
quantity OF fuel to heat it, and to preserve il
at the requisite temperature. To be more
particular, it has been calculated that water
when converted into steam at 212 degrees, will
occupy space about 1900 times larger than
ats original bulk, after overcoming the weight
OF the atmosphere. According to the experi-
ments OF MIR. Wolff, if its temperature be
raised to 24O degrees, it will exert a force of
ten pounds to the square inch, after overcom-
ing the weight of the atmosphere, If the heat
be further increased to 26O degrees. It will pro-
duce pressure of 2Olb. to the SQUARE inch
at 213 degrees the pressure will be 3Olb. and
at 282 degrees it will be 40lb. And thus, by
further additions of heat, to any supposable
extent, the power of the steam may be increasA
ed in a similar ratio.
II then, by way of illustration, the capacity
OF the piston tube be stated at 5000 cubic
inches, 1t would require about one fourth OF
a cubic inch OF water to produce steam
enough to fill IT. and if il be filed % times in
minute, while the engine is at work. little
more than six cubic inches of water would
be evaporated in that time, which would be at
the rate OF about one gallon and half an
hour. II the boiler be constructed to contain
~ gallons OF water, and there be no waste Of
steam by its passing the piston, that quantity
would keep the engine in constant operation
tor twenty hours, although all the steam, after
1t had performed its office, should escape into
the atmosphere. Now by raising the tempe
nature OF the water to that degree of which il
is capable (and if it be confined, it may be
made AS hot as red-hot iron) its expansive
force would be almost incalculable: and there
being but small quantity of water employed,
it would require but small quantity of fuel
to produce the effect.
These principles, it is believed. will salts.
factorly explain why the engine of MIR. Per-
kins requires so much less fuel to make it ex-
ert given force than is required byth old
ones.
But says the author Of the article in DR..
Brewster's Journal, Since these great i'm
provements have been effected, Mr. Per-
kin' has made discovery that seems, in its
practical Importance, to surpass them all.
He now entirely dispenses with the use of the
condenser, and works the engine against the
atmosphere alone and by methods with which
we are not acquainted, and which indeed it
would not be prudent for him to disclose at
present, ne is enabled TO arrest The heat after
1t has performed its mechanical functions, and
actually pump ii BACK TO the generator, 10 unite
'olm fresh portion Of rcater, and rsnew ats
etsefM labors. In an operation like this, a
considerable portion Of heat must still be lost /: