SURFACE CONDENSERS. 103 
of pumping the water for the short time that these vessels run under their maximum 
conditions is more than offset by the reduced size, weight and space which can be 
obtained by using more water. 
In conclusion, I wish to emphasize the fact that had the marine engineers of 
the world fully understood the principles of surface condenser design during the 
past twenty-five years, as well as they do to-day, the surface condensers for most 
of our reciprocating engines in the merchant service could have been built with 
from 25 to 50 per cent less surface and still had the same reserve factor for dirty 
tube surface. This would have been a valuable conservation of both our physical 
and our natural resources. 
DISCUSSION. 
Tue CHAIRMAN:—Gentlemen, paper No. 5, entitled ‘‘Surface Condensers,” by Mr. 
Luther D. Lovekin, Member, is open for discussion. 
Mr. Parker M. Rosinson, Visitor:—Mr. Lovekin’s condenser design undoubtedly 
shows a great deal of thought and is a big step in advance of the old type of marine 
condenser, where little thought was given to the details of design and arrangement so 
very necessary to produce results giving a high heat transfer and a high condensate 
temperature. 
However, it may be well to call attention to certain points regarding the perform- 
ance of the Lovekin condenser. 
For instance, the test results given are based on two trials of the steamship Cantigny, 
the first on May 20 and the second on August 14 and 15, and judging from the heat 
transfer obtained on those two dates, the condenser seemed to be subject to a surprising 
degree of deterioration in the space of less than three months. This hardly seems pos- 
sible, and before accepting such a conclusion a more careful examination of the test 
figures is in order. 
The first test seems to be incomplete in many respects, necessitating assumptions 
for some of the most important items. For instance, it is assumed that the turbine is 
developing its full capacity of 6,000 shaft horse-power throughout the trial, although no 
data are given relative to the steam inlet pressure and the number of nozzles in use. 
Then the amount of circulating water is assumed, and the number of British thermal 
units in the exhaust steam (988 and 999) is apparently based on the assumption that 
there is only a small amount of moisture present at this point, which would mean that 
the turbine was very inefficient. 
With these important items assumed, the heat transfer is calculated to be 645 and 
759 for the two parts of the test. 
Turning to the second trial of August 14 and 15, it is evident that more complete 
data were taken as indicated by the fact that the horse-power and total steam figures 
are given, not in round numbers, but with an accuracy down to the horse-power and 
