FOR AUXILIARY PURPOSES ON BOARD SHIP. 153 



back pressure. It is probable, because they are usually exhausted into the feed-water 

 heater for steam economy, that greater stress is not laid upon the efficiency of the 

 prime-mover (page 1521). 



"Small direct-connected turbine generating sets have been employed on ship- 

 board and in certain installations have given satisfaction* but opinion among 

 owners differ as to the advantages of the turbine over the reciprocating engine. 

 Many marine engineers object to the high rotative speeds for direct-current gener- 

 ators and the lack of economy unless a high vacuum can be provided. On the 

 other hand, some engineers prefer the turbine drive because of the reduction of 

 upkeep and ease of operation. 



"The use of reduction gears between the turbine and generator is now being 

 suggested. In this set the water rate will doubtless be greatly reduced approxi- 

 mately 10 per cent, and the speed of the generator can be brought down to reason- 

 able limits with high speed on turbine. Although such sets have been installed, 

 no service data are available for comparison or comment. These sets, however, 

 have shown, as expected, a great reduction in weight and water rate" (page 1522). 



Mr. Horner is not an enthusiast for the turbine, but, as mentioned above, the 

 increasing adoption of the turbo-generator in lieu of the reciprocating set would 

 naturally indicate that the past performance of these machines is better than stated 

 by Mr. Horner in the quotation in italics cited above, viz., "that in certain installa- 

 tions have given satisfaction." The really interesting phase of the small turbine 

 situation today, however, is in the wider application of this machine. 



GENERAL APPLICATION. 



The small turbine is now successfully employed for the following purposes : — 



1. Generator sets. 



2. Wireless sets. 



3. Forced draft blowers. 



4. Circulating pumps. 



5. Hot well pumps. 



6. Ash ejectors. 



7. Induced draft fans. 



8. Ballast and service pumps. 



*The italics arc ours. 



