New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-14
rCom municated.
TINE AM CAk.

rCom municated.
TINE AMMONIACAL CAk.
EDITOR NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN,:
Being invited, among others, to witness
trial trip OF the "ammoniacal car" on the
Canal Street Railroad, a few days ago, L
thought perhaps q short account OF the
same might be of public interest, especially
as it is just now attracting attention and
challenging investigation Of its claims as a
new ''motor.'
The engineering and scientific world have
long been aware of this latent power (if
may use the expression) in ammoniacal gas,
and to properly harness this power so as to
utilize it in the propulsion of cars and for
other purposes is the desideratum long
sought for. How far DR.. Lsmm and the gen.
tlemen associated with him have succeeded
in this the following facts may assist US in de-
termining. In,my opinion tie difficulties now
to be overcome are purely mechanical, and
. who shall ssy that the genius, inventive and
constructive skill of these gentlemen is
not sufficient for this? The world, be-
Iieye, was first indebted to Professor Fara-
day for the knowledge of the existence of
this power, though I am not aware that
even he was fully conscious of it.
That the public may have ageneral knowl-
edge of this subject, and to answer the Oft
repeated question, what and where is this
latent power? will attempt to explain.
Ammonia is a volatile alkali, and one of
the most abundant products OF nature. 1t
is given out in the Obstructive distillstion of
all animal substances, in the manufacture OF
coal gas, bone dust, etc., and may be ex-
tracted from any of its salts. 1t is the foun-
dation of all good fertilizers. The ammonia
OF commerce, aqua ammonia. the hdrtsltorn
of the drug store, contains about twenty per
cent Of ammonia and seventy-four per cent
of water. Pure ammonia is composed of
nitrogen and hydrogen. in the proportion OF
one to three. These substances are the most
subtle elements in the composition OF water
and atmospheric air. Water being COM
posed of hydrogen and oxygen-by weight.
one obhydrogen and eight of oxygen-in
volume, two of hydrogen and one OF oxygen.
Atmospheric air is composed of oxygen and
nitrogen-by weight, one of nitrogen to
nearly four of oxygen-in volume, four of
nitrogen and one of oxygen. Hence the
ethereal and volatile nature-one of the pro-
perties which commend it as a motive
power.
The prominent and peculiar characteristics
which recommend this substance as motive
power over that OF steam, are these:
First-Its volatile nature, evaporating at
an extremely low temperature. twill boil,
under the pressure of the atmosphere, at
twenty degrees Fahrenheit below the freeZ-
ing point Of water, and under pressure of
one hundred, pounds to the square inch at
fifty degrees Faehrenheit, CT abOutthe mean
atmospheric temperature. From this it
will be seen that pressure can be main
tanned in an ammonical reservoir, without
the application of artificial heat, equal to
that in high pressure steam boiler with
expensive, intense and injurious heat.
Second-The volume of its gas compared
to that of the liquid, celebrated expert
mental chemists give its volume at
pressure of 100 pounds to the square inch,
9S3 to one of its liquid. The volume of
steam at the same pressure, to that of water
is only 300. the temperature of the ammoni-
cal gas being fifty degrees Fahrenheit, and
that of steam about 800 degrees Fahrenheit,
in volume being as 1927 to one compared
with steam.
Third.-It solubility and absorption by
water.
Water will absorb, instantly, six hundred
volumes OF the gas to one of water. and re.
tain it so that 1t can be used over and over
again, with but triHing loss, indefinitely.
The ammonia is expelled from the water,
under atmospheric pressure, at tempera.
ture of one hundred and twenty-five degrees
Fahrenheit, and can be resolved into LIQUID
again by merely extracting this heat. This
can be done by simply pumping water over
the pipes which conveys the gas.
When it is required to propel any kind of
charged with the liquid and immersed in
tank of water. The pressure pipe leads from
the top Of the reservoir (same as steam
pipe from steam drum or chimney, to the
engine, which is constructed 10 every par
ticular (save that no brass or copper is
used), like the steam engine. The exhaust
pipe leads from the engine to the water in
the tank. The pressure in the reservoir will
correspond with the temperature of the
water as long as any liquid remains in the
reservoir.
In the yecent trial. there was at the start
ing 212 cubic feet of liquid ammonia in the
reservoir, and forty gallons of water in
the tank. The car left 1.-The station on
Canal street few minutes past
five P. M, following mule Car up to
the Clay statue, ran on the turn.table with
as much ease as if drawn by mule. 1t
then run to the Ridge Cemeteries and back
to the station on Canal street. There was
no attempt made to test its speed, no doubt,
however, twenty or even thirty miles per
hour could be made, were such speed desira-
BILE or safe. The gauge at starting indicated
$50 pounds pressure, the maximum pressure
was 1876, and at the conclusion of the trip 176
pounds. This extra pressure is the result
of the chemical combination between the gas
and the water Of reabsorption. producing
heat
The following statement will show the
cost of fuel for II round trip, as near as
could b ascertained!
Liquid ia reservoir at starting, ZIP cubic
feet; expended during trip l.l6 cubic feet;
cost OF liquifyiDg ammonia GA cents; cost
OF liquifying amount expended, 1.76 cents.
The distance run is not far-siX miles
which VIII make the cost for fuel 29-l0O
cents, or little more than one-fourth OF q
cent per mile. SCIENCE.
AParisian lady called on her milliner the