in the Economising of Fuel. 177 



The preceding experiments are, I think, sufficient to warrant 

 the conclusion, that when steam is passed over incandescent car- 

 bon, the resulting gas is one containing liydrogen, oxygen, and 

 carbon ; the two last in the state of carbonic oxide. Of course du- 

 ring its combustion it gives rise to the formation of carbonic acid 

 and water. 



This being the case, it occurred to me, that, by passing steam 

 over charcoal or coke in a state of combustion, and to which air 

 is freely admitted, the water might also be consumed, and give' 

 rise to the formation of inflammable gaseous matter, which, being 

 likewise inflamed and consumed, might increase the heat during 

 the combustion of the fuel ; that, in fact, the water, if I may be 

 allowed the expression, might also be burned, or used as fuel, 

 along with the other materials commonly employed for that pur- 

 pose. In endeavouring to ascertain this, it was natural first to 

 try whether, by the transmission of steam over burning coke, 

 there was any increase of temperature ; and for this purpose a 

 small furnace was used, having an opening at the side and near 

 the bottom, into which was introduced an iron pipe connected 

 with a boiler, by which steam was supplied. The furnace being 

 kindled with coke, and brought into good condition, a vessel with 

 water was placed over it, and the time required to cause the 

 water to boil was noted, using the same vessel, ard the water 

 always at the same temperature (50" F.), in all the different 

 trials. The following is the result of a few of numerous expe- 

 riments. The vessel contained two pints of water. 



Without Steam. With Steam. 



In 5 min. ISC'"; in 10, 180°; 15, In 5 min. 120° ; 10, 1«5°; 13,208* 



200° ; 20, 210°. boiled briskly in 14 min. 



In 5 min. 145°; boiled in 10^. In 5 min. 150°; boiled in 10. 

 Again, do. in 10. do. in 9. 



In other trials only one pint of water was used. 



In3 min. 120° ; 5, 100°; 7, 190° ; 8^ In 3 min. 140°; 5, 190° ; 6i, boiled* 



boiled. 

 In 3 mill. 140° ; 5, 190° ; Ci boiled. In 3 min. 100° ; in 5 boiled. 



In numerous other experiments performed in a similar man- 

 ner, the results were always the same, the water invariably 

 boiling more rapidly when steam was transmitted through the fur- 

 nace, so that there is evidently an increase of heat. The following 

 experiments on the quantity (f water evaporated in a given time, 

 are also in proof of this. The same furnace and steam apparatus 



VOL. XXUI. XO. XLV. JULY 1837. M 



