Chapter 833: The Blueprint of Electricity

"Hehe, this subject would not dare to speak nonsense." Wang Chong made a gesture of invitation, "Your Highness may go to the Research Institute to take a look."

Zhao Xu nodded, left the Prince's Mansion with Wang Chong, and headed straight for the Research Institute.

Inside a tall mechanical laboratory at the Research Institute, Zhao Xu saw a massive triple-expansion steam engine.

This steam engine almost filled the entire space of the laboratory.

This was the triple-expansion steam engine specifically for warships.

With it, the Shipyard would henceforth be able to build warships and large steamships over thirty meters, or even over two hundred meters long.

The length of the Titanic, which used a triple-expansion steam engine, was two hundred and sixty-nine meters.

From this point on, the shipbuilding industry of Da Song would enter a brand-new stage, officially leaving the shipbuilding industry of the Western Lands behind.

"Truly a behemoth, incredible, simply incredible." Zhao Xu could not help but exclaim in admiration.

Before the triple-expansion steam engine, he felt as if he were facing a steel beast.

Zhao Xu was praising the triple-expansion steam engine, but Wang Chong thought he was praising him, so he humbly said, "Your Highness is too kind. If it were not for the mature blueprints of the triple-expansion steam engine provided by Your Highness, this subject would not have been able to build it even in three or five years."

Zhao Xu paused for a moment, then patted Wang Chong on the shoulder, "Even so, you all put in a lot of hard work. Later on, I will have the treasury allocate some silver for you to reward the students who participated in the research and construction."

"This subject thanks Your Highness on their behalf," Wang Chong said happily.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xu added, "Since you have mastered the technology of the triple-expansion steam engine, discuss with the manager of the Steam Engine Workshop and Manager Chen Shou of the Shipbuilding Department to participate together in the research and construction of the ironclad warship."

An ironclad warship involves many things; what Chen Shou and the others can build is merely the ship's hull.

The manufacturing and installation of the triple-expansion steam engine, the manufacturing of the ship's iron armor, and the naval cannons specifically for the ironclad warship all require different departments to be responsible.

Later, he still had to make a trip to the Weaponry Department to have Wang Ying also coordinate with Chen Shou.

"Yes, Your Highness," Wang Chong replied.

After circling the triple-expansion steam engine once more, Zhao Xu satisfied his curiosity and then left this laboratory with Wang Chong.

After all, as for the physical triple-expansion steam engine,

this was also his first time seeing it.

Walking outward along the corridor inside the Research Institute, Zhao Xu's gaze swept over one laboratory after another.

In every laboratory, there were busy figures of students.

Whether alone or in groups of three or five, they were all responsible for researching different technologies.

When he passed by the Eighth Laboratory, his gaze suddenly fixed, and he stopped his steps.

At this moment, a student inside the Eighth Laboratory was turning a handle, and on the racks on both sides of the handle were things resembling stones.

Wang Chong noticed Zhao Xu's gaze and said, "Your Highness, this is the Electricity Laboratory."

"How is the progress?" Zhao Xu said as he entered the laboratory.

"Li Wei, introduce this to His Highness," Wang Chong said to the busy student upon hearing this.

According to the requirements of Yan Wang, he was currently responsible for the overall coordination of the entire Research Institute.

Unless it was an emergency project, he generally would not participate in the research and construction himself, but rather fully tapped into the talents of the students.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Hearing Wang Chong's voice, Li Wei snapped out of it and hurriedly bowed to Zhao Xu.

"No need for formalities," Zhao Xu smiled and patted his shoulder.

He had always been approachable toward these students, getting along with them like a teacher and his pupils.

This was to demonstrate the importance he placed on technological talent.

And the effect of this guidance was quite good; the number of scholars applying to the Technology Academy was increasing day by day, no longer focused solely on the Official Examination.

"Your Highness, I am currently conducting electromagnetic cutting experiments. The results of the experiment prove that electromagnetic induction can generate electricity." Li Wei was not a man of many words; after bowing, he introduced it directly to Zhao Xu in a businesslike manner.

"Hmm, since that is the case, is it time to research and build a generator next?" Zhao Xu asked.

The two stone-like things in front of him were actually magnets.

What Li Wei had just been turning was a rectangular coil.

It was simply copper wire wrapped around a square iron frame.

By turning the handle, the rectangular coil could rotate between the magnets, generating electricity.

Therefore, this was the most primitive generator.

"Yes, Your Highness. I am about to proceed with the research and construction of a formal generator. However, this will be a hand-cranked generator. If it succeeds, then it will be the research and construction of a large-scale generator," Li Wei said matter-of-factly.

Zhao Xu nodded. In fact, he had long since let the Research Institute launch electricity experiments.

And now, Li Wei's electricity experiments were still at the most primary stage.

He did not press the question because he knew that the materials for electricity experiments had to be gathered from scratch, which would take some time.

For example, magnets.

Jiangbei naturally did not have the ability to produce artificial magnets at the moment, so the magnets Li Wei used were natural lodestones, such as iron ore.

However, although obtaining lodestone was not easy, it was not difficult either.

The ancients recognized this substance that could attract iron very early on. In the contemporary Spring and Autumn and Warring States period, the book "Guanzi" stated, "Where there is lodestone on the mountain, there is gold and copper beneath it."

However, besides the lodestone, there was one more thing that needed to be prepared, and that was an old-fashioned voltmeter.

Just after entering the laboratory, he had discovered the voltmeter connected in series to the coil.

So, he pointed to the voltmeter and said, "Did you make this?"

Li Wei glanced at the voltmeter and said, "Yes, Your Highness. The principle of this voltmeter is similar to the wired telegraph; it is very simple."

Zhao Xu showed a satisfied smile. This Li Wei and Wang Chong were in the same batch of students and also belonged to the top students at the time.

He spoke with such ease, which showed that his understanding of electricity was already quite deep.

Just as he said, the principle of the voltmeter was indeed similar to the wired telegraph.

Inside this voltmeter, just like the wired telegraph, there was a coil; as long as the coil was energized, it would generate magnetic force.

Therefore, as long as an electric current was generated like a battery, the switch-like structure inside the voltmeter would be attracted by the coil, moving the needle.

When measuring high voltage, one only needs to install a Resistor inside the meter.

"Quite good, I shall await your Large-scale Generator." Zhao Xu patted Li Wei on the shoulder once more.

Using a Steam Engine to turn the handle of a Large-scale Generator, this is the principle of power generation for a Thermal Power Plant.

However, even if a Generator is built and can produce alternating current, it does not mean that having Electricity makes it applicable.

The transmission of Electricity is likewise a field of study.

Next, the Research Institute must also develop Transformers and other power control and transmission equipment.

Of course, there is also one very important thing, which is Electric Wire.

"Rubber." Zhao Xu could not help but murmur softly.

He cannot let the development of Electricity get stuck on Rubber.

And to obtain Rubber, he must take the rubber plantations in the South Sea region of Dongtu.

Once the Marine Corps is equipped with the Qin-style Rifle and the next batch of Sailing Warship and Steamship enters service, he must take action against Nanyang.