The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-24
PARSONS on TURBINE srE1Msns.
Talks OF Attaining 10000 Horse Power ana
a. Knots Speed.

The latest Information about what Is beins
done with the turbine engine on vessels and
what Developments may be expected before
long was given on Nov by the Hon Charles
Parsons In his address az President before the
Institution Of Junior Engineers The mos,
interesting part Of the address. relating to tho
practical applications Of the system. is repro.
duced here from the account in Iron and
Industries:
The first vessels OF larger size than the
Turbiniu TO be fitted with steam turbine ma
chinery are the torpedoboat destroyer Viper
for our own Government and a similar vessel
for Mcssrs. Armstrong, Whitworth h Co.
These vessels are Of approximately tho
same dimensions a. the 30-knot destroyer,
now in her Majesty's service. but have slightly
more displacement. The boilers are about IL
per cent larger and II Is estimated that up
ward of 10000 horse power will be realized
under tho usual conditions as against $500
with recinrocating engines.
The engines OF these vessels are In durii.
cate. Two screw shafts are placed on each slds
Of the vessel. driven respectively by high and
low pressure turbine to each OF the low pres.
sue turbine shafts small reversing turbine
is permanently coupled for going astern. the
estimated speed astern being 15k knots
and ahead rs knots: two propellers
arc placed on each shaft.
THE latter Of these two vessels has COM
mencel her preliminary trials and has already
reached n speed OF 80 knots. The manipu-
la'ipn ~ tho engines Ia comparatively
simple matter. a to reverse 10 Ia only neces-
sary to close ono valve and open another. and
owing to there being no dead centres. smnll
ordinations Of speed can be easily made.
In gird to the general application OF tur-
bin" machinery to large ships. the conditions
Il Al
faster class OF vessels such as cross-Channei
boats. faster passenger vessels. cruisers and
liners; in such vessels the reduction In weight
AZ machinery as well Us economy In the con-
sumption Of coal per horse power arelim portant
factors in the case. and in some vessels the abb
scnc" Of vibration. both as regards the comfort
Of passengers, and in the case OF ships OF war
permit ne greater accuracy In sighting OF the
guns, isl question Of first Importance.
A regards cross-Channel boats. the turbine
system presents Advantages In speed. absence
Of vibration. and. owing to the smaller diam
ctsr, Of the prorellers; reduced 6raueht. .,
feet beam, 1000 tons displacement. and feet
q inches draft ~ water could be constructed
gees. and with machinery developing IL. OOO
hh1r s. power; she will have sea speed o! about
To ~ knots ~ the present vessels OF similar
size. and accommodation.
II T., pc har@. interesting TO examine the
-pecial unarmored cruiser. maGnin.d
torpedo boat destroyer OF light build with
scauty accommodation for her large crew. but
equipped with an armament OF light guns and
tOrpedOes. Let us assume that her dime n sions
are about double those oi the 30-knot de-
, stroyars. with plates Of double the thickness
and specially, strengthened 70 correspond with
the ,ncr-a~.d size length 400 feet. beam ~
feet. maximum draught IL feet, dsplacemeus
$500 tons. indicated horse mower s0.O0r.
Their" would be- two tiers OF water tube
boilers: these with the engine space. conl
huukers. &c. would occupy the whole OF tho
lower porto of the vessel. the crews quar-
tiers ant guns would he on the upper decks.
There would he eight prore"rs OF nine feet In
diameter revolving at about 400 revolutions
per minute. and her speed would be about
~ knots
She could carry coal at this speed for abou.
eight hours. hut sh" would b. able 10 st. am at
from IL to II knots with small section
81 III" boilers more economically than othe-
vessels % ordinary type and power. and. when
required. all the boilers could be used. and full
power "N"rted in about half an hour
" In the case NJ an Atlantic liner or = cruiser
OF large size. turtinc engines would appear TO
first place they would effect a re iuctiOn in
weight Of machinery. and some increase IN
economy NJ fuel per horse power developed.
both thus ten ling either 10 a saving in coal on
the one hand, or II preferred. some increase
in spaced.
THE advantages are. however. less pro.
nounccd IN this class Of vessels on account -
the smaller reativ" power Of the machinery.
and the large quantity OF coal necessary for
long voyages hut the com plete absence OF vi.
hratNn " all speeds. not 10 mention many
minor con side arions Of saving In cost and re-
duc"d engine room stnff are questions OF con-
siderable i'm pOrtAnce."