The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-03-21
LDvANeED PRoPgLsIvE PoWER
The Hope Of Engineers Lies in the
Development Of a Gas Engine
OF h Turbine Type.

Two Of the most revolutionary
movements in the science of develop
ing mechanical power that the world
has witnessed Tor several years past
are the introduction of the steam
turbine and the use of gas exploded
in a cylinder behind a piston. a
third advance is predicted for the
near future, in consequence OF COM
bining the two ideas in a gas turbine,
states the New York Tribune.
one great advantage OF the steam
turbine is that it affords rotary mo-
ton at the very outset, whereas
with the old steam engine it is nee
essary to employ a crank to convert
movement to and fro into rotation
In other respects, too, the mechan-
ism is simpler than the r~eciprocatlng
engine. 1t occupies much less space
for the same output of power, it is
less liable to get put of order, the
first cost is lower, and it is Begin
ming to be believed that it is more
economical in the use of steam. For
propelIing ships and driving dyna-
mos it is particularly well adapted,
and other applications are now CON
templated. The gas engine has Varl-
Gus drawbacks. 1t takes up more
room than a steam engine of n
same capacity; power is exerted on
the piston only once for every two
or four half strokes, instead of for
every half stroke, and a water jacket
around the cylinder to keep it cool
adds to the complication and bulk of
the machine. Yet it can work under
a high pressure and within certain
q. limits is more efficient than the
steam engine. Gas engines, or as
they are more appropriately called,
internal combustion engines" have
developed an amazing popularity in
the last decade. The type has been
we'll known for nearly half a cen
turv, but it has been much improved
of late. 1t is more quiet, does bet
ter work, and is more economical
than formerly. Fifteen years ago
one seldom heard of an internal
combustion engine developing more
! than five, ten or perhaps Is horse
power. Many are in service to-day
having a capacity of from 1000 tc
l $500 horsepower, and even larger
: ones have been projected. The mum
3 Der of engines of this class has in
. creased in the same proportion.
$ In utilizing the force of exploding
gaseous mixtures to produce rota
tory motion directly, the form of thu
motor would need to be changed
- good deal, and the methods of con
o troll would need to undergo consider
able modification. The present ga
engine is operated by a series o
shocks. The steam turbine, of what
J. ever variety, is driven by a continu
Gus pressure. Perhaps the vapO
II energies from a nozzle and acts O
le buckets on the edge of a vince
q and there presses against curiousl
It curved vanes on the sides of tn
lie wheel. But in any case it act
r. steadily, not internationally. 1t doe
not, at first sight, seem easy to mar
>, age explosions so as to get the sam
1t general effect. Still, a number G
t. promising experiments in that direC
a ton have been tried. George Ethe
s bert Walsh, a well-known writer O
Sc mechanical topics, says in Scienc
ot and Industry:
2e SIT is not considered a physical in
II possibility to control gas under pres
Is sure so that it's ignition and con
bustion will be continuous.
The gas turbine is something whic
engineers are working on with tn
u hope of ultimate success. If eve
a. worked out satisfactorily, it wi
II mark one of those REVOLUTIONARY
II epochs in the world of power an
le mechanics which completely chang
o old conditions
o VERY LARGE BANK CHECKS.