Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-11
a SAapRIvEN SHIP.

pool, gives the following account OF
. the successful demon; ration Of the
applicability of gas propulsion for
slow-going ships just made there on
the river Mersey:
The Rather. the vessel on which
the experiment was carried out IS
an obsolete British gunboat now be-
ing used as q training ship for volun-
toars. This vessel Of 700 tons n: iic
a trii. to the Crosby lightship ant
, hack. stnut IA miles. propelled by s>s.
TIL, old steam MACHINERY. which w".'
, OF the usual horizontal triple expan-
. s'or type with two navy boilers. US
, removed and replaced by a single
acting xas-producing plant and FIVE
= criinde- engines. maze By "a Frm> ~
engineers who have had eXSns'T- ex-
, periments. with the new propell!ng
agent. ...-+
my of coai which takes place by its
, use, II being calculated that the con-
sumption OF the snthrac,te coal used
was equivalent to 0.8 pound per indi-
dAted horsepower per hour. while the
machinery, weight TOT weight. Is %
per cent less than that Of the old
machinery.
The saving Of space by the absence
OF boilers Is marked. and there Is no
stokehold. The Whole stan ensag-
ed at the engine consists Of three en-
gineers aud two ircmer. The pro-
Queer Is q steel casidg lined with fre
brick. and is fed from the top with
coal once every hour. No trimming
or dressing Is required. and thu coal
being all used up. leaves q residue OF
pure ash. So
IS ope<atina Mechanism.
The gas IL formed by the air being
drawn In through the bottom Of the
producer. which having been decom-
rosed, reaches the top Of the con sum-
or In form Of gas. After leaving the
producer the gas passes through
cooling tower. where II Is treated by
sprays OF water. and thence to CEN
tYifuGal drier. where the water is
separated. The drier consists OF .
Tau revolving at q high rate nj speed,
and the 9as being lighter remains 10
the center Of the drief. and the hs&h
rate q speed Of the blades throws
the water and grit to the sidas ana
rasses TO : water seal. The gas
then passes along to the engines.
where the normal process Of carbura-
ton and ignitis6 takes place.
: T;.e engine is Of i've cylinders o.
ID. four cycle type. The exhaust
CAGES gre treated by means Of an eS-
litust drum. with Tubes. through
which water Is circulstsd. ard the
steam thus generated Is conveyed 20
ths pc Queer to assist in the profuc-
ton Of the gas. The exhaust toxes
effectuslly siieuced the eugire CT the
Rather. which. with all its cviinde
of su-inch diameter ana 24-inch stroke.
produces 5e0 horsepower at % revoiu-
lions per minute. driving the vessst
at an average speed o. 20 knots.
White the owu.rs Of she gas produc-
ing plant clsim that the application OF
the gas engine to marine engineering
would revolutionize the mode Of pro
pcllins yesscls designed 20 travel AZ .
SLOW spccd. Il would not. they admit.
compete with the steam turbine NJ
hign speeds. rs the limits CT its use
fuleess Is reachNd al q speed mt
which thst Of q turbine only begins.
via. aiscu, IL knots. j
As IN auxiliary power 10 sailing
vcs>cs. u Is sad &c supply the o..
sidcratum of economy In fuel and
spaee.-Daiiy CorSu!sr and Trade Re-
ports