POWER FROM THE SUN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14507, 22 October 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

POWER FROM THE SUN.

WORK BY WINDMILLS,

HARNESSING SEA AND WIND.

The scientists at the concluding session of the British Association at Sheffield were largely occupied with windmills.

A lecturer recommended to the engineering sections something like the nationalisation of motive power. He had a scheme for using windmills, and a big tank to drive all the motors and factories in the country. Ho drew a picture of Great Britain regenerated by the engineers, with the sun, tho sea, and the wind all harnessed to do tho hard work of the nation.

Tho cost of tho new motive power is to be a third that of steam and half that of gas power. Tho plan was unfolded by an American, Professor Fcssenden, the engineering member of the Niagara Power Commission, who suggested that windmills should be erected on the cliffs along the seacoast. These would pump sea-water to a certain elevation, from which it would bo allowed to run down. With the aid of turbines wo could thus develop all the motive power necessary to drive every railway and factory in the country. The average velocity of the wind round tne coast of Great Britain was ample to raise all the sea-water which would be required. He also suggested that steam could be produced by the sun's rays radiating through glass on to large tanks of water. Experiments in this direction were now being carcied out in Massachusetts, and he hoped soon to get as much as 30,000 horse-power on a hot day. He had,'by means of windmills, actually developed electric power up to 800 kilowatts. The professor described, with detailed estimates, a plant on a 3000 horse-power basis, consisting of a '*solar tank," which by taking advantage of the sun's radiation, would produce low-pressure steam to work turbines and dynamos. ENGINE FUEL FROM FRUIT. Surrounding this tank he proposed a steel rod framework, on which a number of windmills were erected, these being turned from a great central pivot to take full advantage of the wind. These might be expected to bo most effectual in producing power at times when the sun's radiation was lowest. This apparatus was designed to pump water from a, shaft, concrete-lined, and sunk in the earth with a water tank at the bottom, from which water pumped to the surface could be poured down again through turbines connected with dynamos. As to windmills alone, he expressed the opinion that there was no question that in Great Britain they could, by erecting a number of large frames containing windmills along the coasts, on the top of the cliffs, and with reservoirs for water lifted from tl;o sea and connected with turbines and dynamos, get- more power than was sufficient to drive all the manufactories, railway trains, and motors of all kinds in. Great Britain and Ireland at considerably less cost than this was now being done by steam. Tho plant and working cost would be comparatively cheap, as there was no shaft to sink, and the sea supplied, the water. The plant would, of course, be of no use for portable work. There they must use coal or alcohol, which he suggested might bo distilled from fruit at the cost which would compare favourably with the present price of petrol. The professor warned the Government, in view of these possibilities, against making tho coal mines national property, for we should, he said, be independent of coal when all this came to pass. Sir William White, the naval architect, suggested that Professor Fessenden's estimates of cost should be received with caution. as the tendency in all original schemes was to frame estimates on a hopeful basis. But the professor had a crushing reply ready. He said that the actual cost of tho Niagara power works was £500,000 less than he estimated it'would be.