place we remark, that out of the entire "fall" from the temperature of the coals to that of the atmosphere it is only part—that from the temperature of the boiler to the temperature of the condenser—that is made available; while the very great fall from the temperature of the burning coals to that of the boiler, and the comparatively small fall from the temperature of the condenser to that of the atmosphere, are entirely lost as far as regards the mechanical effect which it is desired to obtain. We infer from this, that the temperature of the boiler ought to be kept as high as, according to the strength, is consistent with safety, while that of the condenser ought to be kept as nearly down at the atmospheric temperature as possible. To take the entire benefit of the actual fall, Carnot showed that the "principle of expansion" must be pushed to the utmost.[1]
- ↑ From this point of view, we see very clearly how imperfect is the steam-engine, even after all Watt's improvements. For to "push the principle of expansion to the utmost," we must allow the steam, before leaving the cylinder, to expand until its pressure is the same as that of the vapor in the condenser. According to "Watt's law," its temperature would then be the same as (actually a little above, as Regnault has shown) that of the condenser, and
