Chapter 103 The advent of the steam engine (please read it!)

Today is the day for Zheng Kezang to observe the first steam engine in Ming and Zheng. If the steam engine test is successful, Su Laocheng can also be promoted smoothly and become the first craftsman since the reform of Ming and Zheng craftsmen.

Also coming to observe the steam engine were Chen Yonghua, Zhongyong Bo Qiu Hui, Engineer Xie Xian, and the third-grade official of the Ministry of Industry, Right Assistant Lang Lu Fan.

Lu Fan built many projects for Zheng Kezang and won Zheng Kezang's trust, so promotion was inevitable.

What can be expected is that if he continues to build wonders for Zheng Kezang, he will soon become the next work officer.

I forgot to mention in the previous article that in the Zheng official system of the Ming Dynasty, official positions such as Gongguan, Hubuguan, and Xingguan were equivalent to the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Hubu, and the Minister of Punishment.

The craftsmen in Dongning, under the command of Su Laocheng, have unloaded the three carriages and used various parts and metal pipes to form a metal "monster".

Thanks to the use of horizontal bore machines, the technology of Dongning Manufacturing Bureau has been greatly improved. Therefore, the steam engine built by Su Laocheng and the craftsmen is not huge. It is only one person tall. It has a metallic shine on the outside and looks a bit scary.

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Under the guidance of Zheng Kezang, this steam engine integrated the latest technology of the seventeenth century, adding condensation system, cylinder, and piston technology, which was almost the same as Watt's improved steam engine.

"Father-in-law, this thing is called a steam engine. As long as coal is burned under the machine and the water is turned into steam, the machine can be driven." Zheng Kezang said to Chen Yonghua and others who were curious.

"Successful!" The craftsmen who had been working hard for many days excitedly clapped and hugged each other to celebrate this unforgettable moment. Even Chen Yonghua couldn't help but cheer for them.

Su Laocheng was the happiest. He was responsible for the steam engine project. When it was completed, he felt a great sense of accomplishment.

If it continues to develop, maybe we will be able to enter the electrical age while he is still alive.

Above the cylinder, the gears rotate faster and faster, like hot wheels, and everyone can't see the gears clearly.

As the fire gradually rose, the craftsman continued to add coal to the furnace, and the fire became more and more intense.

Su Laocheng, who was in charge of operating the steam engine, opened the steam valve, and a thick stream of steam and white smoke rushed out violently from the chimney.

"Okay! With this thing, China's rejuvenation is just around the corner!" Chen Yonghua said with great enthusiasm. He has not been so happy for a long time recently.

With a "whoosh" sound, a large amount of white mist rushed out from the air valve, and the entire palace was shrouded in white mist, hazy like a fairyland.

"Let's see how the steam engine drives the spinning machine. You see, one steam engine can replace countless spinning workers." Zheng Kezang's voice echoed in everyone's ears. Everyone seemed to be still dreaming, a little bit.

Trance.

Seeing that the demonstration was almost complete, Zheng Kezang gave Lao Su a gesture. Lao Su understood it, turned his head, and opened the air valve to discharge a large amount of steam from the machine, and the steam engine began to run at full capacity.

Zheng Kezang gave them a mysterious smile: "Don't panic, you three, the fun has just begun."

As the temperature in the boiler gets higher and higher, the water boils more violently, more water vapor accumulates, the pressure in the cylinder rises, and the piston moves faster and faster.

Zheng Kezang had told him before that he was working on a machine that could move all things with water vapor. He probably knew what was going on, so he didn't show any surprise.

As the steam engine continued to operate, the noise became louder and louder, deafening. The sound of "clang, clang, clang, clang" continued to echo over Dongning Mansion. Under the sky, it was the roar of the machine.

"By the way everyone, in addition to the above purposes, if you have a steam engine and a boat combined, you will no longer need to rely on sails, the boat will be able to move on its own, and the carriage will not need horses if it has a steam engine!" Zheng Kezang said slowly

He told everyone about the prospect of steam engines.

Soon, as the air valve closed, the water vapor came and went quickly. Within a moment, the steam engine piston stopped, and the surrounding white air quickly dissipated.

The steel of this steam engine weighs at least 800 kilograms, and it runs on its own without any external force.

Everyone has not come back to their senses, especially Lu Fan, whose eyes are filled with disappointment. He feels that it is not enough.

Even Zheng Kezang was in a trance. Yizhou Island, Nanming, Taqing, and steam engines gave him a feeling of being displaced in time and space.

With this machine, there will be fewer and fewer spinning workers in the future, and all manpower will be transferred to other industries. This will be of great help to Ming and Zheng, which has a sparse population.

"Who is exerting force? Is this some kind of magic?" Xie Xian, a work officer on the other side, also expressed shock.

"It's moving!" Zhongyong Bo Qiu Hui exclaimed.

"Everyone, after we have the steam engine, we can save a lot of manpower in many handicraft fields, such as textiles, iron smelting, and cannon casting."

The water in the boiler begins to boil, the water vapor rises, more and more accumulates in the cylinder, and the piston slides slowly.

The two of them are old people and don't understand new technologies very well.

Before they could recover, the spinning machine, driven by the steam engine, had already begun to run rapidly.

Except for Zheng Kezang and the craftsmen, everyone else looked at each other. The scene in front of them was beyond their understanding.

Such a steel "monster" can actually run by itself by burning coal, and it can lift its weight as if it were nothing. This can only be explained by divine power. Zhuge Liang's wooden cow and flowing horse are probably nothing more than this.

"Qinshe, let's start it and give it a try." Chen Yonghua nodded.

Before Zheng Kezang could give the order, the guards on the side were very discerning and immediately ordered the craftsmen to light the fire.

Qiu Hui and Xie Xian, two old men, thought they had entered a fairyland and laughed happily, as if they were on drugs.

Zheng Kezang said that the craftsmen had already connected a spinning machine to the steam engine.

The spindle spinning machine itself is very efficient. With the help of the steam engine, the cotton yarn is quickly formed in the spinning machine like a spider spinning silk, and is wrapped around the yarn shaft. In just a few moments, it becomes a thick layer.

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The first demonstration was almost over, and Zheng Kezang signaled Lao Su to close the air valve.

"How can water vapor have such power?" Lu Fan murmured blankly. He did not demonize the steam engine.

Seeing that Chen Yonghua was so happy, the young Zheng Kezang also indulged himself and said something that was perfect: "Let the whole world tremble in front of our steam engines!"

Although the trial production of the steam engine was a complete success, Zheng Kezang did not forget about it. The prototype currently built still has many problems.

For example, it is still slightly bulky, has low thermal conversion rate, and average sealing performance. Many processes have been arranged, but it is not sophisticated enough and it still requires accumulation of technology.

Such large steam engines can only be placed in factories. If they want to be used as propulsion power, the current prototype is far from meeting the requirements.

However, take your time, you cannot become a fat man in one bite. Zheng Kezang is already very satisfied with what the first steam engine can do. Next, as long as steam engines are promoted in all walks of life, Zheng Kezang’s steam era will be

It’s finally here!
Chapter completed!