Neither steam-engines nor air-engines, however, are nearly perfect; and we do not know in which of the two kinds of machine the nearest approach to perfection may be actually attained. The beautiful engine invented by Mr. Stirling of Galston may be considered as an excellent beginning for the air-engine;[1] and it is only necessary to compare this with Newcomen's steam-engine, and consider what Watt has effected, to give rise to the most sanguine anticipations of improvement.
V. On the Economy of Actual Steam-engines.
56. The steam-engine being universally employed at present as the means for deriving motive power from heat, it is extremely interesting to examine, according to Carnot's theory, the economy actually attained in its use. In the first
- ↑ It is probably this invention to which Carnot alludes in the following passage: "Il a été fait, dit-on, tout recemment en Angleterre des essais heureux sur le développement de la puissance motrice par l'action de la chaleur sur l'air atmosphérique. Nous ignorons entièrement ne quoi ces essais ont consisté, si toutefois ils sont réels."
the apparatus, instead of, as in the steam-engine, always in a saturated state.
