What Tong Xuan wants to make is a hand-operated generator. The main equipment includes wooden brackets, copper coils, magnets, glass lampshades and carbonized bamboo wires.
You can make the bracket yourself, it's nothing more than a few wooden frames and nails.
Magnets are readily available, just find one of suitable size and use it.
Glass lampshades are more troublesome. You need to go to the glass factory to customize them. Fortunately, the glass factory is also in Xishan, so you don’t have to run around.
As for carbonized bamboo shreds, you need to cut the bamboo and bake it yourself.
Copper wire and cotton yarn are also readily available. So far, Zhu Jianshen has finally done something serious, which is to wrap all the copper wire with cotton yarn, and it is a thick layer, using more than a dozen rolls of cotton yarn.
Tong Xuan was worried that he would cause trouble in his spare time, so he found a bundle of copper wire and dozens of rolls of cotton yarn and asked him to continue wrapping it up.
Zhu Jianshen was very interested at first, but later he gradually lost his patience and just hurriedly went around for a while, perfunctoryly.
Three days passed like this, and Zhu Jianshen became more and more irritable after being wrapped in cotton yarn for three days.
"Master Tong, I've finished everything."
Tong Xuan looked at it and saw that these cotton yarns were tangled in a mess, some thick and some thin, but he didn't pay much attention to it. After all, he was a child and he was pretty good at what he could do.
Zhu Jian looked at him longingly, as if to say, I'm just a child...
"Your Highness, please step back."
Tong Xuan was about to assemble it when he suddenly remembered the fire in the laboratory and quickly signaled Zhu Jianshen to keep his distance.
There are definitely risks in conducting experiments. It doesn't matter if something happens to you. If the prince is hurt, it will be a big sin!
Zhu Jianshen was very obedient, took a few steps back, then found a small bench to sit down on, and turned on the spectator mode.
"Master Tong, what is this you made?"
"Master Tong, why does the copper wire need to be wrapped in cotton yarn?"
"That glass..."
"Your Highness!"
Tong Xuan was irritated and had to interrupt: "Don't talk for now. I'll explain it to you later, okay?"
"okay!"
Zhu Jianshen resisted the urge to take action and watched Tong Xuan assemble the parts in front of him one by one.
Soon, a hand-operated generator was assembled. Tong Xuan took a deep breath, held down the handle, and gently shook it twice.
However, nothing happened.
Tong Xuan frowned and continued to shake. The wooden stick and the magnet slowly rotated. He looked at the glass cover again and saw that the carbonized bamboo silk inside had no reaction at all.
Strange, why?
He didn't understand because the drawings were given by the emperor. In his understanding, the emperor was omnipotent and could never be wrong.
Think about it, from improved firearms to steam engines, trains, ironclads... every invention can be called a miracle. How could a small generator go wrong?
There must be something wrong somewhere!
Yes, I must have been negligent...
In desperation, the movements of his hands became faster. Suddenly, he felt a flash of fire in front of his eyes...
Tong Xuan subconsciously took two steps back, and then he saw that the cotton yarn wrapped around the copper wire was on fire!
Zhu Jianshen jumped up from the bench excitedly and shouted: "Yes, it was like that that day too!"
After saying that, he turned around and ran away.
Tong Xuan came to his senses and looked around. There was no one who could take advantage of him, so he took off his coat and stepped forward to pat it. Soon, the fire went out.
Zhu Jianshen had already run out of the door, but he still didn't see Tong Xuan coming out, so he shouted: "Master Tong, come out quickly!"
However, he shouted twice, but could not see any movement inside. He thought something had happened to Tong Xuan, so he boldly returned to the door and peeked out.
"Hey, is the fire out?"
Tong Xuan didn't answer, just stared blankly at the generator that just came naturally, and fell into deep thought.
What does it mean when cotton yarn catches fire?
At least it shows that electricity has been generated in the copper wire!
He removed the copper wire, replaced it with a new one, and tried again.
This time, the filament flashed briefly, and then the cotton yarn caught fire again.
Tong Xuan's eyes were full of hope. He had probably understood one thing. The rotation of the magnet could indeed generate electricity in the copper wire. This point could ignite the filament or cotton yarn.
Moreover, as soon as the cotton yarn catches fire, the electricity disappears.
He quickly took out his pen and notebook and wrote down his findings.
Then, continue to replace a piece of copper wire and experiment again.
What is shocking is that this time, the carbonized bamboo silk in the glass cover continued to shine, and the cotton yarn outside the copper wire did not catch fire!
