Year: 1897

page_text: I, The Honourable CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, of Heaton Works, Newcastle-
on-Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to marine steam engines, and it is chiefly applicable to
engines of the steam turbine class.
My object is to so arrange the engines and couple up the steam-connections as
to enable the engines to be operated more economically under all conditions of
power and speed, that is, my object is to enable the engines to operate with the
maximum economy of steam per horse power expended at low powers as well as
at high powers and also at slow speeds as well as at high speeds.
In all modern engines of high economy the steam is expanded successively in
a series of cylinders or engines, the first of which cylinders or engines takes steam
directly from the boiler, and exhaust into the next cylinder, which again exhausts
into the next, and so on throughout the series.
I am aware that at present for mechanical reasons the exhaust steam from one
cylinder is sometimes caused to supply two low pressure cylinders, and also that
live steam is sometimes admitted to the low pressure steam chest directly from the
boiler for starting purposes, or for the purpose of increasing the power of the
engine under exceptional conditions. My invention, however does not concern
itself with such mechanical purposes as I have indicated.
In carrying my invention into effect as applied to steam turbines, say to a case
where four screw shafts are used, each shaft being driven by a separate com-
pound steam turbine, I so couple these four separate turbines by suitable valves
and pipes that when reduced power is required for cruising purposes the steam
shall flow through Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 compound engines in series from the first to
the last, the last turbine exhausting into the condenser. For this purpose I
arrange turbines Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 so that the capacity or volume increases
successively from one to four, that is, generally speaking the capacity of No. 2
is greater than the capacity of No. 1, and so on throughout the series. By this
arrangement the steam practically speaking continually expands from the moment
of entering No. 1 until it finally discharges at the low pressure end of No. 4 to
the condenser. This variation in capacity may be secured either by increase in
actual dimensions from one to four, or by the increase in speed of rotation, or a
combination of both, also each individual turbine of the series is preferably
graduated in capacity that the turbines at the inlet end are smaller than those at
the exit end.
When greater power, however, is required, the pipe connections are so made that
the high pressure steam from the boiler is admitted to the inlet of No.
1
and also
2 and nassos from the exit of No 1 to the inlet of No 3 and

page_text: from the exit of No. 2 to the inlet of No. 4; then from the exit of No. 3 and No. 4
to the condenser, and thus the steam flows through all four turbines in what may
be described as compound parallel.
Usually the compound parallel coupling will be sufficient for most purposes
but in exceptional cases I may arrange the valves so as to admit the high pressure
steam to each inlet of No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 turbines and connect the exit of each
turbine to the condenser; the coupling is then in simple parallel. But in such
cases where great power is required I generally prefer to arrange the turbines so
that the compound series coupling may suffice.
I may also sometimes in cases where the boiler pressure has to be reduced
arrange the valves so that No. 1 and No. 2 shall be in parallel and No. 3 and No. 4
in series receiving their steam from the exits of No. 2 and also No. 1.
Such an arrangement might be used to enable the boiler pressure to be lowered
to atmospheric pressure when going into action.
In order that the expansion of the steam shall be properly distributed through-
out the turbines under both conditions of working, that is, either while working
in compound parallel or in series, it is necessary generally speaking, as I have
already described, to make the capacity increase from No. 1 throughout the series
continually or by moderate steps in the capacity. While operating, however, at
full power in compound parallel the pressures delivered on the several screw shafts
will not be equal. This, however, I meet by a small variation in the screws on
the several shafts and also sometimes by a modification of the capacities of the
turbines from the sizes most economical for series working which modification
does not detract materially from their efficiency under either arrangement of
coupling.
My invention may be varied, but the essential feature consists in so proportion-
ing the number of turbines and so connecting them by suitable valves and pipes
that I am enabled to operate them economically either in series, the steam passing
from one to the other, or in compound or simple parallel, the steam being supplied
to the high pressure end of one, two, three, or four of the lot and discharged into
the condenser or the atmosphere through four or a less number at the low pressure
end or ends of separate turbines. Under the invention, thus it is evident the
turbines may be placed in pairs on each of two screw shafts instead of four; or
three screw shafts and six turbine motors may be used.
Four shafts and eight turbine motors may be used; in this case if the shafts be
numbered No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 and the motors A, A¹; B B'; C C D D¹;
then for series working the steam will pass through the motors in the order A A
BB, CC, DD, and for compound parallel working through A, B, C, D, in series
from boiler to condenser and similarly through A'B'C' D also from boiler to
condenser. Also further modifications may be made in the coupling for excep-
tional cases. In such cases by a proper combination of the turbine sets on each
shaft, a greater number of different powers may be dealt with by suitable combina-
tion of the turbines on the steam distribution and a greater degree of economy
realized, especially so in the case of large war ships where the engines are required
to run with the greatest economy at various cruising speeds as well as at full
power as by means of a large number of separate turbines of different sizes the
power may be varied within large limits and at the same time a large range of
expansion in the turbines can be maintained under all circumstances.
From the description I have given it will be seen that by simply changing the
connections between the engines or cylinders the steam is caused to flow through
different successive cylinders or engines, by which different degrees of successive
expansion are secured, and different outputs of power more economically obtained
than by the methods at present in use.
I sometimes prefer to make the turbine engines, in two or more distinct por-
tions or banks of cylinders, and I then arrange the valves so that the steam may be
turned through either portion or both or more portions, and under these circum-

