I returned to the Imperial Study Room, and 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 100 AD, the Greek Hero invented a toy called a steam ball. The steam ball mainly consisted of a hollow ball and a device.
A sealed pot with water is connected by two hollow tubes, and the water heated at the bottom of the pot boils and then turns into water vapor and then enters the ball through the tube. Finally, the water vapor will be ejected from both sides of the ball and cause the ball to rotate.
,
This was the earliest application of the steam engine, but Hero did not continue to study it and just regarded it as a fun item. It was not until the middle of the 17th century that European scientists began to create the first working model of the steam engine. About a hundred years ago
Later, Watt improved the steam engine, which finally brought steam power to the stage of history. It has been the most important prime mover in the world for more than a hundred years, and later 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 changed the driving force of ships.
If I could develop a steam engine, it would be 500 years ahead of history. Although the span of five hundred years is only a short glimpse in the long history, with the development of productivity, technological updates are getting faster and faster, especially in Europe.
After the industrial 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 reached a certain scale, far exceeding that of Europe at the same time. In this case, 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 steam engines, coal, and steel are the three main hardware factors that contributed to the accelerated development of industrial revolution technology. If the steam engine can be developed, then I will have the foundation for the industrial revolution.
Thinking of this, I hurriedly said: "Xiao Qi, go tell Quan Jue and Shen Yiqiu and ask them to come to the imperial study room after they finish."
"Yes, the official family, the younger one will go immediately."
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 boiling."
"Ah, it's always on, why is that?"
I smiled and said, "You'll know in a minute."
After the water boiled, the steam kept hitting the lid of the pot, making a crackling sound. Quan Jiu watched curiously and didn't ask me why.
I didn't explain it, I just stared at the slightly visible smoke and pondered in silence until Shen Yiqiu came to full consciousness.
"emperor."
"Mr. Shen, Quan Jue, come and take a look." I pointed to the boiling pot.
The two of them were confused: "What is this?"
This is just a pot of boiling water.
They knew that I would not make random mistakes, so they asked with the same curiosity as Quan Jiu.
Quan Jiu smiled and said, "I just don't know what official means."
"The water boils and generates steam. The steam rushes up and hits the pot lid. If the steam is bigger, will it be able to knock the pot lid open?" I looked at the three people who looked confused and said, "
I called you here because I want to develop a new type of power source - a steam engine."
"Steam engine, what is it?"
"Steam is used to push the piston to make repeated movements in the cylinder, and the connecting rod drives the flywheel to rotate, changing the reciprocating motion into circular motion. The flywheel in turn drives the reversing valve, changing the relationship between the intake and exhaust of the piston twice.
, realize automatic mechanical reversal and maintain the machine
Continuous operation. A machine that is powered in this way 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 pot lid, that is, the piston. After the piston rushes up, it can drive the connected
Objects move, thus providing power."
"This? Your Majesty, this..." Shen Yiqiu and Quanjue were both a little incoherent.
"Once this kind of power can be applied to life, it will be earth-shaking. If nothing else, let's talk about the power of giant ships. The speed of warships powered by steam engines will be greatly improved, and they will no longer It requires a large number of sailors, and as long as the steam can be kept uninterrupted, even if the Shenzhou is twice as big, and even if the hull is entirely made of steel, it can still sail through the water easily."
"Isn't this too incredible?" Quan Jue said in surprise.
"Haha, times are progressing every day, maybe humans can fly to the sky in the future." I know that these new concepts have long exceeded the understanding of people of this generation, and even top scientists like Shen Yiqiu cannot imagine them.
I continued: "You have all seen my brief introduction to physical arts. There are many similar energy conversions on it, such as waterwheels and windmills, which convert the power of nature into other energies."
Quanjue asked, "Well, I've seen it."
"A steam engine is also a mechanical device for energy conversion."
“Is this really achievable?”
"Of course you can. I'm a man of words and I won't open my mouth to talk nonsense."
"Your Majesty, if you want to generate a huge source of steam, you will need a lot of coal."
"Yes, most of our government's coal collection areas are concentrated in the north. This is a disadvantage. Once I can take back the mountains and rivers, I won't have to worry about coal resources. However, for now, the coal production in the areas controlled by our government is enough to maintain it."
Shen Yiqiu sincerely praised: "Your Majesty is truly a man of God, and the idea of this steam engine is indeed very imaginable."
I smiled and said: "Mr. Shen, Quan Jue, when the university laboratory reaches a certain scale, I will use this as a team to set up a Royal Academy of Sciences to specialize in various scientific researches. In addition to research and teaching, your top priority is to expand Recruiting talents, things like steam engines, I still have a lot of them in my mind."
"Yes, Your Majesty, Mr. He Ji is personally taking care of the recruitment matter. The recruitment building should be launched before the start of school."
"Well, Mr. Shen, you just have to pay attention to He Aiqing's physical condition. Don't let him work too hard. After all, he is so old. Find more assistants."
"Yes, the common people know."
"Your Majesty, Gao Gao, Zan Wanshou, and Peng Daya are asking for an audience outside the palace gate." Eunuch Zhou came in to report.
"Oh, by the way, they are about to leave." I remembered that the three of them would leave for Shuzhong tomorrow morning. I once asked them to go to the palace before leaving and accept my instructions. They have been busy these past few days. Forgot about it.
"Eunuch Zhou, tell them to come to the imperial study."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Mr. Shen, Quan Jue, how is the discussion on the Shenzhou giant ship going?"
"It's still under discussion. I don't know if the steam engine can catch up."
"Just try your best. After you go down, try to figure out the steam engine. After the university starts next month, we can let the college students also participate in the research. They are young and have more active thinking. As for the confidentiality work, I will arrange the Longya Security Department to be responsible for it. ."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I knew that they must have no clue at the moment, so I told them the simplest principle of spinning a ball again and said, "I believe you will be able to succeed."