Evolution of the Heat Engine

The Evolution of the Heat Engine traces the development of the thermal machines of the present to their origins in the past. The story is told in this volume through superb drawings and idagrams. The illustrations are all the original work of the author preprared especially for this book. All are accurately based upon original historical sources and are drawn to show all the essential working details in an exceptionally clear and sure way. The book also presents technical data on each engine, including overall dimensions and test results where available. A ;running narrative with many direct quotations of the inventors and pioneers of thermodynamics completes the telling of the story.

Engines covered include those of Stirling, Wankel, Diesel, Otto-Langen, Ericsson, Cayley-Buckett, Lenoir, Papin, Savery, Newcomen, Watt, and Benier. Gas turbine development is thoroughly outlined. Little known engines such as Malone's liquid engine are also described. Special emphasis is given throughout the book to the Stirling engine because of its practical and theoretical significance.

Because some engine cycles are theoretically reversible, the book also covers heat pumps of cooling machines, including the modern Philips air liquefier, and the older Giffard and Windhausen cold air engines.

Rockets are analysed as heat engines and the book devotes two entire chapeters to their development from Tsilokovsky and Goddard to Apollo 11. Orbits, energy levels, and detailed charts of the gravitational field between the Earth and Moon are given.

Guns are also given some attention as thermodynamic machines with illustrations and analysis of the cannons of Nelson's ship, Gribeauval's field artillery, and Zalinski's air gun.

Throughout the book, the thermodynamic principles that underlie all these devices are explained and illustrated by pressure-volume diagrams, charts, and thermodynamic calculations. There is also a chapter on thermodynamic theory followed by an insightful summary chapter which compares and classifies heat engines according to heat transfer, open or closed cycles, working substance, efficiency, and specific power.

This book is an invaluable resource for scientist, engineers, and historians of technology. Anyone curious about the how and why of engines, heat pumps, or rockets will find answers in this book. For model makers there is a wealth of ideas and inspiration in these pages for fine projects. Those interested in tapping alternative energy sources will find this book an excellent background guide. A complete listing of the original patents and journals on which the material in the book is base is given in a references section.

The author, Dr.Ivo Kolin, is Professor Emeritus of Thermodynamics at the University of Zagreb. He is the inventor of the low temperature differential version of the Stirling enigine and enjoys world-wide recognition as an expert in the field of heat engines. He is the author of many papers and several books. In addition to his knowledge of the field of heat enignes, Professor Kolin is a gifted illustrator whcih makes this book a uniquely masterful presentation of the story of heat enignes.