New-York tribune., 1902-03-31
NEW TESTS OF THE STEAM TURBINE.

NEW TESTS OF THE STEAM TURBINE.
When the attention Of engineering experts
was first drawn 10 the possibilities Of the steam
turbine, as illustrated by the British torpedo
boat destroyers Viper and Cobra, its chief merit
was the high power developed in proportion to
the space occupied by the machinery. 1t now
seems probable that, under certain conditions,
Mr. Parsons's famous device will exhibit an
additional virtue-economy In fuel consumption.
A large engine of this kind has recently been
installed IN an electric light station in Hart
ford Conn, and The Iron Age" learns that the
new motor develops horsepower for every
one and onefourth pounds of coal burned. Inc
significance OF that statement will be better ap-
preciated when one remembers that the DesC
compound condensing engines of the reciprocal
ing type in service on steamships and III water
works call for at least one and One-halt pounds,
while in many power plants fully three pounds
Of coal ere consumed hourly fer every horse
mower In making such a comparison, IL IS
desirable to know something about the grade or
fuel used. Much depends, too, on the cohu-
nuity of running. Again, saving may De el-
fecred merely by careful stOling and 1t is not
incredible that the Hartford experiment repre-
sents an effort TO make a record in that and
other respects. All the same there seems TO be
n good prima facie case for economy. IL Ihls
is well backed up by later experience the
staano turbine will have fresh claim to favor.
1t has long been automatic IN marine prac-
tice that every steam engine has one particular
rate Of running at which the development OF
mower is less expensive than at any other. With
tornedo boat destroyers this happens to be their
maximum velocity. In consequence, the NeloX
is to he proyided with two sets of engines, tur-
bines for high speed and recprocatlng engines
for cruising It follows that if the work which
an engine on land was called upon TO do was
very variable the turbine might not prove any
more economical than any other type. Inc
demands made upon an electric light station
for current fuctuate widely in the course or
q day and ten or fifteen years ago TINS lacL
worried the managers of such establishments
greatly \ remedy has been found Tor the eNl'
however Storage batteries now accumulate
tho onarpv when there is a surplus, and re-
iuforce the dynamos when the requirements are
excessive Thus they "equalize the load and
facilitate that uniformity of output on Which
economy depends An even holder venture than
that in Hartford will be the installation of ten
two Thousand horsepower steam turbines in
the power plant of Mr.. 1erkeSs underground
electric roads IN London, for which the con-
tracts have lust been let. If this experiment
works as well as the other the effect VIII ne
almost revolutionary.
Whatever be the future OF the steam turbine
on land its popularity for marine service IS al
| ready pretty we'll assured. The great saving OF
space which it makes possible IS much greater
advantage in the latter sphere OF usefulness
than in the former. That recommendation alone
| is sure TO he highly influential During the cur
rent season the Parsons engine will be tried on
| several new craft. Something like half dozen
Yachts are to be equipped with it, at least one
Of them having been ordered by An American
Reference has just been made to the Nelox'
now in process of construction. Nor is 1t any
| news that the success of the King Edward on
the Clyde last year has led TO the construction Oh
another small passenger boat TO be propelled by
a turbine As yet the new motor has not been
mt ON board n vessel displacing more than
| fav hundred tons Until it has actually been
! tested on big liner the result cannot be pre-
dicted with certainty, but strong hopes OF us
| success there are justified.