480 Mr. Frederick Siemens [May 7, 



the production of volatile gases diminislies, the air passing through 

 the front part of the grate, will enter into combustion with the fuel 

 thereon which has been deprived of nearly all its volatile constituents. 

 By means of this simple arrangement the sudden production of a large 

 volume of volatile gases is avoided, and air in a well divided state is 

 always present to consume the gases liberated ; thus smokeless com- 

 bustion and saving of fuel are realised. Care must be taken that the 

 fresh fuel is charged at regular intervals of time and in equal 

 quantities. It still remains to be considered in what manner the 

 clinkers and ashes may be most easily removed, but by the use of a 

 movable pocket at the far end of the grate to collect them in, and 

 a hooked bar to draw it forward at intervals, good practical results 

 would be obtained. 



Having dealt so fully with the subject of heating furnaces by radia- 

 tion, I wish to be allowed to bring before your notice an apparatus 

 for warming rooms by the same means, which I have found to be 

 both satisfactory and economical, and England, I believe, is the 

 country in which it is likely to be fully appreciated, as heating by 

 radiation is almost exclusively used for domestic purposes here. 



It must be borne in mind that the regenerative flame radiates 

 much more heat than an ordinary fire or gas flame, because most of 

 the heat which passes away from ordinary flames is in this case 

 employed to increase the temperature, or to accumulate heat, the 

 intensity of the flame, and consequently its radiating power, are thus 

 much increased, or in other words, the heat ordinarily passing away 

 from the flame with the products of combustion is converted into 

 radiant heat. 



The apparatus to which I refer is a stove provided with a 

 regenerative hiirner, supplied with ordinary illuminating or retort gas, 

 and is intended to warm apartments mainly by the radiated heat of 

 the intensely hot flame produced ; it was fully described by me in a 

 paper read at the meeting of the Gas Institute held in Manchester 

 last year. We find in nature that direct heating is eftected by 

 radiation exclusively ; every organism, as well as all mankind, owe 

 their existence and development to the radiated heat from the sun, 

 and we should try to imitate nature in our methods of obtaining 

 artificial heat. The wind which produces that change of air we 

 require for our well being is another result of the action of the sun. 

 Both heating and ventilation I have endeavoured to supply by means 

 of this stove. Although there is only a small amount of heat passing 

 away from the flame after having heated the air required for com- 

 bustion it is entirely utilised for the sake of economy ; but in cases 

 where economy is not the primary object, but hygienic considerations 

 are paramount, the regenerative gas flame is phaced at the foot of 

 the chimney in front of the grate in place of the ordinary coal fire. 

 The background of the stove is of china or other white material, to 

 act as a reflector, by which means the heat, otherwise lost by being 

 radiated backwards or sideways, is recovered to assist in w^arming 