Tong Xuan was overjoyed and kept shaking the magnet. After a while, finally, the bamboo thread flashed and then went out.
He stopped then and found that he was exhausted and sweating profusely.
I want to get pen and paper to record, but I can’t even lift my arms.
Zhu Jian squatted down beside him and asked: "Master Tong, that thing just now...is it a candle?"
"no!"
Tong Xuan shook his head, with a happy smile on his face.
"That's...an oil lamp?"
"No."
Tong Xuan closed his eyes, lay back, and suddenly felt his whole body relax.
Success!
"Master Tong, don't lie on the ground. The ground is so cold..."
Before Zhu Jianshen finished speaking, he was hugged by Tong Xuan.
"Your Highness, we succeeded, we succeeded!"
Tong Xuan was very excited. At this time, he didn't care about the etiquette of the emperor and his ministers. He hugged Zhu Jianshen like a child and laughed loudly.
Zhu Jianshen rode on him and said, "Master Tong, what is that?"
"It's a generator!"
"What is a generator?"
"It is through a set of devices that generates electricity, which is the same electricity as thunder and lightning on rainy days!"
"Lightning...isn't it sent by the male thunder and the female lightning?"
"Ha ha!"
Tong Xuan smiled and said: "With the generator, there is no need for the Thunder God and the Lightning Girl!"
Zhu Jianshen turned his head, glanced at the so-called "generator", and asked: "What is the use of electricity?"
"There are so many uses!"
Tong Xuan closed his eyes, his face filled with the joy of success.
"The first one is the electric light!"
"What is the electric light...?"
"They are electric lamps. With electric lamps, oil lamps will no longer be needed."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Tong Xuan opened his eyes, picked up Zhu Jianshen and put it aside, then picked up paper and pen and started recording.
He must record the experimental results as soon as possible, and then find the reasons for the failure of the previous experiments.
As for the last time, although it was successful, it was obvious that the filament was not resistant to burning and could not continue to shine.
This alone requires a lot of effort to improve. Specifically, we look for different varieties of bamboo from various places, use different methods during carbonization, and finally find filaments that have good luminous effects and are resistant to burning.
However, what he couldn't understand was why in the previous experiment, the cotton yarn around the copper wire caught fire, but in the last experiment, the filament was burned, but the cotton yarn was intact.
Tong Xuan thought for a long time and was still confused.
I'm afraid only the emperor can answer this question, but he doesn't want to trouble the emperor with these trivial issues.
So, he removed the copper wire, held it in his hand, and looked at it carefully.
This copper wire was already the one that Zhu Jianshen had wrapped for the first time, because the cotton gauze on the outside was very thick and tightly wrapped.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind.
Could it be related to the tightness of the cotton gauze wrapping?
However, the cotton yarn outside the first two copper wires has been completely burned. Thinking about it now, I don’t remember what it looked like at that time.
"Your Highness, do you still remember that the copper wire that caught fire in the laboratory was wrapped with a lot of cotton yarn?"
After Zhu Jianshen heard this, he tilted his head and thought for a long time before saying, "Not much!"
Tong Xuan's eyes lit up and he asked again: "Your Highness, do you remember clearly?"
"Um!"
Zhu Jianshen nodded and said: "Those cotton yarns are not tightly wrapped, and many copper wires are exposed, just like this!"
As he spoke, he pointed to the ground. The copper wire should have been wrapped by him later, not as carefully as the first one.
Tong Xuan picked up the thread and observed it carefully.
Soon, he discovered the clues.
All copper wires have been made into a cylindrical shape, and this wire is not tightly wrapped with cotton yarn around it, resulting in direct contact between the copper wires.
Look at the wire that was successfully tested just now, but it is wrapped tightly and has no contact at all.
Now, he seems to understand.
"Your Highness, please stay away!"
Tong Xuan replaced the filament, and then the copper wire with contact. When he was ready, he shook the handle. With the rapid rotation of the magnet, there was a sizzling sound, and a burst of electric sparks burst out from the copper wire. Then, the cotton yarn ignited again.
.
Zhu Jianshen stayed far away and shouted: "Master Tong, there's a fire!"
Tong Xuan did not rush to put out the fire, but danced excitedly, as if he had found the door to a new world.
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Supervisor of Ceremonies, Hua En's heart is almost broken.
As the eunuch in charge, two fires broke out in the Forbidden City. Isn't this a slap in the face?
Are those people at the Academy of Sciences studying how to set fire every day?
If this continues, will people be allowed to live?
This is the palace, if something goes wrong, who will be responsible?
