NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGH VACUUM APPARATUS. 197 



Mr. Smith stated that the piston speed for the reciprocating type condensate pumps as 

 given in the paper is ratiier low. That is true, but consideration must be given to the fact 

 that these pumps generally are very small and liave a short stroke ; also that they should be 

 capable of handling twice the normal capacity in case of emergency. 



It is therefore advisal>le to be rather conservative regarding the piston, speed. A low 

 piston speed will also help to increase the life of the pump. 



Mr. Smith requested me to state the number of vessels which have been equipped with 

 steam air ejectors. There are today over six hundred ships which have been equipped with 

 air ejectors in the United States. About half of this number have been in service for periods 

 from one to three years. The total horse-pov.er of marine condensers equipped with air 

 ejectors is about 5,000,000. 



Mr. Anderson called attention to the fact that Mr. Parsons' development in regard to 

 the augmentor was not mentioned in this paper. Mr. Parsons certainly deserves all the credit 

 due to him for the work which he has done in connection with the development of the 

 vacuum augumentor. However, when I prepared this paper it was my intention to record 

 some new developments, and it did not occur to me that I should speak about the Parsons 

 augmentor, as this augmentor was brought out in 1903 or 1904. 



Regarding the turbine drainage, I am glad that this point was mentioned by Mr. Smith 

 as well as Mr. Anderson. It is very important that proper attention be given to this point, 

 because, if the turbine is not drained, serious injury will result. The example stated by Mr. 

 Anderson is a good one. 



This matter is very interesting to the condenser builder, but he should not be blamed if 

 improper provisions are not made. It is rather the duty of the man who makes the installa- 

 tion of the turbine to look after the proper drainage of the same. As Mr. Anderson stated, 

 the condensate pump or air pump is not always located low enough to take care of these tur- 

 bine drains, and in that case it is necessary to install either a drainage pump or small steam 

 ejector for removing the condensate. Such installations have .been made. I have seen a 

 number, particularly steam ejectors, and as far as I know, they have worked satisfactorily. 

 I have also seen some vacuum traps installed for lifting the drains from the lower part of the 

 turbine cylinder into the feed and filter tank. Considerable trouble was experienced with 

 these vacuum traps, because every time the trap operated a certain amount of air leakage 

 would come in the low-pressure casing of the turbine, and the vacuum would drop. Most 

 of these traps are designed for heating plants, where there is a vacuum of not more than 8 

 inches in the system, and they do not operate satisfactorily with high vacuum. 



A steam ejector can be used very satisfactorily for removing the drains. The amount 

 of steam consumed by the ejector is very small, if the ejector is properly installed. The 

 ejector should discharge into the condenser and not into the feed and filter tank. All the 

 work to be done by this small ejector is to raise the water about 6 or 8 feet from the bot- 

 tomi of the low-pressure turbine casing to the condenser. This can be done with very little 

 expense of steam. I think that answers all the criticisms which have been made. 



The President : — Of course the Society appreciates the paper presented by Mr. Kothny, 

 and congratulates him on the extensive comment which has been made on it. The Chair 

 therefore begs to present the Society's thanks to Mr. Kothny for the preparation, and pre- 

 sentation of his paper. The time available for our morning session having expired, we will 

 adjourn to reconvene at 2.15 o'clock this afternoon. 



