Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-12-24
TURBINE CRUISERS
MAKE Fastest time
Reciprocating Engin e
Is Beaten By New
Model

With reference to the turbine en-.
gines which have been installed In the
new scout cruisers Chester and Salem,
the last report of the Chief of the Blu.
reau of Steam Engineering, U. s.
Navy, just received here, has the fol
lowing to say:
THE three scout cruisers-Birming
ham with reciprocating engines, Ches
ter with Parsons turbines (English)
and the Salem with Curtis turbines
(American) have been accepted and
most satisfactory trials made by them
all.
Measuring tanks, pumps, pipes,
etc. are being fitted on each of the
above vessels, and as soon as com.
pleted, exhaustive trials will be made
consumption of each type Of propelling
machinery at different speeds and the
endurance of the three vessels at sea
under the same conditions"
The specifications for the three
scout cruisers demanded that each
make not less than "a knots In trial
test. The Birmingham, fitted with
triple expansion, reciprocating en-.
gines, made 24.33 knots: the Chester,
fitted with Parsons turbines, made
1862 knots; while the Salem. fitted
with Curtis turbines. will make, Il is
estimated. a fraction over 26 knots.
The speed of the Salem is only es.
timated. the final test not having been
made, but her equipment SO closely re.
sembles that of the Chester that IL Is
believed that she will just about dupli.
cate the trial performance of her sister
ship.
In connection with the handling Of
the turbine engines, the Chief OF the
Bureau Of Engineering refers to the
result Of the experiments at the Engi.
neering Experiment Station at hnnap.
oils, Md. The report continues as fol.
lows:
"In December the work of installing
the experimental 500 brake horsapow
er Parsons marine steam turbine was
completed, and series of runs were
made at intervals during the winter.
During this time II was found neces.
sary to make number of changes and
adjustments of the auxiliary machin.
cry, water brakes. electric calorimeter
etc, all OF which were of new and spec.
ial design and had minor defects which
have now been remedied.
"A notable, fact Is that, the marine
turbine was erected. adjusted and run
after q few trials. Immediately up to
:ull rower by men none OF whom had
any previous experience with It, and
only one Of whom had ever seen such
an engine In operation, This Is due 10
the inherent simplicity OF the machine,
the construction of which admits. OF ali
the fine adjustment being done in the
builders shop, Just the reverse Of the
reciprocating engine, where the fine
adjustment must be made by the force
on board after installation and mum.
Der OF trial runs. .,5,,...
Another fact observed was, that al.
though the new boiler fOamed badly.
The turbine was not injured In the
slightest degree. the only. evidence of
the foaming was that of the calori.
meter; the leaking of water. from the
gland between the II. p. and l.. p. and
the excessive steam consumption for
the power developed. The foaming
was probably due to carrying 100
pounds pressure on boiler designed
for 500 pounds, and was corrected BY
wire drawing from 200 pounds down
to $50 pounds, when II was found that
the weight OF dry steam used per brake
horsepower became normal. and as
Guaranteed by the builders, viz, 16