New-York tribune., 1869-03-27
A NEW THEORY OF STEAM.
BY THOMAS EwBANK

cardinal law or Progress
that which requires constant accession to science and the
arts by discovering new agents and principles and new
applications Of those already known. The present
tury has done wonders compared to tile past this
should activity Of explorers the greatest
credit win be given to the people who accomplish the
most with the means they possess OF the within
reach not fraction Of them is exhausted.
1.-THE Of inventive powers 70 make the most Of them,
developed. We should not leave what do for
introduce ideas and aspirations
expanding by rejecting that in the arts cannot
stop till force and form and property OF matter be
made subservent TO human elevation Another proposi
tion perhaps not acceptable An the knowledge Of
science and the arts hitherto attained is elementary
Ehs planet Is perfect theater OF mechanical and chem
Ical principles, Infinitely diversified in their applications
and results. AS they become known man will crowd the
earth with creations of bis own, various and numerous
those OF nature, and acting in harmony with them
Not till this done can species be said 70 begin TO
fulfil it's destiny. Every discovery in science divine
revelation and every Improvement In the arts addi
tiOnal illustration Of the laws impressed upon matter
here.
AS we are all differently constituted mentally as well
physically, there lfow minds perhaps none that
cannot contribute facts suggestions TO the
stock Ii would seem that every has particular
germ turn Of thought which, If true to himself may be
developed feebly fully, for the benefit Of society
Hints apparently valueless may, and often do call UP
ideas Of practical Importance This diversity Of percep
tion doubtless essential element of nature, and
also OF progress though seeming obstacle it origi
mates antagOnsms that sometimes advanced prop
OsitiOns rather criminal than commendable. The
Of the arts like those Of politics. theology and
professions occupied by standingst slow, and
quick moving parties conservatives and liberals There
Is introducing thought In mechanics without
conflict with old ones 1t must fight its way into the
ranks and this is WELL for opposition is useful If not
necessary In establishing truths. head wind is
often better than none.
theory Of steam which processes to double the power
OF our present engines thereby saving half the fuel and
rendering the loss OF life and property by explosions of
boilers impossible pretty to be classed among
sphemeral projects of the day. Too much for them TO
believe il has been promptly thus disposed Of by some
practical men, Others whose ideas are not limited TO
current Devices will prefer look INTO It, confident that
physical falsehood Of the kind survive nvestga
tion and that mechanical like mathematical truths
impregnable The theory requires no complicated ap-
paratus arguments eucdate it. With the simplest
is principles become evident whatever may be thonght
Of the proposed applications.
desirable opening II accessible, TO test them,
could not be found than the ourmis Of enerprisng
firm In this city, The volumes Of steam ceaseessy ssu
ing from their engines elicit the notice of both street and
river assengers but these gentlemen did not possess
the knowledge necessary TO conviction they naturally
referred the matter their professional advisers and 10
convince them that the virtue OF tuns Of coal dis
charged every twentyfOur hours, through the waste
pipes vain to attempt and be deemed insanity to
suggest Homer mods and great writers sometimes dose
but practical fairly sleep and scod those who strive
20 awaken them All professions have their prejudees
and time required for novelties TO be appreciated
The announcements made by savans OF the fact, un
dream of by working men, but longer to be ques
toned that nnetenths Of the fuel consumed by steam
engines make In work. clearly shows the exist
encs OF some general and radical error oversight
and suggests TO first principles TO detect and
it, Existing prejudces may lead some cOOlly TO
ignore aDi continue the waste BE 10 only let them
deTde efforts Of others to lessen it, lest they bring
dagsOn themselves. know the force Of such preju
diees for have not been without them. Doubling the
power derived expenditures OF fuel doing
something but it win be thought much of long for If
the gain were quadrupled wide margin would be left
for more.
The proposed theory based on the use Of common or
natural steam, rejecting the superheatnG hypothesis
unnatural frught with danger, uncalled for, and
profitable The following propositions deemed incOn
trOyeItible:
l. The force or power in steam is natural property
existing fully IN that which arises from open cadrons
considered charged with accumulated common steam,
: condensed air IS accumulated common air
2. The natural ana legitimate mOdo Of increasing the
power OF steam is like that OF air water and everything
else, by increasing its quantity. Quantity and pressure
equivalents Of each other When the pressure is
doubled 80 Is the quantity; and the converse, doubling
The quantity doubles the pressure.
The force which produces expansion IN direction
produces correlative contraction in the other: Thus
steam has two forces, expansion and contraction col
lpoH which, by the law OF action and reaction,
absolutely equal to each other.
adopt the direct application of the expansive energy
TO small piston, or eoliapsion TO excite atmospheric
pressure larger onei The answer wiu OF course be
That which does the most work with gwen quantity Of
fuel II 1t be true, stated, that TO convert any given
weight O water uO vpor requires the quantity OF
heat. under whatever pressure and al whatever temper
auIe the water may boil, no advantage can be claimed
this ground for Que over the OTHER Oa whichever
le the advantage s u Is not In the cost OF producing
Il steam. but in the mode "f using ~.
Now in apparent conflict With the law of action and
power is actually obtained from the
t0iaslOn OF given quantity Of Steam than from
expansive power The anomaly arises as has been here.
t0Ore explained from the pressure Of the atmosphere
opposing resistance equal TO lS pound on the neh, TO
lie working OF the expansive force while t coalesces
Of bower and above what the expansive force can
possibly produce; an nexpngnahle truth which prscti,
inches worked with GU pounds OF steam has pres
sure Of lAx60=s6iO pounds Now, steam OF 60 pounds
cylinder with piston four Tunes the area Of the above,
and it, colapson would Yield l HiXlJ=5GO pounds. 80
lar the results appear equal and hut for tho atmosphere
would really be so; bat 1ts resistance l4iX5=2lG0
lound has TO be deducted from the expansive force,
he available power Is only 6sio pounds instead Of $500
lPund, The case may be differently stated steam that
ases 90 pounds per lbch on the safety valve contains
Give atipOspherea OF aud It's collapsion
.ould be ltix5xlo=oSoo pounds against 500 pounds
In calculating the effect Of the expansive force It fol-
Ss that 10 70 on the Incl must In AL eases he deducted
AOycrcOming or ueulazHg tc resistance Of the ailnu.
sAee Hence the expansive eo,i'g force OF steam Of
ssb. on tse iasb ltI7s=ie.so lb, while 10.
sipsoH lIiS6Il,-4 ~ lbs one M than expansion.
fEl7nsoa Of IS bG IHrS ~ SO lbs
ksa9son lHt5Il5=6SO lbS, olc.lyu uore.i
lPaaaoa Of GO Hs l4arl5=e 4so lbs
Aspsaa AHIlEl5=i 80 b~. ose.lsJd more.
lPssoa otl los I4rBz-. 30 lbs
.i'son lttIsri.-=s 80 ibs, oneh halJ more.
ee3,..ss oi'ohG It1is=:leolls
'''a 'z-is9o lbe., doabt that Of sKpiBsSB.
NRlAoa lEK5=2 loo lbs, 10 a0ttiag
ech advantages Of cOllapsion over the expansive
te but not all OF them, as viii be seen The fact H.
,Nere