The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-19
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC
It is indeed remarkable that the develop
ment OF the steam turbine engine should
have been 20 recent when 1t Is considered
that IT was the earliest type Of steam en-
CINE recorded in history.
There are two types OF steam engine en-
ployed at the present time-the rotary and
the reciprocating engine.
The turbine is at present creating a mild
furore. and much discussion among mechan-
ical and electrical engineers. for 1t seems
destined to replace the reciprocadng en-
CINE. which has been our principal steam
primo mover since the days of Watt
Tho history of both these engines Is in
eeresting, but that of the turbine especially
eo-eveI romantic.
The turbine dates back to the time Of
Hero, who Is credited with having invented
not only the first rotary engine, but the
drst engine OF any type.
The date Of Hero's invention of the utili-
eaton OF steam as a motive power is given
a. Ro B. c., and the place of its birth was
at Alexandria, ancient Egypt, which at
that time was the mighty seat OF learning
and the very hub of civilization.
1t Is undoubtedly true that Hero's hrst
engine was a mere toy, a plaything COM
pared with the gigantic turbines of to-day.
Even at that remote period 1t found It's
application. for 1t was employed by the
nigh priests, who operated mechanical
magical apparatus with it, doubtless to the
wonderment and mystery of all who might
perchance behold its operation.
Now, the rotary engine of Hero consisted
merely OF copper sphere mounted on
trunions.
At its equator It had two pipes, bent in
such . manner that when the sphere was
partially filed with water and heat applied
the steam generated would be omitted from
the bent pipes, and. impnginx upon the
an, reacted on the sphere. thus causing 1t
TO revolve at a high velocity.
For this reason Heros engine and those
constructed upon this principle are called
reaction steam turbines
But there Is another type Of steam tur-
Dine, and the modern turbine machine for
otnxing the tension OF steam and making
II do work. is directly duo to an invention
OF Branca- an Italian, in 1879.
TINS form Is much moro simple Ia con-
sUuouon than Hero's engine. a. well a.
more ehective as primo mover.
EAItLY TURBINE bORNS.
IN Brancas turbine a Jet OF steam was
e9oWn upon the yanes OF q paddle wheel, the
impact forcing 1t to revolver this engine Il
called an impact turbine.
Vne Development OF this beautifully simple
esvlos ceased simultaneously with the ad-
vent OF the reciprooating steam engine In
iuk
lot moro than twenty hve-nothing was 40
eomplahsd toward making the turbine 4
commercial machine
The reoiprocatins engine originated with
Newcoma
It consisted essentially of boiler for the
8enetauon OF steam and cylinder for the
Application of the steam tension 10 4 piston
When the end of the stroke was reached the
steam would be made to force it back again
and 50 turn a wheel attached TO the piston
This was done by hand until Watt perfected
the engine by making 1t automatic-that is
when the piston was forced down the steam
was shifted without the aid of human
hands.
The modern reciprocating steam enigma IN
double acting-that is, steam is admitted al
tsrnatcy above and below the piston and is
accomplished by means of a sliding valve
In modern turbines and in reciprocating
engines when tho steam is forced out Of the
exhaust after 1t has been used II has to
overcome an atmospheric pressure OF fifteen
pounds to the square inch. and such engines
are known as noncondensing engines. easily
recognizable by the escape Of steam In
puts.
These engines usually operate at high
pressure, and locomotives are high-pres-
sure. noncondensins engines.
In condenang engines the steam Ii oou-
Quoted from the exhaust pipe to . cham
Der called the condenser. steam from tho
cylinder and a spray OF cold water being
admitted at the same time a vacuum Is
formed, and the loss OF energy due to the
atmospheric pressure is avoided.
Steamboat engines are generally condens-
Ing engines.
The reason for the change Of opinion In
favor Of the complicated reciprocating en-
CINE as against the simple turbine engine
was due largely to the fact that a terrific
speed is attained by the revolving member
OF the impact turbine.
Attempts TO improve the engine along
these lines were futile, since the speed must
be maintained at its maximum value or the
Of energy viii be greatly decreased
power factor inefficient.
Fleets of the reciprocating engine
sr.oCSly numerous. too but these
IN different causes; among the dis
ses kay be cited its complex con-