page_text: stances the engines to which no steam is being supplied will preferably work in
the vacuum of the condenser.
In the case of changing the course of the flow of steam through successive
cylinders with an engine of the turbine class, the distribution may be so carried
5 out as to receive suitable drops in pressure, so as to secure a maximum efficiency
under different speeds of rotation.
The Honourable CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, of Heaton Works, Newcastle-
on-Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention relates to marine steam engines, and it is chiefly applicable to
engines of the steam turbine class.
'
My object is to so arrange the engines and couple up the steam connections as
to enable the engines to be operated more economically under all conditions of
power and speed, that is, my object is to enable the engines to operate with the
maximum economy of steam per horse power expended at low powers as well as
at high powers and also at slow speeds as well as at high speeds.
In all modern engines of high economy the steam is expanded successively in a
series of cylinders or engines the first of which cylinders or engines takes steami
directly from the boiler, and exhausts into the next cylinder, which again exhausts
into the next, and so on throughout the series.
I am aware that at present for mechanical reasons the exhaust steam from one
cylinder is sometimes caused to supply two low pressure cylinders, so as to more
nearly equalise the weight of the moving parts acting on the several crank shafts,
I am aware also that live steam is sometimes admitted to the low pressure steam
chest directly from the boiler for starting purposes, or for the purpose of increasing
the power of the engine under exceptional conditions. My invention however does
not concern itself with such mechanical purposes as I have indicated.
My invention consists in new methods of arranging proportioning, and operat-
ing a set of steam turbines so as to enable economy to be maintained under widely
varying conditions such as occur in connection with marine steam propulsion.
In carrying my invention into effect say to a case where four screw shafts are
used, each shaft being driven by a separate compound steam turbine, I so couple
these four separate turbines by suitable valves and pipes that when reduced power
is required for cruising purposes the steam shall flow through Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4
compound engines in series from the first to the last, the last turbine exhausting
into the condenser. For this purpose I arrange turbines Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 so that
the capacity or volume increases successively from one to four, that is generally
speaking the capacity of No. 2 is greater than the capacity of No. 1, and so on
throughout the series. By this arrangement the steam practically speaking con-
tinually expands from the moment of entering No. 1 until it finally discharges at
the low pressure end of No. 4 to the condenser. This variation in capacity may
:

