The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-06-06
FOUND ANEWsouRcE oE HEAT.
An Astounding Claim Which Sets all
Science at Nnnght.

An Astounding Claim Which Sets all
Science at Nnnght.
The accepted theories of heat gen.
Grafton limit the list of materials from
which heat may be produced bv arti-
iicial means to the substances known
as fuels. And these fuels are almost
wholly confined to the various forms of
carbon, organic or inorganic, vegeta-
bic or mineral. Not To enter on the
question whether mineral carbons,
coal and oil are derived from organic
bodies or moi, we need only consider
them as mineral fuels. And as to
organic fuels, whether vegetable, as in
woody tissues, or us carbonaccous
matter i'll the form of animal oils, they
burn and give heat in strict propor-
tion to the carbon they contain. We
have, therefore, IN our wisdom, been
attempting much lately in The wau of
keeping up tie stock of these organic
fuels by planting forests, and by even
making straw up into cakes, like the
dried peat of the frugal Icelanders.
But there has now come forward the
bold invention of new source of heat;
an cver-prrsent material, and a self
acting process of using it, almost. 1t
is heat generator that consumes lit
tie of any form of fuel, as we now de-
fine that word. At least, it requires
scarcely more than the match that
lights gas jet to set it going. 1t does
not produce or generate any important
quantity of the ordinary products of
oubustion-neither smoke, nor ear
bonic acid, nor ashes. 1t will not be
necessary to sell the residuals so care
fullv-a gas works do, nor will it be
necessary to cumber the sidewalks
with ash boxes or ash carts. Yet, the
heat is as decisive and genuine us the
heat from anthracite coal i'll a blast
furnace. 1t will warm a house
thoroughly, and even heat it to excess
if not carefully regulated. 1t will
melt iron or steel, and by its own self
action, when once started, it will heat
the containing drum or fire box to a
red heat first and almost n white heat
next. Its constant heat would melt
iron or steel if not checked by slight
manipulation.
Is this miracle or an overwrought
mental strain, such as might reason
ably be inferred? 1t is neither. 1t is
a literal and absolute fact, rs plain
and practical as large iron heating
drum can be made. In this drum a
slight coal fire is lighted, and the
ordinary fuel door above and the draft
door below being property adjusted,
the cumulative heat generation begins
instantly. If not stopped by rcadjust-
ment OF the door it will 90 on indeii.
nitely, almost 10 the full red heating
of the containing vessel or drum.
1t is clearly the air that is burned
the oxygen of the common atmosphere
constituting the fuel. There can be
no exhaustion of the supply of air will
its contained oxygen, and, as no arti
| fetal blast or other mechanical agency
is required to feed the air, it consti
tutes self-created flame. 1t is only
requisite to check the supply of air 81
as to avoid cumulative effects other
wise there would be a steadily increas
ing draft To feed the flame, and de
| gree of heat beyond any capacity Il
apply it. The combustion in this cast
gives an intense heat, but with little
visible flame. 1t forms little carbonit
oxide or carbonic acid gas. 1t woulC
not deliver sufficient of such gase
into the air OF any room to asphy yxiat,
its occupants if all the products o
outward through any outgoing fiuc
At the moment of original ignition th
small amount of coal or wood used /,
light the fire would possibly maxi
some smoke, but after the lighting i
effected the heat may be kept up in
definitely by simply regulating tn
draft of air, and during that time TIL
contained fuel used to light the fur
uace remains without being more thai
i'll part consumed.
This reads little like the record c
any experiment with ordinary fuels
or any record of the evolution of hca
units from weighed or measured fraa
incnts Of ce;ti, or of wood, or of oi
Ii is i'll great degree a mystery unde
our accepted scientific definitions, an,
its great significance is iii the assUr
ance that the common air may be mad
the adjunct fuel, alike for Iomesti,
heating and for metallurgic uses.
1t win be blessing to the people o
the great interior to be able to sub
stitute the bitter north wind for tn.
costly fuel that coal is with them.
will be grateful chance for retaliation
to burn the wind there as a fue
against its own violence. All this il
too strange to be at once accepted
whether true or not, and the write
hereof enters plea of pleasant enthu
siasm to avert too great antagonism
Yet it is true that the common air i
burned in this self-acting furnace, will
evolution of intense heat.-LOri1s BiOd
get ia1 Light, Heat, and POwer.