As a steam engine, the Newcomen steam engine, while significant, also had its own inherent flaws. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

The thermal efficiency of the Newcommen steam engine was very low because the steam entered the cylinder and condensed on the wall of the cylinder that had just been cooled by water, losing a lot of heat. In order to maintain the heat that it can do work, it has to be continuously burned, so the fuel consumed is huge.

Historically, the Newcomen steam engine was also implemented in coal-producing areas, but did not become popular on a large scale in other industries. It is because of the huge amount of fuel it consumes, except for the coal-producing areas that have a large amount of cheap coal that can be used by them, other places and industries cannot provide so much fuel, or cannot afford such huge fuel costs.

Because Li Tai and several people made this thing, they naturally had to hold a conference to commend them, report to the imperial court, and apply for patents. Everyone received a commendation from the imperial court, and also received a large amount of money from the academy to encourage them to continue to maintain this research and development momentum in the future. For other students, it can be regarded as a role model.

In addition, Xia Hongsheng intends to hold a grand commendation for them, which also makes other students feel that they can be so proud of the original invention of things.

On this day, Xia Hongsheng was packing up his things at home, preparing to take his two wives back to Chang'an.

Because of Xia Hongsheng, the second daughter also went back to her parents' house for a long time.

It happened that Li Shimin sent an attendant to spread the word, saying that Empress Changsun was unwell, and taught Li Lizhen to go back to the palace to visit Empress Changsun, and secretly instructed Xia Hongsheng to hide in Li Lizhen's carriage and secretly enter the palace with Li Lizhen.

Some preparations are being made.

"Master!"

"Brother Sheng!"

There were two shouts outside, and listening to the voice, Xia Hongsheng knew that it was Li Ke and Li Tai.

When the two entered the house, they saw Xia Hongsheng packing up his things, and Li Ke couldn't help but ask, "Brother Sheng, are you going to run away?" ”

Xia Hongsheng rolled his eyes and replied angrily: "Your Majesty summoned me, I want to go to Chang'an secretly." The two ladies in the family have not been home to see it for a long time in Jingyang, and this time they also let them go back to their parents' house to have a look. I, as a son-in-law, must not be empty-handed. ”

"It just so happens that tomorrow is a holiday, there is no class this afternoon, and the two of us are about to go back to Chang'an." Li Ke said: "Just go with you." ”

The two helped Xia Hongsheng clean up his things, Xia Hongsheng made some pastries and brought them, and they were eaten a lot, so they had to ask someone to bring some again.

Tidying up, the carriage came out of the side door, and waited at the front door, Li Lizhen and Xu Hui came out to go up, Li Tai and Li Ke also boarded the carriage, and asked someone to carry the gifts that the two daughters brought home, and the two carriages went to Chang'an.

Xia Hongsheng had already hid in the carriage behind the gifts.

When the carriage started, Xia Hongsheng didn't have to hide anymore, and came out to chat with the two of them to pass the time on the road.

"Brother Sheng, you said that the steam engine is very useful and epoch-making, but I always think that that thing is useless!" In the carriage, Li Ke said to Xia Hongsheng: "It's such a big thing, it's not easy to move back and forth, right?" You have to burn the boiler, how much coal do you have to burn to make it so powerful? It doesn't seem very practical. In addition to the pumping of water from the ground to the surface that you demonstrated, where is there any other use? Even if it is pumping, the coal money that can be burned is enough to hire people to carry as much water! ”

Xia Hongsheng looked at Li Tai and saw that Li Tai did not refute, but also waited for his answer, and it was estimated that he also had doubts about the usefulness of this thing in his heart.

So he smiled and said: "Gunpowder, you have both seen it, just some black faces, a little fire, and it will burn out after a while." Just looking at it this way, it seems that it is just a glimpse of light, and it seems that it is not very useful. But without gunpowder, those firearms would have become a pile of broken copper and iron. It's like gunpowder, it's a foundation. With this foundation, we can carry out the research and development of other supporting objects, so that its usefulness can be brought into play. Nowadays, this steam engine has many defects, but as long as you continue to improve it, it will always be easier to use. Hehe, this son will give you two a leak, if this steam engine is really improved, then tens of thousands of tons of steel giants can run much faster in the sea than today's sea ships, make a steam train, and pull hundreds of people to travel thousands of miles a day is also like fun! ”

"What?!" Both of them widened their eyes in surprise: "Brother Sheng, are you joking?" ”

Xia Hongsheng was noncommittal, just smiled: "Then before I said who could fly in the sky, everyone still thought it was a joke, but now there are people drinking tea in the sky in a hot air balloon?" Who dares to say that what we have just said cannot be realized? ”

The two of them were taken aback, and Li Tai's eyes suddenly showed fanaticism, and he was busy asking, "Master! I also think that this steam engine is too simple, and there are many drawbacks, just what my third brother said, there are real problems. Master, how can this steam engine be improved to the extent you said? ”

"This ...... Alas, when I was a teacher, I didn't learn the art well, so I couldn't say it clearly. You can only suggest a direction, and you have to study how to change it. Xia Hongsheng said: "First of all, you see, pour the cylinder with cold water, the cylinder becomes cold, but the new steam enters the cool cylinder, and it will condense, and the cylinder must be reheated to the original temperature before it can be done again." Can you separate the cylinder from the thing that is poured cold water for condensation, get a valve in the middle, and if you need to do work, close the valve, and the temperature of the steam is high enough, you can do the work. Need condensation, open the method, after the condensation here, and then close the method, the original cylinder will not cool down too much, so that the heat consumption is reduced. ”

"The cylinder is separated from the condensation...... Li Tai quickly took out a pen and paper, and hurriedly wrote down Xia Hongsheng's suggestions.

Xia Hongsheng looked at him with some surprise, and Li Ke next to him explained: "Since the fourth child started to make this steam engine, he has a pen and paper on his body all day long, sometimes walking, eating, and talking, and suddenly he thought of something, and immediately stopped and wrote it down, like a demon. Brother Sheng, you went to Tuguhun, Xu hasn't seen it yet. ”

"Master, what else?!" Li Tai had already memorized it, and hurriedly asked again.

"This ...... The piston connecting rod is directly connected to the thing to be driven, which can only move up and down......" Xia Hongsheng tried to find a few words in his memory, and said: "Have you ever thought about adding a crankshaft ...... in front of the connecting rod?"

Xia Hongsheng gestured with his hand and said, "In this way, you see...... The up and down linear motion of the connecting rod can drive the crankshaft and turn it into a rotating cyclic motion. Since it is a circular motion of rotation, can it be transmitted to other parts through the gear, and also drive other multiple parts to move together? ”

"That's right! How did the students not think of it! Li Tai's eyes lit up, the expression on his face and the excitement seemed to be a peerless beauty in front of him, and Xia Hongsheng and Li Ke felt panicked. (To be continued.) )