Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology

Even without Vijay pointing it out, Hey Ram, who was working on the cold water spray pipe, came forward to connect the reservoir to it.

"Whew!"

Almost everyone was panting, as throughout the day they had been running around getting various equipment from the warehouse or helping install something.

Everything used in the machine was a heavy part; moving them was a pain in the ass. The only exceptions were the small pipes and parts like valves that were easier to carry. But unfortunately, the smaller the part was, the more tricky it was to install, especially since the tolerances were smaller than the larger parts. It was frustrating to say the least. However, fortunately, by the end of the day, they had pulled through and completed the construction.

Vijay was standing a few dozen meters away from the steam engine. He had a few smudges of grease on his face, but he did not mind it. Instead, he was in a complicated mood.

"You did well," he comforted himself.

Truth be told, Vijay could have constructed the Newcomen steam engine much earlier—maybe even four to five years earlier—but he stopped himself, as he wanted the empire to grow and survive without him. He did not want the empire to be over-reliant on his technical knowledge. Most importantly, he wanted the empire to innovate by itself.

Looking at all the innovations that had come from the empire due to his decision and seeing the researchers who were laughing with each other, rejoicing, Vijay finally felt reassured that his decision was correct. He was correct to not rush things, and he was correct to build a solid foundation for the empire before doing anything drastic.

At the end of the day, Vijay checked all the joints, bolts, and moving parts for alignment and secure fastening. Water was poured into the boiler to do some checks, and valves were operated manually to observe the movement of the piston beam on the pump rod.

The valves, counterweight, and beam alignment were finally optimized.

---

The next morning

It was a pleasant day, calm and cloudless. The melodious chirps of the birds drifted into the research facility.

All the researchers got up from their beds, excited and unable to hold down their emotions. Today was the day the engine was being tested.

Vijay, despite being from the future and having seen all types of advanced machinery, still felt a little excited and nervous about the test.

He knew what it would mean for the empire if the steam engine succeeded. It would mean stepping one foot into the Industrial Revolution, which would give an entry ticket for the second Industrial Revolution brought by gasoline engines and electrification, which would once again point out the direction for the third Industrial Revolution, that is, computers, and the fourth industrial revolution, that is, artificial intelligence.

This one invention today would set a prosperous path for the Bharatiya Empire, its civilization, and for the eastern part of the world as a whole, to move in a bright direction for hundreds of years.

Holding back his smile, Vijay ordered, "Pour the water into the boiler and ignite the coal furnace."

Hey Ram and Naveen Bhatt wanted to be the first people to kick-start the whole process, so Hey Ram brought over water along with a few researchers carrying buckets behind him, and Naveen Bhatt brought over the coal with a few researchers following him.

Soon, the steam flowed through the steam pipe, which went toward the cylinder.

"Shhhhh!"

Vijay personally opened the steam inlet valve to allow the steam into the cylinder. A screeching sound was heard, but it was muffled as the sound was coming from inside the cylinder.

"Krrrr!"

Slowly, the piston started to rise.

This solicited some excited claps from the researchers watching.

After noticing the piston unable to rise anymore, Vijay quickly closed the steam inlet valve.

Simultaneously, he operated the cold water spray valve.

Moments later, cold water sprayed into the cylinder. The burning hot steam cooled and condensed within seconds. Water was formed, and momentarily, a vacuum was left behind in the space previously occupied by steam.

Atmospheric pressure slammed down the piston into the vacuum.

"Boom!"

The rocking beam tilted violently towards one side, causing the pump rod to rise up.

Vijay motioned at a researcher. "Come, operate the steam valve and the cold water injection valve," he ordered. He then reached out to the exhaust valve and opened it to release the condensed water from the cylinder.

"Shhhhhhh!"

A loud sound of exhaust was heard as the condensed water was drained through the pipes, preparing the cylinder for the next cycle.

He placed another researcher to operate the exhaust valve.

He quickly went near the pump rod.

The researchers, after seeing the machine work for two cycles, knew that it was time for the water to be pumped out of the well, so they followed behind Vijay with anticipation in their eyes.

Silence engulfed the whole area, only the sound of the steam engine was heard, constantly cycling from steam expansion to water condensation. The rocking beam constantly moved up and down, moving the pump rod and transferring motion to the plunger pump at the bottom of the shaft.