He first found Beilin, and the two of them accompanied the emperor on a trip to Nanyang. They were also comrades who had carried guns together. If there was anything to say, there was no need to talk in circles, just be straightforward.
However, Beilin was also helpless regarding this problem.
Because many projects of the Academy of Sciences require experiments to be verified, there will definitely be risks in doing experiments.
All he can do now is to strengthen preventive measures and ask students to pay attention to safety as much as possible during the experiment to avoid causing accidents.
In desperation, Wynn had no choice but to take matters into his own hands and vigorously rectify the situation.
Inside and outside the palace, the six ministries and nine ministers, the Hanlin Academy, the Academy of Sciences, and all the yamen must thoroughly investigate whether there are flammable and explosive materials, whether there are fire prevention measures, and even emergency plans on how to deal with a fire.
As for candles and oil lamps, they are strictly controlled.
Wherever you need to use candles, you must apply in advance and they will be issued strictly on demand.
After daybreak, if it is not used up, it must be turned over to the warehouse and reapplied after use at night.
For the Liubu Jiuqing and Hanlin Academy, the use of candles and oil lamps is not large, because this is the outer city of the palace and is only on duty during the day. At night, you must leave the Meridian Gate before dark.
At most, it is necessary to light a lamp on rainy days, when the light is not good, or when it gets dark early in the winter.
Now the Chief of Ceremonies strictly controls the lights, so I won't light them. If it gets dark early, I might as well get off work early.
Or sit and drink tea until the time comes before getting off work.
If it's a rainy day on weekdays, just make do with it, do the work if you can, and drink tea if you can't.
However, the impact on the Academy of Sciences will be great.
Because many experiments in the Academy of Sciences require the use of fire, oil lamps, candles, and even coal are indispensable.
And these things are all strictly controlled.
If you want, you can, just apply.
If the application is approved, it will be distributed according to the amount and will be supervised by Dongchang's cadre throughout the process. Any unused amount must be turned over.
The problem is, the application process is cumbersome.
After all, the Director of Ceremonies is not engaged in scientific research. He has no idea about what projects and experiments should be carried out. So during the review, he will cut off whatever he can. If he sees you applying for ten kilograms of lamp oil, he will ask if one kilogram is enough.
not enough?
Not enough, what about the two kilograms?
not enough?
That two and a half kilograms, no more!
In short, it will never be distributed in full.
In just a few days, the Academy of Sciences was filled with complaints. Bai Lin came to Wynn under tremendous pressure, hoping that the Supervisor of Ceremonies could relax restrictions on supplies such as lamps and candles. Otherwise, the progress of many projects of the Academy of Sciences would be affected.
In particular, some key issues are at a critical juncture, and now they have stalled, which will not only affect the progress, but also affect morale.
Huai Enpi said with a smile: "It's difficult for our family to work. The weather is dry and the Academy of Sciences needs so much candles and lamp oil every day. Who will be responsible if the water goes out?"
Beilin replied: "The Academy of Sciences will handle it carefully."
Wynn smiled faintly and said: "Dean Bei, you and I both work for the emperor. We should be considerate of each other. There has been no major incident in the Forbidden City for many years. Your Academy of Sciences conducts experiments every day... Hey, our family is also in a difficult situation.
do it!"
Bai Lin explained: "Since it is science, of course it needs experiments to prove it. Otherwise, how can we prove it?"
"We don't understand what you're talking about, but we know that nothing will happen to the Forbidden City. Otherwise, even a hundred heads in our family won't be enough!"
"Eunuch Huai, there's no need to make such a fuss, right?"
"This is really not a big deal!"
Wynn shook his head and said, "How does the power laboratory get rid of the water? We don't need to say more, right?"
"But, that's just... a special situation..."
"Who can guarantee that other laboratories will not travel under special circumstances? This is the palace, and the emperor's safety always comes first. Besides, the Six Ministries, Jiuqing and the Hanlin Academy didn't say anything. Only the Academy of Sciences complained. Our family feels
, it’s time for you, the dean, to take charge of this.”
Beilin was extremely angry, but there was nothing she could do.
Because he had no way to refute, or in other words, he also knew that there were indeed some hidden dangers in the laboratories under his control.
Now you, the Chief of Ceremonies, are cutting everything across the board and not even giving them a single candle or a pound of lamp oil. Isn’t it too much?
If he encountered resistance in other aspects, he would go directly to the emperor.
What's more, if you encounter someone who deliberately makes things difficult for you, if you get angry, you'll beat him up.
But, not this time.
Wynn is right, this matter is really difficult to handle.