The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-23
No Smoke Whatever Thrown on. and
Every Degree of Heat Utilized
The Invention.

to look at, and at first sight appearing in nc
wise different to thousands of other stoves.
But l was shown two things which at once
impressed me.
First, there was no smoke whatsoever
coming from the chimney. This chimney
was placed in the middle of the exhibition
instead of running up outside the roof.
Had it smoked this could not have been
tolerated for a moment. Secondly, the at
mosphere within the chimney was quite
cool; that is to say, the heat of the stove
did not escape from the chimney, and must
therefore have been utilized for warming
purposes.
This led me to inquire into the science of
the invention, with results SO surprising to
myself that ] was able to obtain for M. de
Clausen an invitation to come over to Lon
don and submit his theories to the ~severest
scientific and practical tests. The Lancet,
with then usual enterprise that distinguishes
this most celebrated newspaper, decided to
experiment on the stove, and it was conse-
quently conveyed to the Lancet chemical
laboratory. For three weeks the Invention
was made the subject of the fullest investi-
CATION.
LC COdl DuIIcu III UuO buOV0 was CuEGIul-
ly analysed, SO as to ascertain what were it's
component parts; then the gases coming
out of the stove were captured end analysed
and the history of every particle of fuel used
traced out step by step. The results were a
triumphant yindication of the inventors
theories, and form the subject-matter of a
technical report six columns in length pub
llshed in the Lancet on the 2lst of March, to
which report l would refer all who are de-
slrlous of studying the scientific details of
the discovery. Here, however, ] will try
and explain to those who are not acquainted
with chemi@try what is the nature of the
great discovery M. de Clausen has made.
Up to the present it was always thought
that to insure a good fire and get up the
greatest possible heat it was necessary to
give plenty of air, and efforts were therefore
made to produce a strong draught. When
combustion is incomplete, when there is a
great quantity of smoke, ETC., it was sup
posed that the supply of oxygen was insult
ficient.
Coal also contains a certain amount of
sulphur and this burns into sulphuric or
sulphurous acid or sulphureted hydrogen.
Apart from these ingredients the products
or combustion contain carbonic acid gas
and carbon monoxide. Carbonic acid gas
consists of one molecule or particle of car
bon and two of oxygen. Carbon monox-
lde consists of one molecule of carbon and
only one of oxygen.
oiC hlAORid" VI CdIDOu, IL COIQpleG6ly
consumed and converted into carbonic acid
gas, gives $3.50 calories of heat. But if
the combustion is not complete, and we
have carbon monoxide. we get only 2,47O
calories of heat. Need | therefore further
insist upon the far reaching ~onsecuences
likely to accrue by this one single fact that
M.de Clausen has constructed a stove which
gives Off no carbon monoxlde and Yields
only carbonic acid gas?
M. de Clansen came upon this discovery
in the following Inanner: He observed i'll
Analysing the smoke of fires that, apart
from SCOT and sulphur, it contnined carbonic
acid gas, carbon monoxide, and free oxyge
Then a flash of genius illuminated his mind.
How could people say that combustion was
incomplete for want of oxygen when there
was plenty of oxygen-free, untitled
oxygen--coming away with the smoke of
the fire?
Therefore M. de Clausen concluded that
perfect combustion depended not on in
creasinp. but on limiting the supply of outer
air, and above all on securing the required
temperature that would enable the oxygen
of the air to assimilate with the carbon
while it was being %decomposed by the pro-
cess of combustion.
M. de Clausen then set to work to con-
struct a stove inside of which a tempera-
ture should be maintained at a high
elevation, SO that the process of combustion
might be complete. For this purpose he
a ire-clay of a new and most
useful character. The brick absorbs and
radiates with marvellous rapidity the heat
to which 1t Is exposed, and with it is lined
the inside of M. de Clausen's stove.
The coal, which is introduced only twice
in twenty-four hours, is kept very snug
and warm in this highly porous brick. The
portion alone burns, and upon the
inoandescent part of the coal air is ad-
but IN the smallest volume. Two
little holes are pierced through the stove
The size of an ordinary pencil, and even
these small holes are in part closed by
introduced into them. The amount
Of air that reaches the fire is not sufficient
TO lower the temperature of the coal, but
Itself becomes warm enough to possess af-
Unity for combustion. The carbon mon
oxide gas produced in the upper layers of
The coal. meeting a current of air Mt a
sufficiently elevated temperature. burns
again by taking up an atom of the oxygen
,arbonic acid gas.
Such ia M. ue Clausen's theory, and such
8 the theory which has been proved correct
lfter the most strict and elaborate expert
nents made by some of the best known and
chemists of London. The fnIl |
heoretic heat the fuel was capable of giving
vas obtained, and of course there would
could be under such circumstances. no
moke produced. OF the heat only one.
lalf to three per cent. escaped up the
'nlmnev. All the rest was utilized, In or
linary" fires only 10 to 20 per cent of the
uel consumed is utilized. M. dc Claussn
stimates that throughout Europe, in CON
equence of the incomplete combustion
which takes place in fires and furnaces,
to-, the amount of waste fuel represents a
nlue of $l6,oO0,000,0 600 per annum. The
OF Europe does not amount to &c..
OO.OOO,0W per annnm, 80 the adoption
throughout this continent of M. de Clau- i
ems system would economize fuel enough
o pay tho taxes, under which the %popula-
ions gronn and grumbie, three times over.
10 the Londoner the prospect Of doing
way will smoke, and therefore with the
,ost Objectionable feature of the London
Digs, is the first consideration. 10 the
manufacturer the hope of reducing 10 tue
xtent of some GO per cent. the cost of pro-
ucing his steam motive power suggests M
immense increase in his profits. 10 the I
DOR there il consolation in the Thought :
hat they will be able to warm their homes
Or n worry small outlay. In London Ciau-
ems stove consumes coal to the value of /;
wo to four cents in twenty-four hours. !
nd gives OIL much more neat than n largo
fire. These are rcsults which can =
Ut he qualified otherwise than ns totally .
evolutionary. +
AS yet tho stoves are only made in Rus
"a .N-I Ah-