The legend of the king of crossing

Chapter 135 Steam Engine

When I returned to the imperial study, scattered information about steam engines emerged in my mind.

A steam engine is a reciprocating power machine that converts the energy of steam into mechanical work.Around AD 100, the Greek Hiro invented a toy called the steam ball. The steam ball is mainly composed of a hollow ball and an airtight pot filled with water connected together by two hollow tubes. The heated water at the bottom of the pot boils and turns into water vapor, which then enters the ball through the pipe. Finally, the water vapor will be ejected from both sides of the sphere and make the sphere rotate. This is the earliest application of the steam engine, but Shiro did not continue to study it. Go on, just treat it as a fun item.It was not until the mid-17th century that European scientists began to build the first working model of a steam engine.About 100 years later, Watt improved the steam engine, and finally brought steam power onto the stage of history. It has been the most important prime mover in the world for more than 100 years, and then gradually gave way to internal combustion engines and steam turbines.

In 1807, American Robert Fulton was the first to successfully use a steam engine to drive a ship, which has since changed the driving power of the ship.

If I can develop a steam engine, it will be 500 years earlier than history. Although the span of 500 years is only a short glimpse in the long river of history, with the development of productivity, technology updates are getting faster and faster, especially European industries. After the revolution, it is not an exaggeration to describe the development of society as changing with each passing day.

The basic industries such as steel and coal in the Song Dynasty already had a certain scale, far surpassing that of Europe at the same time. If this is the case, then I will try the industrial revolution first. Otherwise, relying on a single manpower and animal power will not be able to produce qualitative changes.

It is generally believed that the steam engine, coal, and steel are the three main hardware factors that contributed to the accelerated development of the industrial revolution technology. If the steam engine can be developed, then I have the foundation of the industrial revolution.

Thinking of this, I hurriedly said: "Xiaoqi, you go tell Quanjue, Shen Yiqiu, let them come to the imperial study after finishing."

"Yes, official, the little one will go right away."

I generally know the principle of the steam engine, but to turn it into a real thing, I have to rely on the scientists of this era.

"Jiu'er, boil a pot of water and keep it running."

"Ah, it's been on all the time, why is that?"

I smiled and said, "You'll know in a while."

After the water was boiled, the steam hit the lid of the pot continuously, making crackling noises. Quan Jiu looked at it curiously and didn't ask me why.

I didn't try to explain either, I just stared at the faintly visible smoke and meditated in silence until Shen Yiqiu came to full awareness.

"emperor."

"Mr. Shen, Quanjue, come and take a look." I pointed to the boiling pot and said.

The two didn't know, so: "This is?"

It's just a pot of boiling water.

They knew that I would not be aimless, so they asked with the same curiosity as Quan Jiu.

Quan Jiu laughed and said, "I just don't know what the officials mean."

"When the water boiled, steam was produced, and the steam rushed up and hit the lid of the pot. If the steam was bigger, wouldn't it be able to hit the lid of the pot?" I looked at the three people with blank faces and said, " I called you here because I want to develop a new type of power source—the steam engine."

"Steam engine, what is it?"

"The steam is used to push the piston to move repeatedly in the cylinder, and the flywheel is driven to rotate through the connecting rod, which turns the reciprocating motion into a circular motion, and the flywheel in turn drives the reversing valve to change the relationship between the intake and exhaust of the piston twice. , realize automatic mechanical reversing, and keep the machine running continuously. The machine powered by this method is called a steam engine. If you look at this pot of water again, if the steam generated is large enough, it can knock open the lid, that is, the piston, the piston After the upstroke, it can drive the connected objects to move, thus providing power."

"This? Your Majesty, this..." Shen Yiqiu and Quanjue were a little incoherent.

"Once this kind of power can be used in life, it will be earth-shaking. If nothing else, let's talk about the power of the giant ship. The speed of a warship powered by a steam engine will be greatly improved, and it will no longer A large number of sailors are needed, as long as the uninterrupted steam can be guaranteed, even if the Shenzhou is twice the size, even if the hull is all made of steel, it can still sail in the water with ease."

"Is this too unbelievable?" Quanjue asked in surprise.

"Hehe, the times are advancing every day, maybe in the future human beings will be able to ascend to the sky." I know that these new concepts have long been beyond the cognition of people of this generation, even a top scientist like Shen Yiqiu can't imagine it.

I went on to say: "You have all seen the brief introduction of my material art, there are many similar energy transformations, such as waterwheels, windmills, which transform the power of nature into other energies."

Quanjue asked: "Well, I have seen it."

"The steam engine is also a mechanical device for energy conversion."

"Is this really possible?"

"Of course I can. I have a golden mouth, and I won't open my mouth to talk nonsense."

"Your Majesty, if you want to generate a huge source of steam, you need a lot of coal."

"Yes, most of the coal collection areas in our dynasty are concentrated in the north. This is a disadvantage. Once we can take back the mountains and rivers, we don't have to worry about coal resources. However, the coal production in the area under our dynasty's control is sufficient to maintain."

Shen Yiqiu praised from the bottom of his heart: "The emperor is really a man of genius, the idea of ​​this steam engine is really very conceivable."

I smiled and said: "Mr. Shen, Quanjue, after the university laboratory reaches a certain scale, I will use it as a team to set up a Royal Academy of Sciences, specializing in various scientific research. In addition to research and teaching, your top priority is to expand Recruiting talents, things like steam engines, I still have a lot in my mind."

"Yes, Your Majesty, Mr. He Ji is personally taking care of the matter of recruiting talents. Before the start of school, the recruiting building should be able to start first."

"Well, Mr. Shen, it's just that you should also pay attention to He Aiqing's physical condition, and don't let her work too hard. After all, she is so old, so find more assistants."

"Yes, Cao Min knows."

"Your Majesty, Gundam, Zan Wanshou, and Peng Daya are asking to see you outside the palace gate." Eunuch Zhou came in to report.

"Oh, by the way, they are leaving." I remembered that the three of them would leave for Shuzhong tomorrow morning. I once asked them to go to the palace before leaving to accept my instructions. The busyness of the past few days has been a waste of time. I forgot.

"Eunuch Zhou, send them to the imperial study."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Mr. Shen, Quanjue, how is the talk of the giant ship Shenzhou going?"

"It's still under discussion. I don't know if this steam engine can catch up."

"Just try your best. After you go down, you will be able to figure out this steam engine. After the university starts next month, college students can also participate in the research. They are young and active in thinking. As for the confidentiality work, I will arrange for the Longya Security Department to be in charge. .”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I knew that they must have no idea for a while, so I explained to them the simplest principle of spinning the ball again, and said: "I believe that you will succeed."