The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1919-10-23

another compartment where we view the machine
which generates the electrical current which turns
the prOpeers.
This is the turbO- generator section. There are
two turbo generators consisting of steam tur-
bine direct. connected to Il powerful generator.
This generator Is operated by the steam turbine
and produces the current have been seeking
Each of the turbo generators produces 14.OOO
horsepower. In technical language this spot with
In the ship is known as the power plant.
The turbine Is I'm essential part of this plant. II
illustrates another advantage of the electric drive
steam turbine to operate mt Its maximum eff
cheney must revolve at a relatively high speed
say 1000 revolutions per minute. On the other
hand, the propeller to be most efficient, must re-
vove with comparative SlOwness, say 200 revOlu-
tons per minute This III because If the prOpellers
revoved at high speed they would merely churn up
the water and fail 10 drive the vessel ahead.
Now electricity acts connecting link be-
tween this highspeed .Lrbine 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
suitable propeller speed. entirely eliminated
and the necessary reduction accomplished by sim
pie electrical means. Moreover the operating
units of vital importance each nclOsed 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.
THE possibility of so grouping the machinery"
the apparatus from shell fire. grounding and col
lision We might say that this feature, plus the
hexibility OF control and the ability to cut Off
defective or damaged apparatus, constitutes one
OF the essential superioriies of electric drive"
To follow the power route to its source, we must
go still further forward to n point nmidships.
Here are nine huge steam boilers. arranged three
In compartment. They store up the steam I'M
der pressure of $50 pounds to the square inch
and deliver 1t 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 steam to two
turbines. The two turbines operate two genera
tors. The two generators produce electrical cur
rent. The electrical current IL led through corner
cables to control station where 1t is distributed
and passed on to four big motors. Each of the
four motors turns n propeller and thus the ship
IL 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 add.
tional electrical energy with which to operate
scores Of auxiliary apparatus.
For instance. electric motors operate the T.
inch and l4-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
MOtordriven machinery also operates the boat
cranes anu the hhchor wlndlass There are scores
OF storage batteries which stand ready to keep
the electric lights going should the main lighting
system fail II has been estimated that there are
aboard the New Mexico less than 30 electric
motors.
where does the current come from to operate
themT we ask. II comes from six auxiliary
turbo-generator sets and we find two Of them well
up toward the bow Of the vessel still on the same
level as the boiler room from which we have lust
emerged This turbo-generator. and the others
similar to It, are responsible for the wonderful
applications Of electricity which we will make the
acquaintance Of as We go upward through the
New Mexico. There are four separate decks