The San Francisco call., 1903-09-22
SUCCESS OF THE TURBINE.

n EPORTS received at Washington from
X United States Consul Milne at Calais
4 to the effect that the continuous running of
the steamer Queen equipped with turbine engines
across the channel has realized the most sanguine
expectations aroused by the performance of her trial
trip. In good weather she makes the trip from
Dover to Calais in fifty minutes, beating the swiftest
of her rivals by upward of fifteen minutes She has
other advantages as ferry-boat for she is freer
from noise and from arring than boats OF sim
liar tonnage driven by the old form of engine.
In commenting upon that feature of the new ship
the Consul says The noise made by these turbine
engines is unlike the common engine. They make
rumblng noise like rapd-running dynamos. Even
in their immediate vicinity theres little no vibra
tion but is conscious of being in close proximity
to great power. From amidships forward the
promenade decks there is no noise or vibration what
ever, and when the vessel is making twenty-three
knots per hour in good weather passengers are re-
minded of being on shpboard only by noting that
they gliding the One note
worthy feature on board the Queen will be the abb
sence of the hot cinders and dust which are-and
more especially to ladies-such a nuisance on board
most steamers fitted with forced draft
The chief defect of the turbine engines when first
tested was the inability of getting up any speed
astern with them. In any kind of a steamer it is de-
sirable have the power of going astern at times,
and in ferry boats the desire is to have ability to go
ahead or astern with equal facility. 1t appears
that the inventor of the turbine has far improved
his engine that ship be driven astern with
thing like the speed ahead. 1t is reported OF the
Queen that on her trial trip the Clyde the 18th
of June, when steamng continuously astern, she
tanned speed of about thirteen knots. Starting and
stopping trials were also carried out and the vessel
when going over nineteen knots per hour was
brought to a dead stop in minute seconds after
the telegraph order given to the engine-room,
and the distance she travelled in this time equal
to only two and half times her length.
The Queen has three cylinders three shafts and
three screws the center turbine being high
and the others low pressure When going ahead in
ordinary work the steam is admitted to the high
pressure turbine and after expansion there passes to
the low-pressures and then to the condensers, the
total ratio of expansion being about one hundred
and twenty five fold as compared with eight to six
teen fold in triple expansion recprocating engines.
When going full speed ahead all the lines of shafng,
central as well side, in action; but when
ing alongside quay maneuverng in out of
harbor the outer shafts only are used, thus giving
the vessel all the turning and maneuvering efficiency
of a twin-screw steamer.
Such a report coming after something like two
months of continuous running across the channel in
all kinds of weather seems to justify the conclusion
that the turbine engine has been virtually perfected
and another great step made toward turning all
ocean voyaging into something like ferry service.