Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 11 



formed into electricity by means of magneto-electric machines, 

 supplies this electricity much more economically than any chemical- 

 action pile that has hitherto existed. This consideration gave me 

 the idea of producing electricity by attacking coke directly. But, 

 as every one knows, coke is not attacked by any liquid at ordinary 

 temperatures ; I was therefore obliged to construct an electro- 

 chemical pile with hot liquid. 



Now it was evident that bodies which are liquid at ordinary 

 temperatures would be vaporized at the temperature necessary for 

 attacking coke. Hence it was necessary to take a substance which 

 would only become liquid at a sufficiently elevated temperature, 

 and be converted into vapour only at a very high temperature. 



With this view I fused either nitrate of potass or nitrate of soda; 

 and in this liquid I immersed as attackable electrode ordinary coke, 

 and platinum as the unattackable electrode. But experience has 

 proved to me that this latter electrode may be iron, cast iron, or 

 any other metal which in the presence of coke is not attacked by 

 the liquid. 



By adding different metallic salts one can vary the electromo- 

 tive force of the pile, the velocity of combustion of the coke ; and 

 with those salts the galvanoplastic deposit of the metals is received 

 upon the unattackable electrode. 



The electromotive force of the pile varies between 2 and 3 units, 

 according to the nature of the metallic salts introduced into the 

 liquid ; this force is therefore superior to that of either the Bunsen 

 or the Grenet pile ; indeed the Bunsen pile gives the maximum of 

 1*8 unit, the Grenet pile 2 or, in the most favourable conditions, 

 2-1 units. 



To set the pile in action in the most practical manner, it is not 

 necessary to fuse the alkaline nitrate beforehand; it suffices to igDite 

 a piece of coke and put it in contact with the nitrate in powder. 

 Chemical action commences immediately; the temperature produced 

 fuses the salt which surrounds the coke ; and the pile enters upon 

 its functions. During the activity of the pile much carbonic acid 

 and other gases are liberated. I have devised an arrangement per- 

 mitting the gas to be stored, in order to make it serve as a motive 

 power. The following is the practical arrangement of the elements 

 of the pile : — 



A cast-iron pot, of a cylindrical shape, serves at the same time 

 as receiver and unattackable electrode. An iron-wire basket, of 

 concentric form, serves for holding the coke, and at the same time 

 plays the part of a rheophore. As the coke and fused salt are con- 

 sumed, fresh quantities of both substances can be added by hand, 

 or the pile can be fed automatically, during the whole time of the 

 operation. Contrary to what might have been thought, the com- 

 bustion is not at all rapid. 



Therefore, by this process, direct combustion of coke gives the 

 electric current, the deposition of metals, and a motive power. — 

 Comptes Bmdus de YAcademie des /Sciences, Dec. 3, 1877, tome 

 lxxxv. pp. 1052, 1053. 



