IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING STEAM, AND IN THE MEANS OF OBTAINING POWER FROM STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1848

page_text: U ALE
ALEXANDER TESTUD DE BEAUREGARD, of Paris, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eleventh day of July,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of Her
reigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Felix Alexander Testud de Beauregard, my exors, adñiors, and assigns,
Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Felix Alexander Testud de Beauregard, my exors, admors, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Felix Alexander Testud de Beauregard, my exors,
adiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey,
Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Planta-
tions abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING STEAM, AND IN
THE MEANS OF OBTAINING POWER FROM STEAM ENGINES;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Felix Alexander Testud de
Beauregard, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after

page_text: the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Felix
Alexander Testud de Beauregard, do hereby declare that the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE MACHINE.
1st principle. The machine consists of three independant principles, but
capable of unity of action. The first of these, which I call the south pole, is
the difference of heat and power of expension. in fluids and steam at high
temperature. The phenomena of the spheroid or water in a spheroidal state,
so called by de Bontigny, is thus explained water thrown on a surface above
the heat of 171° (minimum 1420) of the centigrade, instead of instantly
évaporating, produces a spheroide, which remains at the heat of 96° 5', giving
forth steam of which the expansion is in equilibrium with the heat of the
surface on which it is thrown. The mechanic will readily understand the
enormous advantage of obtaining steam at 96° 5' which will become expansive
in proportion to the surrounding licat.
2nd principle, I call the north pole. A vacuum is created by the decompo-
sition of the air, that is, by the absorption of the oxygen, and the dilation of the
azote at very high temperature. To obtain this vacuum it is only requisite to
find some means of dilating the air to its greatest extent, and this is most
effectually done by means of a cylinder, into which a flame is plunged equal in
length to the length of the cylinder. In making the experiment the apparatus
may be calculated thus: the flame being equal in length to the cylinder, the
supposed diameter of the flame will be to the cube of cold air as the diameters
are to the circumferences, hence Ax = B.
:
3rd principle. This is the connecting link of the first and second prin-
ciples, and produces the unity of action. This principle rests upon two laws,
that of evaporation and that of chemical affinities; in the first place, the con-
densation of steam above boiling heat by the reproduction of other steam in the
surrounding air, and this is done by means of an artificial current of air, of
which the velocity is in proportion to the necessity (see Touillet, chapter 11,
page 351), the aqueous particles are drawn by means of the vacuum towards
the chlorio de calcium calcine, (for the law on this subject sec Thenard
Andrewie), and are completely annihilated by this chemical affinity.

page_text: increasing the absorption of heat on the one side, being in connection with the
fire from the exterior and with the melted lead in the interior. R, a small
saucer-shaped piece of thin iron in which is placed a piece of zinc; this serves
as a thermometer. Lead melts at 320° centigrade, zinc at 372°, consequently
when the zinc begins to melt you become informed of the heat of the lead and
the heat of the generator. U, openings of the furnace; V, the furnace supplied
always by a rapid current of air by means of the tube H'; X, parabolical
mirrors reflecting the heat wherever it may be required.
3. The condenser.-There is no form absolutely necessary. In the Drawing
it is represented as a square case. A constant current of cold air passes through
this case by means of the tube H' which leads to the furnace. It is requisite
that the condensing case, of whatever form or magnitude the constructor may
think fit, should be made as tight as possible, with the exception of the aperture
through which the air enters, and which air is made to pass over the condensing
tubes into the tube H'. A, reservoir of distilled water. D, the condensing tubes.
The steam having exerted its force in the cylinder B, passes into the condenser,
which is filled with serpentine tubes covered with linen (see Drawing); this linen
is kept always wet by water, which is made to pass from the reservoir A, by
means of the cock B', into a perforated tube, which runs over the interior surface
of the condenser 3, thus allowing the water continually to drip upon the linen
which envelopes the tubes. E, sponge or linen surrounding the serpentine
tubes of the condenser.
2. The vacuum generator.-A double cylinder, one fitting loosely in the
other, the space between being filled with water to prevent any admission
of air. is a metallic rod covered with metallic cloth which closes the
mouth aperture of the vacuum cylinder. This metal rod is plunged into
spirits of wine or any other inflammable liquid, and whilst in a flame placed in
the vacuum cylinder; for the proportions and results, see second principle.
H, a cylinder formed box, in which is placed the chloric of calcium
this is for the purpose of the total absorption of the aqueous particles which
may remain in the steam not totally condensed. I, chloride of calcium occu-
pying the interior of the cylinder II; B, the cylinder of the steam engine; in
the Drawing it is oscillating; C, an air pump, of either single or double
effect, to pump the condensed water from the reservoir box E', and deliver it
into the reservoir of distilled water; A, A', reservoir of distilled water to wet
the linen enveloping the condensing tubes; B', cock to draw the water from
the reservoir A'; C, funnel conducting the water from reservoir A' into the
perforated tube described in letter D; E, a box of any shape or size destined
to receive the condensed water; the steam being condensed runs into this

