The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-10-17

another compartment where we view the machine
which generates the electrical current which turns
the propellers
This is the turbo generator section. There are
two turbo-generators consisting of steam tur-
bine direct connected to a powerful generator
This generator is operated by the steam turbine
and produces the cdrrent we have been seeking
Each of the turbog generators produces 14OOO
horsepower. In technical language this spot with
in the ship is known the power plant.
The turbine is an essential part of this plant 1t
illustrates another advantage Of the electric drive
steam turbine to operate at It's 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
volve with comparative slowness say 200 revou
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 hghspeed .irbne and the low-speed
motor which drives the propeers. 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 Enclosed in sep
arate water-tight compartments In addition the
machinery is grouped very close to the center Of
the ship rs far as possible away from the sides
The possibility of grouping the machinery"
says dh ohttl, hleuuS II greater protection or
the apparatus from shell fire, grounding and col
lison. We might say that this feature plus the
hexibility of control and the ability to cut off
defective or damaged apparatus constitutes
Of the essential superiorities of electric drive"
To follow the power route to Its source we must
go still further forward to d point amidshps
Here are nine huge steam boilers arranged three
in a compartment They store up the steam nm
der pressure of 25O 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 ms fol-
lows: Nine steam boilers deliver steam TO two
tors The two generators produce electrical chr
rent. The electrical current is led through conner
cables to control station where II is distributed
and passed on to four big motors. Each of the
four motors turns a propeller and thus the shin
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 nddI
tiona electrical energy with which to operate
of auxiliary apparatus
For instance, electric motors operate the ~
inch and 14nch guns blowers which supply the
ventilation of the ship. electric fans telephones
heaters. pumps. refrgerntng machinery wireless
apparatus. kitchen appliances. laundry eouin
ment. etc. To say nothing of the lighting system
Moordriven machinery also operates the boat
cranes The anchor windass. There are scores
of Sturi- batteries which stand ready 10 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 80 electric
motors.
where does the current come from TO opernfe
themf" ask. II comes from six auxiliary
turbo- generator sets and 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 just
emerged. This turbo- 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 four separate decks