The morning times., 1896-06-07
POWER WITHOUT STEAM
Use of the Engine Eliminated
in Electrical generation.
ABOUT JACQUES PROCESS
Success of the Experiments Vouched
for by Eminent ScientiSts-De-
,criptiOn of the M del Plant.
BOUT JACQUES PROCESS
philadelphia Record.

Brief mention was made in these columns
a few weeks ago of the invention OF Dr W.
W. Jacques Of Newton, Mass, VINO mas
recently patented a process by which
he generates electricity direct, dispensing
entirely with the use of the steam engine.
The innovation has attracted widespread
interest, and the Western Electrician prints
in it's la st issue additional interesting
facts about the process. The eSSehtiai
feature of the process, says that Journal
is thus described: The process consists
OF converting the potential energy Oh
carbon or carbona ceous materlal lhto
electrical energy by chemically combining
oxygen with the carbon or carbonaceous
material through an intervening eiectfo-
lyte."
The problem which this invention ciaiihs
to have solved is cue that mas occupieu
many brilliant minds. 1t has Teen stated
by Professor Ostwald that "had we ecu
in which electrical energy was produced
nv the direct oxidation of carbon, WIN an
output approaching the theoreucal' we
should be on the brink OF an lhdustridi
revolution, compared with wmch tiie III
yention of the steam engine Sims iioo
insirnificance." This is what Dr. jacques
claims to have accomplished, auu iic Is
supportedin in this position by man eiluiiele
physicians who have witnessed the results
of his experiments and examined Ills III
vention.
OF WIDESPREAD INTEREST.
The idea of the widespread interest thaV
has been awakened in this discovery 'naS
he gained from the fact that Immediately
following the publication of the patent,
which was issued on May 3, the Pateht
Office was besieged with inquiries apouo
the invention. and demands Tor copies Vi
the specifications were so numerous 1haI
the supply was soon exhausted.
The Invention described in the patent
was the result of considerable study ana
research by the inventor. Early I'D ms
experiments DR.. Jacques conceived the
idea that the oxygen of the air might
be made to combine with carbon, not dl-
rectly, but through the aid of an inter
vening electrolyte, which should carry
it and present it TO the carbon. for
the electrolyte he selected caustlc soda
To carry out this conception ne tooh
an iron pot, which became in itself one
OF the elements of hisSeelt. and into TINS
hc put caustic soda, which, at norman
temperature, is a solitl. $Appiying heat
and raising the masS toeS the moderate
temperature of 800 degrees, 1T fused, giving
| the desired liquid eleG Grelyte. into TINS
was plunged a stick of, f,carben, and an iron
| tube was then thrust down fDto the molten
mass, almost to the bottom, and through
this, by means of pump,iair was forced
| which came bubbling up TO the surface
| But not all Of it. The elect:olyte caught
and held d part long enough to present
| it to the surface of the carbon, Wilcn liE-
mediately accepted and combined with
the oxygen. which formed a part of the
air within its reach. Here it is claimed
was secured true and perfect oxida ton
and with il consumpti,ln of but two things
carbon and air. The electrolyte was moi
| attacked chemically. 1t was not decom
] posed or deteriorated 1t stood ready