New-York tribune., 1906-04-27
THE MARINE GAS ENGINE.

At the last meeting of the Institution of
Naval Architects in London. Mr.. Thornycroft,
the we'll known builder of engines and small
steam craft. discussed q comparatively new form
of motor for marine service. Ii has repeatedly
been demonstrated that more power can be de-
rived from given quantity Of coal If it is first
converted into gas and exploded in the cylinder
of an engine than if it is used to generate steam
and is employed Watt proposed. Until about
two years ago, however one seems to have
made serious attempt TO initiate at sea
practice which is rapidly winning popularity on
land The task was beset with a number of
difficulties. No particular change in the engine
proper was required to adapt it TO a new sphere
Of usefulness but notifications Of the PRO
ducer" and other incidental apparatus were
found to be necessary. German inventor,
Herr Capitaine, met these requirements after
fashion. and two prominent English firms had
so high opinion of his methods that they Sc
cured control Of his patents in the United King
dom. The marine gas engine cannot be said to
have gone beyond the experimental stage of its
development yet, but it will soon be subjected to
tests which ought to throw light on its practical
value.
The great recommendation OF the internal
combustion motor. its economy, is more con.
spicuous with small engines than large ones.
To develop 30 horsepower by gas Herr Capt.
taine needed only One-thrd as much fuel as when
he employed steam. Mr.. Thornycroft told his
audience that for two engines having a capacity
Of five hundred horsepower each the ratio of
superiority would be about two to one. Whether
or not the advantage would hold good with still
larger units he did not say but until there is
evidence TO the contrary it may be assumed that
it will. No information was furnished either
about the additional room which may possibly
be required for the accommodation Of certain
oil oP
ever this may be- there is a promise Of net saw
ing Of space, resulting from n reduction in the
quantity of coal required for voyage of
specified length. Mr.. Thornycroft quoted an
pert with whom he is acquainted as saying that
in a ship displacing thousand tons there
should he a gain Of thirteen thousand cubic feet
for freight. In other words. there would be an
increase of earning power Were the Capitaine
system adopted on a war vessel a different ad-
vantage might he secured. If the size Of her
bunkers was not diminished, her radius of
tion would. be enlarged. Both possibilities are
tempting, 10 say the least.
Nobody is vet able to say how large a marine
gas engine il is practicable to build and use
Modest beginning have been made thus far. 1t
is announced that several of 500 and coo horse
power, respectively. under construction in
England. but these will mark great advance on
the one with which Herr Capitaine made his ex-
pertinent eighteen months ago. If they give sat
isfaction bOder policy will be pursued. Up
TO the present time the largest gas engine built
for service on land has capacity Of little more
than 5000 horsepower. and only a few of that
size are in existence Many of the transatlantic
steamships have engines developing from 10000
10 10000 horsepower. Perhaps the rival type OF
motor will match them eventually, but ne is
bold man who would to-day predict that result