Compressed Air Engine History

The first mechanically powered submarine the 1863 french submarine plongeur used a compressed air engine.

Compressed air engine history.

Kurt tank designed a new cooling system for this engine that used a high speed fan to blow compressed air into channels that carry air to the middle of the banks where a series of baffles directed the air over all of the cylinders. Industrial use of piped compressed air for power transmission was developed in the mid 19th century. The history of air compressor use can be traced back thousands of years to when early civilizations discovered the power of the human lung. A compressed air engine is one that creates useful work by expanding compressed air.

With its ability to exhale oxygen the lung made it easier to build fires for cooking and keeping warm. Compressed air outside switzerland the first locomotive to run on compressed air was built in 1890 and by 1895 the basic principles of efficient compressed air engines had been developed. They have existed in many forms over the past two centuries ranging in size from handheld units to turbines up to several hundred horsepower. Compressed air has been used since the 19th century to power mine locomotives and trams in cities such as paris via a central city level compressed air energy distribution system and was previously the basis of naval torpedo propulsion.

Original craft at musée de l air et de l espace. Unlike steam compressed air could be piped for long distances without losing pressure due to condensation. Musée de la marine rochefort. Air engines have been used since the 19th century to power mine locomotives pumps drills and trams via centralized city level distribution.