HARNESSING THE SUN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1350, 30 January 1912, Page 5

HARNESSING THE SUN.

AMERICAN INVENTOR MAKES IT WORK.

After' many years of experiments, a method at last has been discovered of harnessing the powor of tho sun. In a recent number of the "Engineer" there is an interesting account of a "sun engine," the invention of Mr. Frank Shuman, of Philadelphia. Tho onginc, it is said, develops thirty-two horse-power during the hottest part of tho day, which gradually decreases as tho afternoon passes. "Of course," says tho "Engineer," "ovcryono recognises, and no one moro than Mr. Shuman, that it has a limited scope.

"No one oxpects to see sun plants in uso in England, or even in Europe; but in tropical regions, say for twenty degrees on either sido of the Equator, it bocomes a practical proposition. 'For in thnt area not only may plenty of sunshine be relied upon, but ou and coal are expensive, and where coal or its equivalent cannot bo purchased for lea than ten shillings per ton, tho 6un-power plant has its chance.-

"Another thing is also to be remarked. Sun-power, like wimUpower, being inconsistent, the most profitable use to whioh it can be put is pumping, and in tropical countries a great need for vrater-nusing maohinery for irrigation purposes exists."