Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-12
THE NEW ERA IN STEAM
THE TURBINE IS sUPPLANTING
RECIPRocATING ENGINES.
Its Advance in the Past Few Months
Has Been Enthusiastically
Adapted for Boats.
From the Scientific American.

Unquestionably. in the development Of the
steam engine, We are just now entering
upon a new era, which, when steam has
ceased to be used as a prime mover, and
the history of the age of steam comes to be
written, will be distinguished sharply from
the first era. which is now apparently draw
Ing to close. TO Watt, we take it, must
| always belong the credit Of having opened
in practical way, the era Of the recipro-
eating steam engine, and to Parsons win
belong the credit Of being the first to dem
onstrate in a commercial sense that the
term Of usefulness Of the reciprocating en-
gine was, at least for the majority Of uses
to which 1t has been put. drawing to
close, and that the era Of the simpler and
more efficient turbine had arrived. In say
ing this We would be careful to emphasize
the fact that as long as steam continues
to be used, the reciprocating engine will, for
some classes Of work. continue to be the
most serviceable motor. To particularize
We have only to refer to the steam locomo-
tive to convince everyone who Is familiar
with the demands and exigencies of loco
motive service. that the turbine Is never
likely to displace the reciprocating engine in
this class Of work
Its Best Qualification.
AS an electrical drive, however, 1t is pre-
eminently qualified, and since electrical
power seems destined to indefinitely enlarge
its field of application, the growth Of the
steam turbine in connection with the cleo
trical industries is destined to be rapid and
widespread. But although the turbine is not
applicable directly to the locomotive and
the street car, it is the ideal motor for the
propulsion Of steamships. This is said with
full appreciation of the fact that there are
difficulties of reversing which limit the ma
neuvering power of a ship in entering or
leaving dock, or In making landings; for
this objection has been largely overcome by
the provision Of separate reversing motors.
In any case, the difficulty Is so greatly OUT
weighed by the economy of the turbine in
weight and fuel, and by the advantages Of d
complete absence Of vibration, that we look
to see the steam turbine enjoy monopoly,
as marine engine, second only to that
which it will achieve in connection with
electrical power on land. Indeed, the only
classes of work to which the turbine may
no. prove to be Immediately applicable are
those which involve much starting and
stopping, and considerable running at slow
and intermediate speeds. In work of this
KIND the reciprocating steam engine will
always find a limited sphere Of usefulness
unless, indeed, even here it is driven out
by the ubiquitous electric motor.
New American Engines.
The advance Of the steam turbine during
the past few months. both in size and pow
er. and in it's application to large plants,
largest manufacturing concerns in this
country have been for some years watching
closely its development and have them
selves been conducting experimental work
to determine its efficiency and to improve
upon existing forms. Although the Parsons
turbine is an English invention, and prac-
tically all the work with large units that
has been accomplished has been done by
these machines, 1t is a fact that the West
inghouse Company, which secured the
rights for the Parsons turbine in this coun-
try. has already built. or is now building,
eight turbines of from $50 to as high as
$500 horse power. These WESTINGHOUSE
Parsons machines, as they are called in
this country, have been giving most ex-
cellent results, and the $500 horse power
turbine, which has now been employed for
about a year in an electric light and power
plant al Hartford, Conn. is the largest tur-
bine and probably the most economical
steam engine in the world. In addition to
these machines, we understand that the
same company has received an order for a
large turbine for South Africa, which is
to be used in big power-transmission
scheme that is being worked out in the
Rand gold fields. The General Electric
Company has in operation at its works
a l5O-horse power turbine of the bucket
and-nozZle type, the plans for which have
been worked out by the company's engi-
neerS. This turbine has also shown excel
lent economy, and We understand that the
company stands ready to manufacture it
upon commercial scale.
A Tone Of Confidence.
Most significant fact of all, pointing to
the ultimate monopoly of the steam engi-
neerng field by the new type of engine, is
the confidence with which the great rail-
way and power companies are adopting the
turbine in large units a drive for cleo
trical generators. We referred last week TO
the fact that the London underground rail-
ways were equipping a 100 900 horse power
plant with ten 10000 horse power turbines
we are now able to announce that it is
only the conviction that nothing of an ex-
detrimental nature must be allowed to en-
ter into the equipment of the new rand |
Transit Subway's power plant that prevents
It's equipment with the steam turbine As it |
u.s. only six engines Of the reciprocating type
have been ordered, and the balance of Tho
order has been left open with the expecta-
ton of installing the turbine when there is
demand for the fun power of the station |
The probability Is that the new 25-knof |
liners for the Cunard Company will be |
driven by turbine engines while a sister
snip 70 the turbine passenger steamer |
the Clyde last year, is under Construction.
ana three large steam yachts have also
oeen ordered In Great Britain which are to
De equipped with the same motive power
incidental evidence of the widespread an
preeianon OF the fact that we are on the |
power came to our notice the other dav in
the case OF one Of the largest steam Yachts
tnat mas ever been planned In this country
Az the eleventh hour the owner requested
tnat the plans be held in allowance for an |
other season until the performances ~ the
new British turbtne-propelled Yachts c,nIS
be noted oouiu
Convalescence.
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