Elements of electro-metallurgy, or, The art of working in metals by the galvanic fluid ... / [Alfred Smee].

  • Alfred Smee
Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of electro-metallurgy, or, The art of working in metals by the galvanic fluid ... / [Alfred Smee]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/204 (page 15)
    er] CONSTANT EFFECTS OF DANIELL’S BATTERY. — [5 the reduction of a metal takes place, care must be taken that neither of the plates of the battery touch the porous vessel; for otherwise the reduction of the metal will take place upon it, and at length a line of continuity will extend from one to the other. Candidates ever anxious to obtain the fame of a new invention, made the batteries square, oblong, paralellopiped, and even in many other forms, without any real advantage, for all thé alterations attended with benefits one way, have counter- balancing disadvantages. - | (40.) This battery is principally valuable for its constant _ effects; that is, for the power which it possesses of generating e exactly the same amount of electricity for a long time together ; and for this reason it is extremely valuable in many experi- mental researches. _ (41.) To obtain its constant effects however, certain precau- tions are required; for if the size of the wires used for the communication be altered, or their length either materially increased or diminished, then will the quantity of electricity vary. The distance between the poles, and also their size, must remain the same; and great care must be taken that the porous tubes be of the same texture; for it is to be remembered, that if but one bad earthenware tube be used in a battery of large surface, the quantity of electricity will be influenced throughout. | (42.) Much misunderstanding has arisen from the use of the term constancy; it is often thought to signify long-continued action, whereas these properties are really different; for a battery - tnay be constant, but only remain in action for a short period ; and again, a battery might continue in action for years, and not be constant in its action; the property of long continuation however, is by far the more valuable. (43.) The principal disadvantages of this battery are, first, the Iength of time required to set it in action; secondly, the trouble and expense attending the use of the porous tubes; ‘and lastly, the necessity of continually re-amalgamating the plates. .