page_text: box, whence it is pumped out by the pump C, and returned into the reservoir A;
F. pipe of pump C to draw the water from the box E'; G₁, tube containing
the aqueous particles of badly condensed steam to the absorption cylinder H,
wherein is the cloris of calcium calcine; II', a draft tunnel communicating
from the condenser 3 to the furnace V; I', a pipe destined to control the level
of the spheroids in the generator I; J'an iron rod, with a blade passing
through the melted lead underneath the generator; it is merely to ascertain
that the lead is in a melted state, and by occasionally moving it to distribute
the heat; L', safety valve; O', atmospheric safety valve; P, piston to renew
the air in the vacuum generator before the vacuum is formed, as described in
principle 2; R', outer cylinder of the vacuum generator to hold water (see 2);
S', tube for the escape and renewing of the air; T, stop cock; U', a cylinder
containing a serpentine tube. The steam having worked the engine passes
through this tube to the condenser 3; in passing through this tube it is
partially condensed by the cold water coming from the pump K, which passes
also through this cylinder cylinder, but not through the serpentine tube; thus
the water from the pump K. falls into the generator I at boiling heat, whilst
the steam, disengaging its heat, commences its condensation. V', supply pipe
joined to the tube M.
Remarks upon the Cylinder U-The steam remaining in the cylinder B,
after having given the motive force, is still at a high temperature, which may
be x 110 x 250; consequently, in loosing its sensible and latent heat it is
possible by contact to raise the temperature of the water coming from the
pump K to x 110 x 250. This water will remain in a fluid state, although
containing in itself sufficient heat to convert it into steam. Forced onwards by
the
pump K, it enters the generator I, which is at a temperature much higher,
and instantly becomes at the low temperature of 96° 5', giving up its heat to
the steam which surrounds it. It is possible, therefore, to generate steam
from the water without borrowing from the generator the enormous quantity
of caloric which becomes latent. This is a phenomena of combination hitherto
unknown.
Recapitulation. We have seen that the first principle acting on high tempe-
ratures constitutes an expansive or repulsive power (pole south) on the one
hand; and we have seen that the second principle acting under the influence of
cold, constituting thus an attractive power (north pole) on the other hand. It
is evident that putting these two powers in motion, supposing both to be
equal, that one would absorb the other, and a perfect inertia would result;
but by placing between these powers an absorbing force (the third principle)
we shall obtain a continuity of action at will. Thus the condensing machine,

page_text: as shewn in the Drawings, may be simplified and modified. In steam boats,'
for instance, there will be no occasion to have recourse to the current of air,
nor to the common law of evaporation, as, having always at command any
quantity of cold water, it would only be necessary to place the condensing tubes
in such a manner that a constant current of cold water should run over them,
thus perfectly condensing the steam.
- In the Drawing I have not thought it requisite to describe any particular
cylinder, piston, or any contrivance giving the motive movevement, as everyone
is applicable to my system. I have only described the pumps, but the move-
ment of these pumps may be varied. I believe it only requisite to state that
the levers may be worked either by excentrics, as in pump C, or by a perpen-
dicular motion, as in pump K, thus giving the engineer an easy method of
increasing or diminishing the power.
I will now describe some further improvements which I have made upon
the principle of employing radiating heat as a means of raising the temperature
of a liquid employed as a moving power; and first, with regard to what I have
designated the south pole. The generator is made of cast bronze metal,.
tinned in the inner part, and has at its lower part small projections in the form
of small pieces of coal should be left in the interior. In order to avoid the
oxidation from the tin, the exterior of the cylinder is covered with a bed of
black oxide (by azotic acid), and afterwards with a coat of varnish.
The principal formula.-The-cubes of the generators are, as to the cubes of
the receivers, as 1 is to 4. The receivers are represented by A, the generators
by A1: := 4. This formula is the best that I have found in
practice, but it may be modified. The generator is immersed in a bath of melted
lead. It is at present supposed that by the law of the equilibrium of heat,
that steam at its greatest power will equal 320, (the degree at which lead
melts, according to Mr. Pouillet). The bath in which the pneumatic sphe-
roidal machine works is of a very important use; it is the thermometer of the
machine at the same that it is the receiver of heat. There are two ways
to examine it; first, its mass: second, its nature. By its mass it is to be
understood that it is held in suspension, if I could so express myself; thus a
quantity of caloric in causing the caloric to pass from the exterior to the
interior by the vaporisation of any liquid which then becomes a moving force.
In relation to its nature, the lead is there but as a chemical agent, the point
of fusion of which is known, and from which it is easy to deduce the point of
the working of the machine.
Formula.-A, point of fusion; B, elasticity of the steam; then A = B. After
this formula, the place of the lead may be supplied by zine; the tension of the

