THE APPLICATION OF SMALL STEAM TURBINES FOR AUXILIARY 



PURPOSES ON BOARD SHIP. 



By W. J. A. London, Esq., and Frederick D. Herbert, Esq., Members. 



[Read at the twenty-third general meeting of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, held in 



New York, November 18 and 19, 1915.] 



INTRODUCTION. 



In the early stages of development of the land turbine the possibilities of the 

 small turbine for auxiliary drive, etc., were almost entirely overlooked, due to the 

 concentration of energy towards the perfecting of the larger machine. The small 

 turbine, of course, had to come and is now a well-established, and in fact a standard, 

 prime mover for the great majority of auxiliary apparatus. 



In marine work we have seen the gradual elimination of the reciprocating 

 engine for practically all classes of work by the turbine, land practice is repeating 

 itself here, and the possibilities of a small turbine for auxiliaries on board ship 

 are now demanding attention of all marine engineers. 



It is interesting to note in passing that while the small turbine is considered a 

 comparatively new innovation here, the earliest turbines built by Sir Charles Par- 

 sons were used for lighting purposes on board ship. In fact, the majority of the 

 first machines built were used for this work. 



The small weight due to the high speed permissible in the generators at that 

 time appealed to the Government and private shipbuilders alike, and having made 

 such a good start it is rather surprising that this application did not become more 

 universal. 



In a discussion on the Electrical Equipment of Ships before the I. E. E., April 

 5, 1900, Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton gives some interesting particulars regarding 

 their early installations, as follows: — 



"* * * I was perhaps the first to put turbines for electrical purposes on 

 board a warship — in the case of the Blanca Encalada, which was sunk in the 

 Chilian War. 



"During the period I was at Elswick we put a large number of turbines into 

 warships, and they worked exceedingly successfully. After that the Admiralty 

 adopted them, and in a conversation with Mr. Parsons, whose turbines they em- 

 ployed, I asked him to what he attributed the fact that the Admiralty did not con- 

 tinue to use them. We discussed the matter, and we agreed as to the reasons. First 

 of all, steam turbines are not well suited for the small powers such as were then 

 used in ships, as it is very difficult to make small turbines economical. When you 



