People who do scientific research should be calm and endure loneliness.

Otherwise, it would be unlikely to become a successful scientist.

Obviously, Li Yan and Zhao Xiaoer are both people who can endure loneliness.

When I was studying steam engines before, the progress was not very smooth for a long time.

But a lot of money was spent.

The pressure they were under was very great at that time.

Now the steam engine has been successfully produced and has become an important mechanical equipment in many workshops.

The monthly steam engine production and sales are basically growing, and the future is broad.

Li Yan even won the Royal Science and Technology Award of the Tang Dynasty for his invention of the steam engine.

Now, the Steam Engine Research Institute has adjusted its short-term focus to the research of electric lamps after the steam engine generates power.

During this period, their institute tried many materials.

After the electricity is turned on, the substances more or less heat and lighten up.

They even found some supplies that looked quite effective.

However, these current discoveries are obviously not enough to support the production of electric lights.

"Master, we have tried all kinds of metals, all kinds of charcoal, bamboo slices, wool and other things.

Judging from the current situation, it seems not very optimistic."

Zhao Xiaoer was also a little worried when he looked at the piles of experimental records in front of him.

To make a mature electric light, the filament will surely emit light quickly after being powered on.

And the service life of this filament should be long enough, otherwise the effect will be poor.

"In light of the current situation, some newly discovered substances in the School of Chemical Engineering have very good results as filaments.

This direction can be continued.

In addition, the effect of this bamboo silk seems to be good.

However, after each power-on, the bamboo wire quickly heats up and lights up, and breaks.

Can we find any way to slow down the filament breaking speed?

If this problem can be solved, then many of the materials we are trying now have great potential.”

Li Yan basically participated in all the experiments.

I also have a clearer understanding of the performance of various materials after powering on.

Obviously, as a filament, materials such as copper and iron with good conductivity are definitely inappropriate.

But stones that don’t have any conductive effect are obviously not good either.

At this time, the conductivity effect is not good after power on, but there are still some materials that have some conductive properties. If the electrical energy can be converted into light, it is a very ideal material.

"The main reason why these filaments broke so quickly is that they reacted chemically in the air during the heat, right?

Didn’t the School of Chemical Engineering specialize in researching the reaction of various materials after heating and air?

To achieve a state where these filaments can emit light, their temperature must be very high.

At this time, the chemical reaction between them and the air is also very fast.

Up to now, all the finer filaments made can basically be broken if they can shine.

If we can place these filaments in a place without air, or to be precise, oxygen, the speed of breaking should be greatly reduced."

Zhao Xiaoer felt that the Steam Engine Research Institute was one step away from making electric lights.

But he has not yet found a particularly good way to take this critical step.

"One of the ways to isolate these filaments in a place without oxygen is to cover it with a cover and draw it into a vacuum state.

I heard that when making thermos in the glass workshop, we used special vacuum equipment, so we should consider using it."

Under Zhao Xiaoer's suggestion, Li Yan's ideas suddenly became much more divergent.

He even thought about whether he could ask the glass workshop to make lampshades for them, then place the filament in the lampshade, and find a way to vacuum it before using it.

However, there are obviously many problems that need to be solved in this process.

“Theory seems to be fine.

Master, I have thought about the specific design plan these two days, and then discussed with the glass workshop to see if it can be made.”

Zhao Xiaoer thought for a while and thought that using glass to make lampshades might be the best solution.

So far, no other substances have been found to have the same light transmittance as glass when they have sealing properties.

"Well, there are indeed many things to consider here. Let's decide on this plan together and see how to make a batch of samples from the glass workshop."

...

When officials in Chang'an City were talking about the issue of changing the route to saving, Li Kuan, the initiator, did not attend court for several days again.

After reading the latest issue of "Science Magazine", Li Kuan was full of interest in experimental projects in various research institutes of Guanshishan Academy.

In particular, the Kerosene Engine Research Institute jointly established by Lu Zhaolin and Rao Yongxiang attracted Li Kuan's interest.

No one understands the meaning of an engine better than Li Kuan.

This is definitely the best thing to replace a steam engine.

And compared with steam engines, the benefits of engines are to be precisely the benefits of internal combustion engines, which is definitely not a little bit.

First of all, with the same output power, the volume of the internal combustion engine is much smaller than that of the steam engine.

Secondly, in terms of energy conversion efficiency, internal combustion engines are obviously much higher than steam engines.

Furthermore, the internal combustion engine is mainly composed of liquid fuels with relatively high energy density by burning kerosene, gasoline, or diesel.

However, the steam engine generally uses the method of heating water by burning coal to further drive the mechanical mechanism through steam.

The energy supplement here is also very different.

For internal combustion engines, as long as there is a small fuel tank, it can support it to operate for a long time.

But for steam engines, the amount of coal that needs to be burned is obviously much more.

If it is a fixed mechanical device, these shortcomings of the steam engine are not very obvious.

After all, at worst, just prepare an extra warehouse to store coal.

However, once you have to use a mobile device, the gap will be particularly large, and it has even reached the point where it cannot be compared.

Why did steam locomotives appear in history, but were replaced by internal combustion locomotives just a flash in the pan?

It is true that both sides are not opponents of the same level in all aspects.

Of course, this does not mean that Li Kuan does not pay attention to the development of the steam engine.

In the next few decades, the use of steam engines in ships, trains and workshops will be very promising.

Compared with internal combustion engines, the structure of the steam engine will be simpler and the production difficulty will be much less.

The corresponding cost is naturally lower.

Especially when your power demand reaches a relatively large level, the advantages of the steam engine are still relatively obvious in the short term.

"Your Highness, our first prototype is already under design and production.

From the perspective of principle argumentation, we think kerosene engines are completely feasible.

Look at these display boards, this is the main structural diagram of the kerosene engine we initially designed."

In the Kerosene Engine Research Institute, Rao Yongxiang and Lu Zhaolin personally introduced the research results and progress in the research institute to Li Kuan.

"What did you think about using kerosene as the dye for the engine?"

Li Kuan asked questions while looking at the contents on the display board.

He rarely heard of what the hell is a kerosene engine in later generations.

Although there are also saying that aircraft engines use kerosene, at least among the power equipment that ordinary people come into contact with, kerosene is not used.

All gas stations are filled with gasoline or diesel. From each gas station, there are kerosene added to each gas station.

So even if Li Kuan did not conduct in-depth research on the engine structure, he knew that kerosene was definitely not the best dye.

“Kerosene lamps are now fuels that many people have in their homes.

We think that if the combustion of kerosene can be placed in the cylinder, the operation of the engine can be smoothly unfolded."

Rao Yongxiang explained carefully.

Obviously, he had already felt the doubts about the kerosene engine in Li Kuan's words.

As an authoritative figure in the Tang Dynasty technology circle, Li Kuan has the most say in new things.

Judging from the situation in the past few years, all the things Li Kuan recognized have been successful.
To be continued...