The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-03
Cant. Eriesson-s Last Rem able Inven-
p ticn-The SOLAR Engine

The following, from the Scientific American, Is
a more detailed account Of Capt. Encsson's new
discovery. to which allusion has been made In the
papers. 1t is o translation Of part of the COM
munication in which be originally announced the
startling idea of solar engine to the university
of Lund He says:
have, Of late years, spent much time and con-
siderable means on experiments 10 ascertain II
the radiating heat of the sun can be concentrated
in such manner as to render 1t available Tor the
production OF motive power.
Sir John Hertchel's and Mr.. Poullet's expert
ments relating 10 the radiating heat OF the SUI,
although interesting are not satisfactory. as they
only deal with low temperatures. showing how
temperature of water under the boiling point
may be effected In q given time on given sur
face. The purpose OF my investigations and ex'
perimebts, on the other hand, has been to ascer-
tain what amount of heat can be developed at
the high temperature obtained by concentrating
the solar rays, viz: bringing their power to bear
on reduced surface, and to devise the most ell.
cient means for efecting such concentration OF
the radiatiDg heat.
Apart from these preparatory experiments,
have also, at the commencement, of the present
year. constructed three different motors. which
term Solar Engines. One Of these is sctuated By
steam formed by the concentration Of the heat of
the solar rays, while the other two are actuated
by the expensive force Of atmospheric air heated
directly by concentrated radiant heat Time will
casion to present description OF these solar en-
gines, or the means adopted for concentrating the
radiant heat in order to obtain the necessary high
temperature. l will therefore limit my essay to
the consideration of the essential part of the SUBJ
iect, viz, the motive force ITSELF With regard to
this, l have briefly to state that my experiments
show that, at the high temperature requisite for
steam engines Rnd caloric Engines, the heating
power of the sun on surface ten feet square will,
although in itself too feeble, evaporate on an
average, 4s9 cubic inches OF water in the hour, by
means Of my mechanical continuance for ehecting
the necessary concentration. The importance OF
this result capnot be over estimated when we re-
feet that such an amount of evaporation demon
strates the presence of sufficient heat TO develop
force capable OF lifting 81, 900 pounds zone foot
high In q minute, thus exceeding one horse power.
As an incontrovertible evidence of the cspabty
of the sun 10 develop great amount Of heat at
high temperature, this result Is probably Of greater
importance than any other physical truth prac-
tically established.
TO the earth being 2l4 A times greater than the
radius Of the former, IL will be found by squaring
this sum, that one superficial foot OF the suns
surface must heat As 1874 superficial feet OF the
earth. In other words, the sun on equal surface
throws off Al, 9s4 times more heat than the earth
receives. We are therefore enabled, on the
strength Of the practical result now positively es-
tabished to infer that an area OF ten feet square
on the suns surface develops heat enough to
actuate a steam engine, not theoretical one with
its small consumption, but real steam engine OF
a., asa horse power, demanding a consumption of
more than 10000 pounds OF coal every hour. But
this estimate, based on the evaporation effected
by the concentrated radiant heat is far below the
actual development of heat by the sun. Fully
ne-half Of the heat conveyed by the solar rays is
lost during their passage through the atmosphere
and through the apparatus by which the tempera-
ture is elevated to the necessary high degree. The
actual development OF heat, on the supposed ten
feet square OF the surface Of the sun, will the-e-
fore equal the amount of heat generated by the
consumption Of 100000 pounds Of coal per hour.
The mind cannot conceive the intensity which
must accompany such an inordinate consumption
in small space. Still less can we form an idea
of the nature of the combustibles their sufici-
ency, when such intense heat is perpetuslly kept
up on the entire surface Of the globe the diameter
OF which is more than hundred times greater
than that Of the earth. But is not my intention
on this occasion TO lay before the phiIosophical
of this wonderful orb; have only designed to
discuss the question as to the suficiency OF the
radiant heat Notwithstanding the enormous dis
lance, and the use we can make OF 1t as . me-
chancal motor. The result Of my experiments, as
already stated. having established the fact that
without an inconvenient extension of the mechan-
lam which have devised for concentrating the
radiant heat, sufficient power can be obtained for
practical purposes, 1t will now be proper to point
out what amount Of mechanical power may be
obtained by occupying Swedish square mill with
solar engines.
Assume that one-half of the area is set aside
for necessary roads, houses, ETC., an available area
would remain of Is o00x36 900, equal CAS- 900 900
superficial feet on which radiant heat might be
concentrated. My several experiments having
shown that the concentration Of the solar heat on
100 square feet Of surface is more than sufficient to
develop horse power II follows that "a 500 en-,
gines, each Of l0o-horse power, may be kept 10
motion by the radiant heat Of the sun on S we'd.
ish square mile.
Archimedes enthusiastically exclaimed that his
favorite device. the lever, had power enough TO
heave the earth out Of its path. II may be more
truly said that the concentration Of the radiant
heat OF the sun furnishes sufficient force to stop
the earth Ia its course.
Icannot omit sdvertiDg to the insgniacance Of