Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-11

"A subject OF general interest in the
field Of marine engineering just now ls
the derivation OF power for vessel pro-
pulsion from steam turbines Discus
sion OF this force heretofore presented
has been open TO doubt. not only on the
score of authenticity OF the assertions
made. but also from question as to the
reliability Of the source of information.
Especial value therefore, attaches TO an
article on the subject in the current
issue Of the type Of turbine bearing his
name, and the builder Of the Turbinia,
the first vessel to which this force was
applied.
Mr.. Parsons deals at the outset with
the first problem which presented itself
to him, that OF constructing a steam
turbine of good steam economy and
with comparatively moderate speed
or revolution, so as to permit Of its
Being coupled directly to a dynamo.
some OF the advantages claimed for
turbines over ordinary engines are the
small space occupied, light weight. low
first cost. reduced upkeep and attend
ance, better governing, together with
IN emergency. be capable of increasing
the TACT that no expensive engine foun-
datlons are required. Mr. Parsons Is
emphatic in the declaration that the
|, most important field for the steam tur-
blne is in propulsion of ships, by reason
form of engine which shall be light,
capable Of perfect balancing and eco
nomcal in steam. The Observation-Disclosures
which followed the construction or the
Tulbina will be full of interest for ma
rine engineers generally. They were m
ouced, OK course, by the speed. which
Was SO much lower than had been anti
cipatcG as to make it apparent that
there was some radical defect in tn.
projectors. How it Was discovered that
there. was an insuf1lciency OF blade al.a
or that. in other words, the water was
torn into cavities behind the blades
cavities which contained no air but only
varnr of watcr-;ilas heretofore been
detailed. ON the abviation of all vi
Dfatloil 50 pronounced in all other fast
vessels. however. MIR. Parsons lays con-
siderable stress. The economy of en-
gIncs is also demonstrated, he says
by actual figures. the consumption of
steam per Indicated horse power for all
purposes IL thirty-one knots speed be-
ing given as fourteen and Il half rounds
or in other words with Il good marl,,.
boiler the coal consumption would be
considerably under two pounds per in-
Dictated horse power. At Il recent TRIAL
TO Test the endurance Of the machinery
1T was demonstrated that the Turbin;.
can maintain a speed of thirty knots
for three hours.
The information is given that each Of
The torpedo boat dcstroyers Of the Tur-
Dlnia kind building for the British gov
eminent. and which have been pre-
viously referred to in the Review will
will be fitted with the turbine engines
CT 1000 horse power. In til. case of
these vessels, as With the TurDllli:,, the
great claim relative to the saving OF
weight, the horse power per tor of total
weight of machinery including boiler.
IN working trim being in the case OF ,}ie
i've as compared With forty ci;sh. in the
case OF ordinary engines. Although the
claim is made that the turbl,, engine
oilers many advantages to The naval
acrhitccts Of Atlantic liners, 1t is ati.nit-
ted That the highest speeds will DC at
tanned by short-paSsagc vcssc4s.
Perhaps the moe interesting feature
Of. Mr.. Parsons article is his final OBJ
StrVatIon. He says: I'm conclusion it
may be interesting to give a few partj-
culars as to what may ultimately Ec
reached in fast speed, un&rmorcd cruis
crs OF moderate size, though doubtless
It Will take some courage to enter upon
the construction Of such a vessel sim
something like this will proaably nc at
tempted before long: A vcsse! Of 5000
TONS displacement, $50 feet in length.
1orty-tWo feet beam and fourteen feet
maximum draught of water, carrying
turbine engines and Boilers or 40, 0c0
~ -'A'iiiuii Jloi So power, the boilers being
or water tube type arranged in two
tiers This vessel could steam econorni
caiiy at sixteen knots speed but would
hcr speed to forty-eight and maintain
ing TINS speed for three hours; or. sno
could maintain speed Of forty-fyc
knots for eight hours. She would be
diificllt to hit with shot, and her speed
beng eighteen knots greater than that
OF any locomotive torpedo, she could
take her chance in this respect A few
s .tcn vessels would DC Of immense tao
tical value to a squadron in time OF
war;" .