New-York tribune., 1902-04-02
NEW TESTS OF THE STEAM TURBINE

When the attention of engineering experts
was first drawn to the possibilities of the steam
turbine. as illustrated by the British torpedo
boat destroyers Viper and Cobra, It's chief merit
was the high power developed in proportion TO
the space occupied by the machinery. It now
seems probable that, under certain conditions
Mr. Parsons's famous device will exhibit an
additional virtpe-ecOnonIy in fuel consumption
large engine OF this kind has recently been
installed in electric light station in Hart
ford, Conn AMI The Iron Age" learns that the
new motor develops a horsepower for every
one and One-foUrth pounds of coal burned. The
significance OF that statement will be better ap-
preciatpd when one remembers that the best
compound condensing engines OF the reciprocat-
ing type. in service on steamships and in water
works call for at least one and onehalf pounds.
while IN many power plants fully three pounds
OF coal are consumed hourly for every horse
mower In making such comparison, it is
desirable to know something about the grade or
fuel used. Much depends. too. on the cont
nuity OF running. Again, Il saving may be ef-
fected merely by careful stoklng. and it 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
a good prima facie case for ecOpomy. II this
IS we'll backed up by later experience. the
steam turbine will have fresh claim TO favor
1t has long been automatic In marine prac-
flee that every steam engine has one particular
rate of running at which the development OF
power is less expensive than at any other. win
torpedo boat destroyers this happens TO be their
maximum velocity. In consequence, the NeioX
is to be provided with two sets of engines, tur-
bines for high speed and recprocating engines
for cruising II follows that il the work which
an engine on land called upon 10 do was
very variable the turbine might not prove any
more economical than any other type. The
demands made upon an electric light station
for current fuctuate widely in the course OF
= dav and ten or fifteen years ago this fact
worried the managers of such establishments
greatly. A remedy has been found for the evil,
however Storage batteries now accumulate
the energy when there is a surplus, and re-
inforce the dvnamos when the requirements are
excessive Thus they 'equaiZe the load" and
facilitate that uniformity of output on which
economy depends An even bOlder venture than
that in Hartford will be the installation of ten
seven thousand horsepower steam turbines III
the power plant OF Mr.. Ierkess underground
electric roads in London, for which the con
tracts have lust been let. II this experiment
works as we'll as the other the effect will be
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
snace which 1t makes possible Is n much greater
advantage in the latter sphere OF usefulness
than In the former That recommendation alone
is sure TO be highly influential. During the cur
rent season the Parsons engine Will be tried on
several new craft. Something like hair a Dozen
Yachts are 10 be equipped with 1t. at least one
of them having been ordered by an American
Reference has just been made to the Neiox'
now in process of construction. Nor Is 1t any
news that the success Of the King Edward on
the Clyde last year has led 20 the construction OF
another small passenger boat to be pfopelleu pv
a turbine As yet the new motor has not been
put on board q vessel displacing more than
few hundred tons Until it has actually been
tested on a big liner the result cannot be pre-
dicted with certainty. but strong hopes OF ITS
success there are justified.