166 Mr J. G. Stuart on the Turbine Water-lfheel. 



ed all the information I am possessed of, as to the theory and 

 practical working of the wheel, and also to exhibit the work- 

 ing wheel to them, if they can spare a day for the purpose, 

 and form a deputation to Balgonie. 



Report of Committee. 



The <*onimittee embraced the obliging invitation of Mr Stuart, to visit Bal- 

 gonie Mills, that they might see the turbine at work, and proceeded accordingly, 

 when they had full opportunity of examining the construction and the working 

 of the machine, with every part of which they were much gratified. From the 

 circumstance of the river being in a state of flood at the time of the visit, the 

 Committee regret that they were unable to institute some intended experiments, 

 with a view to determine the quantity of water delivered upon the turbine in 

 its ordinary working state. But, taking the known data that prevails over the 

 Leven, for the guaranteed delivery of 6000 cubic feet per minute as a true 

 standard, and with the fall at Balgonie Mills 11 feet 8^ inches, the power 

 given out by such water-wheels as appear to have been employed, yields, by 

 calculation, about 67 horses' power. The received data on which this calculation 

 is founded, has been corroborated by answers obligingly communicated to cer- 

 tain queries propounded to Mr Stuart by the Committee. 



For the development of this power, Mr Stuart employed formerly two Breast- 

 wheels with open float boards running in close arcs ; the one was 10 feet wide, 

 the other 7 feet, and each of them 16 feet 8i inches diameter. With these 

 wheels, according to Mr Stuart's own statement, his mill produced a certain 

 quantity of yarn of certain qualities per day; but since the application of the 

 tui'bine to perform the whole work, the products of the mill have been in- 

 creased by 10 to 12 per cent. 



The old water-wheels having been demolished, the Committee can only judge 

 of their efficiency (in relation to the water and the fall), by comparing with the 

 amount of work performed ; and this, it appears, had been about 45 spindles per 

 horse power with all their preparing machinery, a duty that approaches the 

 average calculation. 



With the application of the Turbine, there has been no increase to the num- 

 ber of spindles in the mill, but their velocity has been increased to the extent of 

 the increase of production ; and this is the only direct proof of the superiority of 

 the Turbine, as yet attainable in this country. 



From a careful examination of the structure of this machine, the Committee 

 feel satisfied that it affords all the conditions of great durability, and what is of 

 even greater importance, no peculiar liability to derangement from either in- 

 ternal or external causes ; from the latter, indeed, it is pre-eminently free. 



In absence of the means and the time requisite to make any satisfactory ex- 

 periments on the actual power of the machine, the Committee can only repeat 

 the experience of Mr Stuart himself, " that it gives out 10 or 12 per cent, more 

 of useful effect, than the old wheels," the fall and the delivery of water being 

 the same. This result, making allowance for defects in the old wheels, seems to 