page_text: steam will follow then the same ascending action as the point of the fusion of
the metal, and since the alloy of d'arcet, which melts at one hundred degrees
centigrade as far as the fusion of copper, a table of the tension of vapors may
be obtained, calculated after this formula. And so with liquids producing
moving force; their point of vaporisation being known, it is possible to diminish.
or to encréase their tension after the same formula tension relative to their
point of vaporisation. In the same conditions, there is a difference between the
tension from alcohol and from that of water.
Radiating caloric apparatus.-The caloric which radiates from the fire and
the burning ashes are received upon a plate of lead, zinc, or copper, on to
which the supply liquid is forced, and by the heat obtained therefrom it is
transformed into a useful force or power. In this case the ashes would be
placed opposite to the heating apparatus in, the same manner as the leaden
bath in regard to the boiler.
Explanations on the vaporization in the pneumatic spheroidal machine.—
It has been above shown that a supply joint would supply to the generator the
quantity of liquid.necessary to the rectilinear movement of the piston; say
the quantity for each movement of the piston. From that the effective
pressure of the machine is not then more. solid from the heated surface, but
from the cubic quantity of the liquid forced (in the necessary limits. It is
thus that the phenomenon of vaporisation takes place in this machine; the
steam going out of the generator at three hundred degrees centigrade causes
the piston to act with all its mechanical force, and loses but a. very small
portion of its heat; from thence it passes into the box called the regenerator,
and comes in contact with a cold liquid to which it imparts its heat, and
the steam becomes liquid and the liquid steam, if the pressure which it receives
was not in direct ratio from its power of expansibility. These two effects are
equally useful, for the liquid which becomes steam represents the expansive
force, whilst the condensation of the steam produces the attractive. force. It
will be perceived that abandonment of the heat is not only an economy, but
the alliance and the solidity which exists between these two great principles
of expansion and attraction; in effect from steam at more than two hundred
degrees centigrade gives off a liquid by simple contact an expensive = a' X.
In this state, always kept up by the supply pump, the liquid will pass over the
heated surface K, and will arrive in the register, and from. there into the
regenerator, having in its passage obtained sufficient heat to change its inert
nature into active forco, and not having borrowed from the generator more
than the differential excess existing between them; in fact the negative steam
is thus as useful as the positive steam; the one is the force; and the other

page_text: a part of that which has produced it. This taking place, a large part will
be taken from the expense of the lateral heat of the steam, which escapes after
it has produced its useful effect, and not from the expense of the fuel. In
considering this vaporisation due from the spheroidal state, the projection
of the liquid from its entry into the generator takes place through the
tube E in a state of minute division, and which consequently gives a very
large surface of vaporisation. From their falling upon a polished surface,
but not united, it cannot but be divided with advantage; from whence results
a particularity of effect which is no other than a spheroidal explosive state
uniting all the conditions of heating without having the slowness of vapo-
risation of the quiet spheroide. After experiments made with great care, I can
with a bath of zinc obtain steam capable of melting lead; with a bath of lead
I can liquify tin, volatilize oil, decompose animal matters, carbonize vegetable
matters.
Considerations upon the combustion of the fuel.-In the ordinary boilers the
thermometric tension cannot be carried beyond from one hundred degrees to
one hundred and fifty degrees. It is evident that the products of combustion
tend to equilibrium in their passage to the flues, and by becoming cool, and
consequently condensing the carbonaceous matters, and the gases held in
suspension, produce a great loss of fuel, &c. &c. Whereas the spheroidal
pneumatic machine being at a thermometric degree more elevated produces a
double combustion, the combustion of the fuel and also of the smoke. A small
machine of two horse power burning coal with a tube of about fifty feet long
will never give off any smoke, and the combustion will be so perfect that the
flues and tubes will not have any soot deposited in them, but on the contrary
will have a light metallic matter, or a portion of the cinders drawn thence by
the action of the current of air.
I will now describe some further improvement with regard to what I call
the north pole. The air intended for the combustion of the fuel is produced
from the north pole (see the Drawings), so as to produce two effects equally
useful the first by a decreasing of the temperature due from the transforma-
tion of the sensible heat from the latent state; the second in the south pole
by the mechanical drawing off of the vapors, and their decomposition, caused
by their affinity for irun and carbon into hydrogen, and the oxide of carbon,
which act injuriously upon the fuel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, No. 1.