page_text: be secured either by increase in actual dimensions from one to four, or by the
increase in speed of rotation, or a combination of both, also each individual turbine
of the series is preferably graduated in capacity so that the turbines at the inlet
end are smaller than those at the exit end.
When greater power, however, is required, the pipe connections are so made
that the high pressure steam from the boiler is admitted to the inlet of No. 1 and
also to the inlet of No. 2, and passes from the exit of No. 1 to the inlet of No. 3
and from the exit of No. 2 to the inlet of No. 4, then from the exit of No. 3 and
No. 4 to the condenser, and thus the steam flows through all four turbines in what
may be described as compound parallel.
Usually the compound parallel coupling will be sufficient for most purposes but
in exceptional cases I may arrange the valves so as to admit the high pressure
steam to each inlet of No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 turbines and connect the exit of each
turbine to the condenser; the coupling is then in simple parallel. But in such
cases where great power is required I generally prefer to arrange the turbines so
that the compound parallel coupling may suffice.
I may also sometimes in cases where the boiler pressure has to be reduced arrange
the valves so that No. 1 and No. 2 shall be in parallel, and No. 3 and No. 4 in
series, receiving their steam from the exit of No. 2 and also No. 1.
Such an arrangement might be used to enable the boiler pressure to be lowered
to atmospheric pressure when going into action.
In order that the expansion of the steam shall be properly distributed through-
out the turbines under both conditions of working, that is either while working in
compound parallel or in series, it is necessary generally speaking as I have
already described to make the capacity increase from No. 1 throughout the series
continually or by moderate steps in the capacity. While operating however, at
full power in compound parallel the pressures delivered on the several screw
shafts will not be equal. This, however, I meet by a small variation in the screws
on the several shafts and also sometimes by a modification of the capacities of the
turbines from the sizes most economical for series working which modification
does not detract materially from their efficiency under either arrangement of
coupling.
My invention may be varied, but the essential features consists in so proportion-
ing the number and form of turbines and so connecting them by suitable valves
and pipes that I am enabled to operate them economically either in series, the
steam passing from one to the other, or in compound or simple parallel, the steam
bein supplied to the high pressure end of one, two, three, or four of the lot and
discharged into the condenser or the atmosphere through four or a less number at
the low pressure end or ends of separate turbines. Under the invention, thus it
is evident that the turbines may be placed in, pairs on each of two screw shafts
instead of four, or three screw shafts and six turbine motors may be used.
Four shafts and eight turbine motors may be used in this case if the shafts be
numbered No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 and the motors A, A' BB, CC; D¹; then
for series working the steam will pass through the motors in the order AA; BBI
CC, DD, and for compound parallel working through A, B, C, D in series'
from boiler to condenser and similarly throughout A B C D', also from
boiler to condenser. Also further modifications may be made in the coupling for
exceptional cases. In such cases by a proper combination of the turbine sets on
each shaft, a greater number of different powers may be dealt with by suitable
combination of the turbines on the steam distribution and a greater degree of
economy realized, especially so in the case of large war ships where the engines
are required to run with the greatest economy at various cruising speeds as well
as at full power, as by means of a large number of separate turbines of different
sizes the power may be varied within large limits and at the same time a large
range of expansion in the turbines can be maintained under all circumstances.
From the description I have given it will be seen that by simply changing the

page_text: In the case of compound parallel working the flow of steam is as follows; from
the boiler by the pipe P to turbine A, from turbine A by valve R8 and pipe Q' to
turbine B, from turbine B by valve R and pipe Q3 to turbine C, from turbine C
by valve R and pipe Q to turbine D), from turbine D by valve R" and pipes P
and P10 to the condenser E also from the boiler by way of the pipe Po through the
turbine from turbine A¹ by valve R and pipe Q to turbine 1¹ from turbine B¹
by valve R and pipe Q to turbine C, and from turbine C¹ by valve R and
pipe Q to turbine 1, and from turbine D¹ by the pipe P10 to the condenser E.
The valves not mentioned in the above cases should be closed in the respective
arrangements.
Either of the sets A, B, C, and D or A B C and D)' may be used independently,
any set not being used revolves freely in vacuum.
Other combinations may be made as will readily be seen from the above descrip-
tion but the principle and mode of operation are similar.
In Figure Sheet 2, a set of turbines and connections are shown of about
10,000 collective horse power suitable for a fast vessel or a torpedo boat destroyer.
In this modification four screw shafts are used numbered respective 1, 2, 3, and 4,
and four turbines A, B, C, D, act thereon for the usual forward driving, but for
reversing two suitable turbine motors X and Y are shewn acting on shafts 2
and respectively.
These motors X and Y when operated will drive their respective shafts in the
reverse direction thus propelling the vessel astern. When these motors are not in
use for reversing they are suitably connected with the condenser so that they will
be running freely in vacuum. When going full power ahead the turbine A. takes
steam from the main supply pipe S after partial expansion in this motor it
passes by the pipe S to turbine C where the expansion is completed and the steam
passes thence to the condenser G. Similarly the turbine B takes steam from the
pipe S and passes it on by way of the pipe S after partial expansion to the
inotor which delivers it to the condenser H.
The motors thus arranged give full power ahead. For working at cruising
speeds and therefore with reduced power the coupling pipes S2 and S are utilized
and the connecting valves T3 and T are opened and valves T T T and Ts closed.
The steam pipe S only is then used and the condenser H is cut off from the circu-
lating water, so that it becomes in-operative. The course of the steam in this case
will then be as follows, from boiler by valve T and pipe S₁ to turbine A, from
turbine A by pipe S2 and valve T3 to turbine B, from turbine B by pipe S³ to
turbine D from turbine D through condenser H pipe S' and valve T to turbine C,
from turbine C to condenser G where it is finally condensed.
Valve Ts is provided to enable the pressuro admitted to the two sets of turbines
to be equalized when working at full power. For reversing, valves T3 and T are
closed and T and T10 opened, thus steam is admitted by pipes S to turbine X,
and from turbine X by pipes S7 to condenser G, also by pipe S through turbine Y
by pipe S to condenser H; one or both of these reversing motors may be used
according to the speed required in going astern.
The proportions of the internal parts of the turbine motors depend largely upon
the requirements of the service for which the ship is designed. Thus if economy
at full speed is of the utmost importance turbine A is made identical with tur-
bine B, and similarly turbine C identical with turbine D. But if it
is desirable to secure a greater degree of economy at cruising speeds,
then a compromise is made, and turbine B is made of larger capacity
than A, and similarly turbine C is made larger than D. In the same way the
proportions of the rows of turbines on each of the motors and their graduation in
size and capacity along the barrels is regulated by the above mentioned conditions
which have to be met in each class of service.
In Figure 3 Sheet 3 is shewn a modification of my invention in which three