A few clicks were heard from the researchers as they were getting impatient. It had already reached the third cycle, and the water still had not come out yet.

The researchers looked at each other with doubt and disappointment. Hey Ram let out a sigh of sadness. Looking at His Majesty still not taking his eyes away from the pump rod, he went to console him. But suddenly he heard a sound.

"Glug! Glug! Glug!"

"Did anyone hear that?!"

Hey Ram looked around in surprise.

"Director, we heard it too. It sounds like water travelling through a narrow surface!" The researchers responded.

A smile had occupied Vijay's face.

"Glug! Glug! Glug!"

The next moment, water gushed out of the pipe arranged for the water outlet, and it would not stop. Every time the pump rod went in and out, more water flowed.

Vijay clenched his fist in excitement. He gritted his teeth. He wanted to jump up and down, but at the last moment, he still remembered that he should maintain the dignity of the emperor.

However, no one was stopping the researchers.

"Yes!"

"Hahaha!"

"Woooooohhh!"

"Yeahhhhh!"

"HAHAHAHAH!"

They frantically hugged each other and screamed at the top of their lungs. Their hard work of a week bore fruit—the steam engine worked! The Devaraya atmospheric steam engine worked!

Naveen and Hey Ram were lifted up by the researchers and thrown into the air by the excited group.

"Ehhh!"

Hey Ram squealed in fear as he was scared of heights, but nothing but laughter escaped Naveen. The sound of his shouts could be heard throughout the area.

Soon, someone picked up the water that was coming out of the well and started splashing it onto other researchers. Within no time, the whole area transformed into a Holi celebration, with a bunch of grown researchers splashing water on each other.

Vijay, looking at their scene, felt a little envious as he couldn't really fit in with this group of people. But then again, he loved his current job as a full-time emperor as well. You win some, you lose some.

"Thud!"

Suddenly, the water stopped pumping out. The researchers were taken aback. They looked around.

"Hey, what happened? Why did the water stop?"

"look! The pump rod has stopped moving! Did someone turn off the machine?"

"Hey! Weren't you operating the steam inlet valve? Why are you here?"

"Bastard! If you're here, who is operating the cold water spray valve?"

"Asshole! Who is operating the exhaust valve?"

In the dumbfounded expressions of everyone, including Vijay, the people who were operating the valves had run over to celebrate with their fellow researchers.

Vijay twitched his lips, but then again, he could understand their feeling. It was as if everyone were lighting the crackers for Diwali, but they weren't allowed to until a certain time. It was truly hellish.

"Teach the operation of the valves to the helpers. It shouldn't be too difficult."

The steam engine was run for the whole day with people taking turns to operate for a few minutes at a time, and the researchers took this opportunity to measure all the practical specifications of the steam engine

Devaraya Atmospheric Steam Engine

Type: Atmospheric steam engine

Inventor: Vijay Devaraya

Primary Use: Pumping water from lower areas

Power Output: Average of seven horsepower

Cycle Type: Single Acting

Efficiency: 0.5% thermal efficiency

Water Pumping Capacity: 45 litres per stroke

Cycle Time: 14 cycles per minute

Total Weight: 12 metric tonnes

Key Components:

Boiler: Capacity 1500 litres, 1.5 metric tonnes

Cylinder: 1 metric tonne

Piston: 600 kilogrammes

Rocking Beam: 2.5 metric tonnes

Pump Rod: 1.5 metric tonnes

Water Pump: 2.5 metric tonnes

Valves: Brass-made, 15 cm diameter, 30 kg; used for steam inlet, exhaust, and cold water spray

Counterweight: 1 metric tonne

Foundation: Stone

The 4th of April 1660 marks an important day in the history of the Bharatiya Empire and the history of the world. It was the day when the first commercially available steam engine was produced. The Devaraya atmospheric steam engine went on to increase the mineral extraction capabilities of the great Bharatiya Empire many fold and directly pushed the greatest empire in the world into the industrial age, never to look back again.

P.S. Thank you yashwant_reddy, for the Pizza

P.S. Thank you Tervantas, for the Inspiration capsule

P.S. Thank you its_a_joke, for the Pizza

P.S. You guys Rock