page_text: valve should be of half the ordinary size.
C is the tube through which the
steam passes from the generator, which it does in a highly heated state, and does
not in consequence thereof draw with it any particles of water. D is a manometer.
E is the supply tube: this tube should be covered with a metallic cloth. F is a
metallic bath of tin, lead, or zinc, and according to the temperature required to
be raised from the steam. G is a cast-iron boiler having projecting points around
the exterior of it. H are the faes. I, the fire-place. J, the fire bars. K is a
highly heated tube which is intended to take up not only the radiating heat
emitted from the fire, but also the great quantity of heat which is contained
in the hot coals which fall from the apparatus: this tube occupies all the
surface of the fire-place, and is constructed of a serpentine form, and in which
the liquid is contained destined to supply the machine. L is a coil of pipes,
which is a continuation of the pipes K and of the tubes E. It is intended to
absorb the heat held in suspension in the gases aud the smoke arising from the
products of combustion. M is a box or case placed above the boiler G to
prevent the escape of the heat from the upper surface of it and the generator A:
it is capable of being opened when the tubes require examining. N is the
supply pump moved by the lever A', which is worked by the excentric B'.
Upon the rod of the piston is a case, divided in such manner as to encrease or
diminish the sprinkling of the water into the generator A, and by which the
effective pressure of the steam is regulated. O is a force pump, worked by the
same means as the pump N: this pump is intended to draw the water from the
reservoir c', and force it into the reservoir of distilled water D. P is the
regenerator chamber; the steam being at a high temperature, having produced
its useful effect upon the piston of the cylinder, passes into this chamber, and
comes in contact with a coil of tubes filled with cold water, the object of which
is to produce two effects the reverse of each other, but both equally useful, the
first being to bring the supply water into a state ebullition by the contact of
the steam at a high degree of temperature, and secondly to condense this
steam so as not to destroy the attraction of the vacuum of the case E. The
reverse of this movement may be usefully applied by taking the supply water
forced by the pump N into the regenerator from the side opposite to the side
where the steam enters, in order that the coldest part may be in contact with
the coldest liquid, and the part which is the hottest in contact with the hottest
This regenerator is also covered with cloth, the interstices of which
are filled up with powdered charcoal. R is the passage of the cold water in
the regenerator P. The surface of this coil should be equal to 1. 5. for a
horse power. S is the condensing coil of tubes: in the arranging of these tubes
the law of the Howing of liquids should be observed, so as not to cause any
water.

page_text: check to the speed of the expansive liquid; there should also be left between
the tube of the coil a space equal to the section of the chimney, in order that
the current of air may freely circulate from the north pole to the south, and
produce a diminution of the temperature which will assist in the condensation
of the liquids contained therein. T is the tube through which the cold water
is projected into the condensing tube S; U is the tube through which the
condensed water flows into the reservoir c'; is the tube for the passage of the
hygrometric vapours; X is the box or case containing chloride of calcium, into
which the hygrometric vapours pass and become absorbed; Y is the place
where the chloride of calcium is introduced into the box X; Z is a cock for
drawing off the liquified chloride; A', the piston rods of the pumps N and O;
D', the excentric which works the piston rod A; C', is the reservoir of distilled
water under a vacuum; D', the same under a state of atmospheric pressure.
E', the chamber where the vacuum is produced by the combustion of the air, as
explained in the former part of this Specification; F, which connects the
chamber E with the chloride chamber X; G is the valve which closes the
chamber F; H is the metallic cloth, the purport of which is explained above;
is the piston intended to keep up the supply of air into the chamber E';
J' is the tubes through which the air, deprived of its oxygen, is caused to pass
from the chamber E'; L' is the tube through which the air passes from the
north pole to the south. The air drawn through by the combustion of the
fire I passes through the spaces left between the tubes of the condenser S, and
will produce a quicker evaporation to the surface of the said condenser, and
would lower the temperature equal to the said evaporation, and will draw with
it a quantity of aqueous vapours into the fire where a decomposition of such
vapours will take place by the processes of the fire or the coal in a state of
hydrogen oxygen carbonic acid, and which will encrease the combustible nature
of the fire.
In witness whereof, I, the said Felix Alexander Testud de Beauregard,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
JEFFERSON.
F. A. (L.B.) TESTUD DE BEAUREGARD, Eng.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Tenth day of January, in
the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid Felix Alexander Testud de
Beauregard came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein con-
tained and specified, in form above written. And also the Specification

page_text: aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that
purpose.
Enrolled the Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.