The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-10-01
l.,.n.., Evolution In Steam.Powe

IAr,.,. evolution In Steam.P Power.
? weeks ago the Tribune printed
I 2nts Of an interesting series of ex-
9 ments near New York in the pro-
dction Of steam by the hydrogen fame
that is, utilizing water for heat. While
the results reached in these trials were
said to be wonderful, it was claimed at
the time by persons interested that their
efforts were very much hampered by
the want of appropriate apparatus.
They believed it to be possible, with q
locomotive constructed according to
their ideas, to effect still further saw
ing in fuel, and accomplish still more
than they had been able to do with
coal-burning engine. 1t will be seen
from letter from Prof. Conant that
locomotive supposed to be exactly suited
to exhibit the principle of the hydrogen
flame is now being built at the Grant
Locomotive Works in Paterson, n. j.,
and is so nearly completed that it will
probably be dispatched ON a trial trip
between New York and Chicago during
next month.
The hydrogen locomotive will differ
from the common coal burners in having
two fire-boxes. The preliminary pro-
cess of combustion will take place in
lower compartment. Thence the flame
will be conducted through q great mum.
Der of flues to an inner chamber where
the peculiar process Of separating the
constituent elements of water and burn
ing the hydrogen will take place. An
other novel feature of this locomotive
will be that its fues will be made of
copper and have a diameter considers
bly, smaller than the iron fues now COM
monty employed. The great conducive
ity of copper as compared with iron is
fact we'll known to practical mechan-
ics-the difference is as two to one-but
the use of that material in the fues of
coal.burning locomotives has not been
possible, because the cinders thrown off
by the fire in the strong draft speedily
cut the soft metal in pieces. The same
objection will not apply in the hydrogen
locomotive. No cinders are thrown off,
and there can consequently be no pro-
cess Of attrition going on. Copper has
the further advantage of possessing q
chemical antagonism for the salts con-
tanned in water that ordinarily produce
scales, and there will be no clogging of
the flues from this source and no loss of
heat resulting therefrom in the improved
apparatus.
There are two sets of fues in the new
locomotive. The first set, 1862 in num-
Der, have a calibre Of five.eighths of an
inch, and are short and vertical, leading
from the lower to the upper combustion
chamber. These flues and both the
chambers do not occupy greater space
than the present fire-box Of a coal-burn-
er, so great is the economy of room in
the use of the naptha fame. The second
set of flues, SIP in number, are laid hor-
izontally from the upper fire-chamber
through surrounding water to the final
outlet. They are eleven feet long end
three-quarters of an inch in diameter.
The long fues alone, not counting the
1862 short ones, are about three times
as many as can be got into coal-burn-
er.
The principle of the process by which
the hydrogen flame is produced is, in
brief, that the chemical constituents OF
water, hydrogen and oxygen, are sep
arated at . comparatively low heat in
the presence of the carbon contained in
burning naphtha gas, that the oxygen
unites with the carbon to form carbonic
oxide or carbonic acid gas, according to
the completeness Of the combustion,
while the liberated hydrogen takes up
oxygen from the atmosphere and burns
tiercely in q colorless and most intense
fame.
The inventors Of the hydrogen fire.
chamber claim that their experiments
have passed beyond the doubtful stage;
that the success Of the apparatus is as
sured, and that it will shortly be de-
monstrxted beyond cavil BY the opera
ton Of the locomotive now building.
The results that they expect to flow from
this Improvement almost stagger belief.
The least Of them will be : complete
revolution In locomotive building. With
the imperfect coal-burners they were
able to effect : saving Of fourteen-ff-
teenths Of the fuel; with the improved
copper-hue hydrogen urner they can
do much more. The consumption Of
naphtha, they assert will notexceed one
half = mint y,n, vsosyv,6 ~ afAam npnaas,vo