The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1898-05-27

Z - proken might render
4vI6 xfeat guns; but few
lSodrs work on the Vulcan" would
remedy the trouble, and even less
time might place the engines Of one
Of our torpedo boats in trim after a
considerable break. AT the close of
an engagement the wounded vessels
could hasten to her. or she to them,
and such work then be done as to
place them back in the line of battle,
once more formidable menace to
the foe.
The mission and the usefulness of
such q craft cannot be overestimated,
when every pound of coal must tell
its work well done in our defence.
It is a very modern adoption of that
wise saw. ''A stitch in time saves
nine," and typical instance of tie
great value of ! ttAVsl lliux kse q
.rppsiT !: 6 ~ 9's
NJ NJ slsss saiP
sIfis $ 3Ds sish "a smsIa Z snstS,
.sllsS }nli uIcall, S Ekjs'
win d. 5 il p4irs, but xiill Be de-
voted s0is y "a converting fte 0eean'sl
bxipe into drip king water, and to
fIg{s end she Mill carry 4 very large
I IN coa md will have four npsl
IA. data n M I6rS . i,f "A "a r3s
pacity.
These distillers or eyaporators will
each consist Of three elements, like
the modern triple expansion engine,
and are intended to utilize the steam
with the most economical expendi-
ture demanded in the output of a
total supply daily of at least 10000
gallons Of thoroughly palatable drink
water.
The operation is simple. Each of
the evaporators consist of q cylindri-
cal steel boiler, containing a coil of
piping, which is surrounded by cold
sea water. The steam is supplied to
the first coil directly from the ships
boilers. That steam raises the sea
water to the boiling point and grad
ually evaporates it. The steam
thus generated, in conjunction with
the operation, passes into the coil Of
the second evaporator, repeating the
operation in connection with the sea
water There and, finally -me-s:~s-
with the steam raised from the salt
water in the third evaporation and
passing together into the condenser.
The condensation from the first two
coils is caught by traps and carried
off to the tanks. In this way the
latent heat from the first steam from
the boiler is economically absorbed
by the three stages ofsalt water, and
a higher percentage of performance
is attained than is possible in sim
gle'element evaporator. After con
densation the water is carefully aer-
ated and the result Is thorough
ly palatable water, devoid of that
hatness generally characteristic of
condensed water.
A sediment of salt--the residue of
the ocean brine-gradually forms
upon the coils of the distillers. and
these evaporators are SO arranged
that this scale can be readily removed.
On the other ships their d,stillers
will be worked as far as possible only
to the extent of making good the loss
of fresh water consumed by the boil.
ers, that the use of salt water may
be obviated and the formation of a
troublesome scale of salt-difficult to
reach-may be guarded against in
the ships boilers proper.
The hygienic value of sufficient
fresh water cannot be overestirhated
when the rigors Of warfare are aggra.
vatea by the close confinement oi
shipboard in the tropics, and it may
even be the purpose of this vessel to
lend its bounty to the military branch
of the service. Poisoned wells anG
tainted streams need not be feared
under such circumstances they car
be avoided.
THE REFRIGERATOR SHIP.
The refrigerator ship supply, for
merly the Illinois, of the American
Line, will be used as travelling