New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-06
ESES OF LIQUID AIR.

DIR Carl Won I.nde considers, for the readers
of the June "Cassier's,' the possibilities OF
liquid air, the comparatively cheap production
of which created such sensation Few years
400 The writer was conspicuously identified
with tba modern methods OF manufacturing
the article in Germany quite as soon as. If not
earlier than HampsOn in England and Tip
Ter in America. He has continued to STUDY
the problems involved with greater steadfast-
ness than his rivals. Moreover, the Iact tna'
he is the author Of a system Of refrigeration
for ships and big storehouses, which Is IN prac-
ticaI use. will inspire confidence In his opin-
ions Perhaps his Judgment Will be trusted
the more readily because his commercial ap-
paratus does not use liquid afr, and also be-
cause his views have been materially modl-
fed by experience.
In the popular mind ggeat hopes have been
excited in regard TO the application Of liquid
mir 10 the cooling of food and the atmosphere
in houses DR.. Won Linde himself was
sangline oil this point at one time. When the
world first heard of him six or eight years
ago he was trying jugs of that wonderful
fluid. in place of ice. in domestic refrigerators
The effect was sudden and intense that
butter and meat froze as solid a rock. OF
course that was Objectionable, but after fur-
ther experiment il might have been feasible 10
regulate the operation. However, there is
more serious drawback to the attempt. 1t is
moi economical DR. Won Linde declares that
if if were employed in ice factories or store
houses tine requisite expenditure would be
from thirty to fifty times greater than that of
..our modern refrigeratng installations. AS a
Injury for those who can afford to pay hand
somelv and in small quantities. ii may serve
as a means of overcoming oppressive heat in
sicl, rooms or in dining rooms. This, though,
is a different matter.
As for the storage of power for motive pur-
noses DR. Won Linde is almost equally pessi-
mistic He courteously alludes to more or
less successful experiments with automobiles
and will not pronounce the idea hopeless Still,
he insists that too much Importance has been
attached TO the possibility Of driving machin-
cry with liquid air. The trouble is that one
gets back only a fraction OF the power ex-
nended In the work Of iiquefaction IT would
be far less expensive 10 apply the power OF
the steam engine directly to the task TO he
nerformed. or store it by some other method,
saw by converting il into electricity. Where
economy is n secondary consideration, us in
nropelling submarine torpedoes, liquid air
might have advantages over electric accumula-
to,-s. but such applicatlons would be exceptions
to the rule.
Concerning the production OF cheap oxygen
which could be utilized in metallurgical proc
esses and other industrial work, the contribu-
tor TO Casters" speaks more enccuragngiy.
1t will be remembered that when air has been
reduced to liquid state the nitrogen in 1t will
evaporate first and leave nearly pure oxygen
if the temperature is kept at certain level
Afterward the oxygen can be evaporated by
itself Dr. Won Linde says that if the cold
which results from this evaporation be EN-
ployed to promote the condensation OF more
air the oxygen would be much cheaper than
otherwise He has been perfecting apparatus
which will operate on that principle. 1t re-
verses the method of the Semens regenera-
tive furnace in making steel, which uses the
same heat over and over. No details as TO
cost are supplied, but the plan itself is pro-
nounced q success. Hence, if large quantities
of oxygen are needed In the arts a highly
economical way of obtaining it may soon be
ayailableS