Under the Nine Suns - Alch Boiler

Alch boilers are commonly used devices that convert refined alch into useable energy.

The smallest alch boilers are about the same size as a fifty gallon drum, though they can be much larger. Larger boilers are used to power cloud cruisers or even entire city blocks. Any device too small to contain an alch boiler must either be connected to an alch boiler by a conduit or be powered by an alch battery.

Alch is placed within a hopper in the center of the alch boiler. Salt water is added until the boiler is full. The salt water is then heated to a boil. The combination of salt water and heat causes a reaction that converts the alch into a form of usable energy. Anodes in the base of the alch boiler collect the energy and transfer it to other devices through specially designed conduits.

Most home sized alch boilers also contain charging points for batteries. Boiling alch gives off fumes which can be hazardous to breathe. Breathing too many fumes can cause short term dizziness, disorientation and hallucinations. Long term exposure can cause a chronic illness commonly referred to as 'alch cough' which causes shortness of breath, coughing spells and discolored mucus.