The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-10-23

another compartment where view the machine
which generates the electrical current which
the propellers
This is the turbo-generator section There are
two turbO-generators consisting of a steam tur-
bine direct connected to powerful generator.
This generator is operated by the steam turbine
and produces the current nave been seeking.
Each of the turbo- generators produces $4,000
horsepower. In technical language this spot with
in the ship is known, the power plant.
The turbine is essential part of this plant 1t
illustrates another advantage of the electric drive
A steam turbine to operate at its maximum eff
cheney must revolve at relatively high speed,
say 1000 revolutions per minute. On the other
hand the propeller to be most efficient must re-
volve with comparative slowness, say 200 revolu-
lions per minute. This is because if the propellers
revolved at high speed they would merely churn UP
the water and fail to drive the vessel ahead.
Now electricity acts a connecting link be-
tween this highSpeed turbine and the low-speed
motor which drives the propellers. Mechanical
gears, which in the turbine driven vessel have
been used to reduce the turbine speed down to a
suitable propeller speed, entirely eliminated,
and the necessary reduction accomplished by sim
pie electrical means Moreover the operating
units of vital Importance each incosed in sep
arate water-tght compartments. In addition the
machinery is grouped very close to the center of
the ship as far as possible away from the sides.
1.-The possibility of so grouping the machinery,
says an officer, means a greater protection of
the apparatus from shell fire, grounding and col
lfsion. We might say that this feature, plus the
fexibility Of control and the ability to cut OFF
defective or damaged apparatus, constitutes one
of the essential superiorities of electric drive"
To follow the power route to its source, must
go still further forward to a point amidships.
Here nine huge steam boilers, arranged three
in compartment. They store UP the steam
der pressure of $50 pounds to the square inch
and deliver it to the turbines. The New Mex
leo burns oil instead of coal
Thus the electrical propulsion equipment of the
New Mexico may be briefly summarized as fol
lows: Nine steam boilers deliver steaEs to two
turbines. The two turbines operate two genera
tors. The two generators produce electrical cur
rent. The electrical current is led through copper
cables to control station where it is distributed
and passed to four big motors. Each OF the
four motors turns propeller and thus the ship
is driven through the water.
The current which the two turbo-generators
produce is used entirely in the actual propulsion
of the vessel. The New Mexico must have addi-
tional electrical energy with which to operate
scores of auxiliary apparatus.
For instance, electric motors operate the u
inch and 14-inch guns, blowers which supply the
ventilation Of the Ship electric fans, telephones
heaters, pumps, refrigerating machinery, wireless
apparatus, kitchen appliances, laundry equip
ment etc, to say nothing of the lighting system
Motor-driven machinery also operates the boat
cranes and the anchor wfndlass. There are scores
OF storage batteries which stand ready to keen
the electric lights going should the main lighting
system fail. 1t has been estimated that there are
aboard the New Mexico no less than so electric
motors
where does the current come from to onerate
them?" we ask. It comes from six auxiliary
turbog generator sets and find two of them well
up toward the bow of the vessel still on the same
level as the boiler from which we have lust
emerged. This turbog generator and the others
similar to it, responsible for the wonderful
applications Of electricity which we will make the
acquaintance OF go upward through the
New Mexico. There are four separate decks