New-York tribune., 1909-05-26
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Ericsson did not live long enough fully to
work out a plan for getting power from the
suns heat. though he saw that great industrial
possibilities might attend satisfactory soIu-
tion of the problem. According To- Engineering
News" other inventors ara still giving it at
tention. Though the outcome of their lahors j.
uncertain. il is evident that little progress
has been made in tie last two or three years.
The great Swedish engineer proposed TO use
huge concave mirror to concentrate the suns
rays on the boiler Of q steam engine In re
cent experiments this device has been aban-
doaed because mechanism must be provided TO
move the mirror 50 that Il VIII conform to the
changing position of the sun in the heavens
IT has been Obvious also that some method Of
storing the suns heat must be provided, so that
its effect may be in some measure equaliZcd
during the day The object is now partly ac-
compIiShed III an ingenious fashion \ shallow
stationary tank containing water. IS covered
with heavy glass. which acts like that in
greenhouse. 1t freely admits the suns heat
but checks escape. The temperature Of course
does not remain uniform, but by using only a
part Of the heat during those hours when It is
supplied most literally and holding part in
reserve an approximately steady action is
feasible
Two somewhat novel but differing types Of
piston engine have been utilized in this work
To meet an eXigency growing out Of the fact that
the temperature in the hot bed" here described
seldom or never reaches the ordinary boiling
point Of water (212 degrees) The temperature
at which water bOilS, however, depends on
atmospheric pressure. In a receptacle in which
a partial vacuum has been created therefore ii
is possible to generate steam where ther-
mometer would register scarcely more than 100
degrees. That Is the method employed by one
inventor, Mr.. Shuman, of Philadelphia Two
other men. who have cO-Operdted in the work
rely on a much more volatile fluid than water
Messrs. Wilsie and Boyle immerse In their
water tank pipes containing sulphur dloxide
which vaporiZes at a low temperature and
which then behaves like steam Which of the
two systems will prove to be the more ec0nOm,
zeal is a question that cannot yet be deter
mined. while n better one than either may be
devised. 1t is a matter of record. however,
that the methods of Mr.. Shuman and of Messrs
WiIlsie and Boyle are entirely practicable
Further experiments may show whether or
not there is a chance of making a sun power
plant for industrial service profitable Much
the best place for one, apparently, would be
region where there was a minimum of cloudf-
ness, where hydraulic power was lacking and
where coal was extremely expensive Another
obvious requirement is demand for power
Perhaps the right combination of conditions
may be found in Arizona or Southern Cali
fOrnia. The MOhave Desert for instance is re-
ported TO be the scene of important mining
operations. These must at present be con-
Quoted at great disadvantage because OF the
cost of power. No doubt there are other places
where a fancy price could be secured for mower
and where there is almost continuous sunshine