Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-07-09

| VICTORIA a Mr.. Harrison OF Geelong, as we
learn from the New York EUeni'g Post. has
machine working in London, driven by
ten horse engine, which turns out ice at the
rate OF 6000lbs. dsy.-The refrigeration is
produced by the evaporation OF ether in
vacuum; and the peculiarly Of the inVenton
consists in the arrangements for the evapor-
| ating the ether at low temperature, and
condensing it at a higher, precisely the re-
verse Of ordinary evaporating processes. The
ether is contained in the air tight vessels, re-
| lieyed from the pressure of the atmosphere
| The cylinder in the centre OF the apparatus IS
filled with valves, SO that each stroke OF the
piston withdraws quantity of ether vapor
from the left hand vessels, and forces 1t into
eondensing vessel on the right hand. Where
the yaPor is raised, an intense cold is prodnc-
ed where it is condensed, corresponding
degree OF heat is envolved. The ether, after
resuming the liquid state, returns by self
regulating valve to the evaporating vessel, and
the process thus continues uninterruptedly,
without requiring any attention, and without
the slightest waste of material. Indeed, as
the pressure inside the vessels is less than the
outside atmosphere pressure, it is an impossi-
bility that any ether can escape. The evapo-
rating vessel is a tubular boiler, in which the
ether actually boils (if required) fifty degrees
is utilized by means of stream of salt water,
which does not itself freeze at the tempera-
trre required for ice making, but carries the
cold to the vessels containing the fresh water
intended for conversion into ice. This part
OF the apparatus consists of trough twenty
feet in length, fitted with sixty one freezing
moulds, over the outside surfaces OF which
the cold salt water crcuiates in a continued
stream. After having thus parted with its
cooling power, it is returned to the refrigerat-
ing vessel, and again passed through the
tubes of the boiler, There is thus a continu-
ed and regular circulation of the fluid, similar
to that Of the ether, the whole bearing re-
mote resemblance to the double circulation of
the blood. 1t is found that the number of
freezing mOulds is not nearly sufficient, and
that the machine will be worked with more
advantage if the number be doubled.
The ice can be made of any required shape
or thickness. 1t is at present turned out in
to slabs eighteen inches square on the sides,
and an inch and half thick. The slabs can
be placed together so as to form blocks OF any
thickness. The ice formed rapidly at the
coolest end Of the trough is white and opaque,
while that formed slowly at the lower end is
more transparent. By increasing the dirnen-
sions of this trough, and thus insuring more
uniformity of action, the ice will be transpar-
ent throughout. The relative excellence of
white and clear ice is debateab,e point The
white, although actually colder when formed,
melts more rapidly than the clear ice-a draw
back when the ice has to be kept, but an adj
vantage when it has to be used. gsss &
The expense Of the process is SIMPLY that
of the motive power. In the process itself
there is no waste or expenditure Of anything
except water. An ordinary steam engine of
ten horse power consumes a ton of coal per
day, and the product in ice will be four to five
tons. The removal of the ice when formed,
and rehlling the moulds with water, are the
only parts of the operation requiring the SER
vices Of an attendant The whole expense
of making ice in London, including interest
on capital, &C.. will be less than ten shillings
($2 42) per ton.
If this invention, remarks the Post, proves
as successful upon large scale as it is upon
a small one-and we see no reason to doubt
it-ice in southern climates will be laid in as
the summer stock of fuel, as much as coal is
for a winter at the north. While northern
households are gathering around the blazing
hearth, southern families will seat themselves
at the cool refrigerator. During our heated
term, buildings may be cooled in the same
way that they are now warmed-by the CIR
culation of ice water in pipes. Animal food
may be preserved in the warmest weather,
and provisions sailed at any season of the
year. But perhaps the most beneficial apph-
cation of the process will be the cooling Of
hospitals in tropical regions. The fearful
mortality arising from the prevaenee of
fevers1n an atmosphere above eighty degrees
cen be checked by treating the patients in
cool apartments An Indian or Mexican
campaign will not have half its present ter
! I
misssriat an ice making engine
What effect this discovery may have upon
the rapidly growing ice trade, is worthy of
consideration by those who are interested in
it. The ice shipping trade, indeed from Bos-
ton alone, engages the capital Of numerous
companies, and very large amount. ot tom
| nage.-lt is conducted with such skill and
economy that New Orleans and Havana get
their ice for cent pound, (neyer less than
| half a cent? and Calcutta for about two. and
a half cents.-But' judging from its present
success alone, this ice making machine win
furnish ice at those Localities for less than that
| price. Since 1882, the trade has increased
| with great rapidly, and most OF the ponds in
| the vicinity of Boston are used for the pur-
| pose. So long as eleven years ago the ship
ments from Boston coastwise for one wear,
amounted to 81, 1887 tons; to foreign ports.
| 2259l. The export of ice during the year
1856 from Boston, was l25, Sl4 tons for the
year 1854, 1895 TONS The export of ice
from the United States for the year ending
June 30. 1866, was over Al 1000 tons, valued
at nearly 100000. This Is a small sum COM
| paratively, but it will be remembered that the
ice trade has been without doubt one of the
main stays which has preserved the Calcutta
trade to Boston.
/