A NEW MOTIVE POWER.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 230, 5 March 1875, Page 4

A NEW MOTIVE POWER.

The Journal of the Society of Arts for October refers to the discovery of a motive power that is said to be likely to play an important part in the industrial world. It is known as Dr H. Bein's " carboleum motor," and is said to be spoken of as " the successor of steam." It seems that two brothers, at G'oningen and Amsterdam, impelled by the investigations of Dr Joule, of Manchester, into the change of heat into mechanical energy, and the transmutation of mechanical energy into heat, have met with a mode of converting heat into mechanical force, which is said to be more advantageous than what is effected in si earn and other engines at present in use.

In a lecture on the influence of the History of Scienceon Intellectual Education, delivered at the Royal Institution, the late Dr Whewell remarked that" every advance in intellectual education has been the effect of some considerable scientific discovery or group of discoveries." If the association here indicated be invariable, as maybe supposed, then are wo justified in expecting that the views of the connection and interaction of natural forces—organic as well as inorganic, vital as well as physical—which have grown or may grow out of the investigation of the laws and relations of heat, will profoundly affect the intellectual discipline of the coming age, and increase the power of man over Nature. It was known to the experimenters that some substances upon being heated in a closed space gave off a certain amount of tension —more or less as compared with the tension of steam at 212 deg, and, amongst these, that bicarbonate of soda parted with its carbonic acid with indications of considerable violence. This sodium salt submitted in a dry pulverised state, or an aqueous solution, to heat sufficient to distil out the carbonic acid, displays a force equal to 50 or 60 atmosnheres, which becomes available for economic purposes. The Government of Holland has, for reasons not stated, but said to be unconnected with the merits of the discovery, declined to adopt the new motor ; but, inasmuch as a scientific commission appointed to examine it have, it is said, agreed with the inventor on the main points, we may expect shortly to hear more of this new motive power, and as to the limits of its applicability. An engine working with this motor is said to give a greater power at a less cost, and to be easily constructed. Wrought metals are not permeable for gases of that tension. Amongst the statements in favor of it we notice that engines constructed to work with carboleum, as the substance is termed, are stated to occupy much less space than a steam engine, power for power. Consequently, if not otherwise inapplicable for marine purposes, they shonld prove of gre*t value, being compressible iuto small space. The weight of a 100-hor?e power engine, with combustible storeß for 240 hours, would, it is said, be one-fifth less than the weight of a steam engine with an effective supply of coal. In the motor itself there is little waste; all the expense incurred for it will be the purchase of the material or liquid in the first instance, and its continual regeneration afterwards. It is a consideration of some moment also that'the use of carboleum in the prop®sed form is alleged to be unattended with danger. Dr Bein claims for this new agent a large theatre for action. He considers it as applicable to large as well as to small industries. It is probable, however, that it will be seen as the motive power of printing presses, fire engines, street locomotives, and minor machines generally before it is adapted to great factories, pumping works, and the like. He expects to see it applied also to the conveyance of letters in tubes to serve the convenience of cities, and to the conveyance of heavier bodies beneath the water. He says that the fact of a carboleum engine, with sufficient combustible material, being independent of our atmosphere, makes it possible to construct a vessel, provided with means to sink to any depth of the sea, to rise and sink at will, to cruise about under water, and to maintain the life of the crew during the voyage, &c. Of course he has been in communication with the Minister of the Dutch navy, and entertains hope of his idea being availed of for war. He maintains that freezing machines worked by evaporation of carboleum produce ice at a much less cost than any existing method. Finally, he makes his discovery a present to the world. To himself it has already brought profit, the exclusive enjoyment of which he wishes no longer to confine to himself. He says that,' since the extenBiveness of the application widely surpasses my knowledge and experience, I invite all who take an interest in the matter to aid me in applying to practical purposes my method of compressing carbonic acid." It is clear that, if carbonic acid is to supply to any considerable extent the motive power of the future, chalk deposits will j become valuable possessions. England and France are both well provided with this mineral. If a demand for chalk really becomes sensible and strong, there might follow a remarkable change in the physiognomy of England. The time might come when the eye of the voyager would look in vain for the white cliffs of old England ; and when Macaulay's New Zealander, on his visit to sketch the ruins of St. Paul's, would have to trust to his imagination to replace the outline of those white coasts which made the little the Albion of the Gauls.— Sydney Morning Herald.