Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
NEW MOTIVE POWER.
An English Engineers Discovery that
May RevOlutiOnize Our Indus
trial System.
Results Produced by Two Volumes of
Steams With Sixteen of
Heated Air.
Air Heated at Small Cost by the Ca
bOric Which Now Escapes
Unused.

{
b0ric Which Now Escapes
Unused.
1t is well known that the practical efici-
ency of the steam engine is very far be-
! low the standard which theory correctly
! sets up for it, says the London Times The
mechanical work done by pound of coal
in our best engines-that is, by the con
version of heat into motions greatly less
than theory tells US it should be. 1t has
| been proposed to suuersede steam by vari
! GUS gases, or to add them to it and use
them in a mixed form. Air has found
much favor with inventors, and there have
! been times when the use of combined air
and steam appeared to be a practical
method of improving the steam engine.
| But, apart from gas engines and hOt-air
| engines pure and simple, down to the
| present time there has been no record of
commercial or even practical success hav-
ing attended the introduction of air in any
way into the steam engine.
Among others who have taken a deep
practical interest in the question Of the
use of combined air and steam in the en-
CINE is Edward Field, G. E., who has been
known for many years past in connection
with the Steam boiler bearing his name
His improvement was a great step III adj
vance in the steam boiler; but it is
probable that it will be found that he has
now made a far greater advance In the
engine by incre asing its efficiency and
economy in a very remarkable degree
And what he has really done partakes
rather of the nature of discovery than an
invention.
Put in a few plain words Mr. Field pro-
duces the volume of mixed gases under
pressure necessary for performing a given
amount of work in an engine with the use
of only from 1919 to 20 per cent of the
quantity OF steam which would be used in
the same engine to perform the same
amount Of work. This volume of mixed
gases conSlste of a small volume Of steam
introduced into large volume of heated
air Whatever of invention there is in
the present connection relates to the appar-
atus by means of which the discovery is
utilized in practice. This apparatus con-
sists of two portions-namely, the expert
ments, whereby Mr.. Field demonstrates
the princi Piles of his discovery; and the
practical, by which he illustrates the appli-
cation Of those principles in doing work
This apparatus of both kinds we have re-
Gently had the opportunity of inspecting
and of seeing in operation with results
which fully support all that Mr.. Field
claims in respect of the principle. The tx
perimental apparatus consists of two meas
urlng chambers of different capacity. and
working cylinder having a weighted
piston. In order to prevent condenss ton
or loss of heat high temperature Is main
tanned in each of the chambers. In order
to render the experiments comparative,
steam was first admitted to both of the
measuring chambers at a pressure OF sixty
pounds per square inch. This steam,
which represented twenty volumes, was
then admitted to the working cylinder, and
it raised the piston with a load of III
| to alheight of 5 q inches
The experiment was repeated, when the
piston was only raised ~ inches. The
smaller of the two chambers was then half
! filed with steam at so pounds pressure,
and the large chamber with heated air at
t a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit,
t. which is about the temperature required
in practice and at atmospheric pressure as
shown by tae respective gauges. The pro
3 portions we're two of steam and sixteen OF
heated air, and upon the admission of the
steam to the air guage on both chambers
!
r per square inch. Upon the mixture of
: steam and air being admitted to the cylin-
: der the weighted piston was rapidly driven
up seven and one-haIf inches, which was
t as high as it could reach, and represented
: the stroke of the piston within the cylin.
, der. Upon the experiment being re-
e peated the weighted piston rose much
: more rapidly, giving the cylinder cover
r ing violent blow. A number of other
s experiments were made with similar re-
Y suits, and as a whole clearly demonstrated
: that the twenty volumes of steam failed tC
7 do the work tibet two volumes of steam
e combined with sixteen volumes of heated
S air did The further showed that the
t best results we're obtained with these pro
=. portions of two fluids, and these are about
= the proportions which Mr.. Field employ.
), in practice.
r 1t should be observed that in practic'
r the air is heated at little or no cost by th'
t waste heat which in an ordinary engin.
It escapes into the atmosphere.
Il The principles here involved have beer
l. put in practice by Mr.. Field Ia a portable
n engine, which, however, has several draw
O backs in consequence OF the mixing cham
d bers having to be superadded to the ex
is listing engine-works. These chambers al
o mounted on the top of the engine cylinde
II and there is a chamber for each end of tn
0 cylinder. Each of these chambers IN turf
d receives its charge of heated air int,
e which is delivered proportional
= charge of steam. The mixture is delivered
d from each chamber alternately to the iron
IS and the back end of the cylinder, causing
It the out-strokes and the in-strokes Of th
t; piston in succession. Upon the occasion
n of our visit the engine was at first rul
II with steam alone and without load.
20 was then run With combined steam an,
y heated air in about the proportions pre-
lie viously stated. The conditions unde
which this run was made were the sam
as in the previous run and the same oh
servations were taken. 1t may be men
toned that the temperature in the al
lie chamber should not be less than 400 de
grees Fahrenheit for the proper develop
e. ment of the advantages of the system. A
id matter of fact the air temperature dur
1t ing the engine trials was not higher tina
m 300 degrees, out was generally niue
tv lower, owing to the draughts and to tn
% inefficient construction of the heating al
~ paratus. On comparing the results of tn
as two engine runs made respectively wit
n pure steam and with combined cam an
heated air, it was found that there was d
absolute gain of A per cent. In fave
of the Field system as against the ordir
airy system.
The system, as we'll as the experiments
al apparatus, has been independently teste
by three engineers, namely Colett Homer