page_text: Screw shafts numbered 1, 2, and 3 are used, to which are coupled six motors, two
on each shaft, A and A' on shaft No. 1.
B and B on shaft No. 2, C and C₁ on shaft No. 3.
In this group of motors I have made for the sake of simplicity turbines A, B,
and C, each identically the same as also turbines A' B' C₁, exactly alike. but each
larger than the members of the first set.
For series working the flow of steam would be as follows.
From the boiler by the pipe U to turbine A.:
From turbine A by valve V and pipe U to turbine B.
From turbine Bby valve V and pipe U³ to turbine C.
From turbine C by valve and pipe U to turbine C.
From turbine C by valve V and pipe U5 to turbine 1.
From turbine B' by valve V and pipe U to turbine A.
From turbine A¹ by pipes U7, US and U to the condenser K.
For compound parallel working the flow of steam would be
First group: From boiler to pipe U¹ to turbine motor A,
From motor A by valve V and pipe U12 to motor AL
From motor A¹ by pipes U7, US, and U, to condenser K.
Second group: From boiler by pipe U valve V and pipe US to motor B,
from motor B by valve V8 and pipe to motor B' from motor B' by valve V⁹
pipes U15 U10 U8 and U to condenser K.
Third group-From boiler by pipe U to valve V pipe U13 and valve V and
pipe U to motor C. From motor C by valve V³ and pipe U to motor C. From
motor C¹ by valve V and pipes U", U15, U16, U8, and U to condenser K.
For simple parallel working the steam flows from the boiler to the main parallel
supply pipes U13 U17, and U18, 119, by means of the pipes U and Uº. Each of the
turbines A, B, and C, is supplied from pipes U₁, U¹³, and U17, and each also
exhausts into the condenser K.
In the saine way each of the turbines A¹, B, and C¹ is supplied from
pipes U, U18, and U19, and each exhausts into the condenser.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the. nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what, manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The herein described method of and means for combining marine steam
turbine sets arranged to successively increase in volume so as to give economy
under widely varied conditions of power developed, as determined by the speed
required from the vessel.
2. The grouping and connecting of marine steam turbines such as A, B, C,
and D, so that by shutting certain valves and opening others the units may be
worked in series, or in parallel, or in compound parallel, substantially as herein-
before described.
3. The hereinbefore described method of running turbines not in use in the
vacuum of the condenser so as to offer practically no resistance to the driving
turbine or turbines.
4. A marine steam turbine set consisting of eight turbines grouped two on
each of four shafts, the turbines being coupled by steam pipes and valves, as and
for the purposes herein before described with reference to Figure 1 of the drawings.
5. A marine steam turbine set consisting of two high pressure and two low
pressure turbines, each turbine operating a separate shaft, the turbines being
coupled by steam pipes and valves as and for the purpose herein before described
with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.
6. A marine steam turbine set consisting of two high pressure and two low
pressure turbines each turbine operating a separate shaft, the turbines being
coupled by steam pipes and valves, together with two reversing turbines as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.

page_text: 7. A marine steam turbine set consisting of six turbines grouped..two on each
of three shafts, the turbines being coupled by steam pipes and valves, as and for
the purposes. herein before described with reference. to: Figure 3. of the drawings.
T11:
of 1808
**
His
...*