1900.] on High-Speed Navigation Steam Turbines. 241 



The steam is admitted into the case between the balance piston 

 on the left and the first fixed disc, and passes outwards through the 

 rows of fixed and moving blades between the first fixed and moving 

 discs ; then inwards towards the shaft at the back of the first moving 

 disc, then again outwards between the second fixed and moving discs, 

 and so on to the exhaust ; the action being the same as in the parallel 

 flow type. 



In 1892, this type was the first to be adapted to work in conjunction 

 with a condenser. The first condensing turbine of the radial flow 

 type was of 200 horse-power, and at a speed of 4800 revolutions per 

 minute, drove an alternator of 150 kilowatts output. It was tested 

 by Professor Ewing, and the general result of the trials was to 

 demonstrate that the condensing steam turbine was an exceptionally 

 economical heat engine. With a steam pressure of 100 lbs., the 

 steam being moderately superheated, and a vacuum of 28 inches of 

 mercury, the consumption was 27 lbs. per kilowatt hour, which is 

 equivalent to about 16 lbs. of steam per indicated horse-power. This 

 result marked an era in the development of the steam turbine, and 

 opened for it a wide field, including some of the chief applications of 

 motive power from steam. At this period turbine alternators of the 

 condensing type were placed in the Newcastle, Cambridge and Scar- 

 borough Electric Supply Companies' Stations, and soon afterwards 

 several of 600 horse-power of the non-condensing parallel flow type 

 were set to work in the Metropolitan Companies' Stations, where the 

 comparative absence of vibration was an important factor. Turbine 

 alternators and turbine dynamos of 2500 horse-power are now in 

 course of construction in England and the United States, and larger 

 sizes are in prospect. 



A turbo-alternator manufactured at Heaton Works, Newcastle-on- 

 Tyne, for the Corporation of Elberfeld in Germany, was tested a few 

 days ago by a committee of experts from Germany, Professor Ewing 

 being also present, with the following remarkable results. At the 

 full load of 1200 kilowatts, and with a steam pressure of 130 lbs. at 

 the engine, and 10° C. of superheat, the engine driving its own air 

 pumps, the consumption of steam was found to be at the rate of 

 18 '8 lbs. per kilowatt hour. To compare this figure with those 

 obtained with ordinary piston engines of the highest recorded 

 efficiencies, and assuming the highest record with which I am ac- 

 quainted of the ratio of electrical output to the power indicated in 

 the steam engine, namely 85 per cent., the figure of 18*8 lbs. per 

 kilowatt in the turbine plant is equivalent to a consumption of 

 11 - 9 lbs. per indicated horse-power, a result surpassing the records 

 of the best steam engines in the production of electricity from steam. 



Turbine engines are also used for generating electrical current 

 for the transmission of power, the working of electrical tramways, 

 electrical pumping and coaling, and similar purposes. They are also 

 used for coupling directly to and driving fans for producing forced 

 and induced draught for general ventilating purposes, also for driving 



