824 TBANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 



experiments are in progress in Britain and on the Continent to determine those 

 properties. The properties of the working fluid of the internal-combustion 

 motor are also the subject of earnest study by many Continental and British 

 investigators, Notwithstanding all the perplexities involved in the minute study 

 of the imperfect heat engine cycles, we are in a very different position to-day 

 compared with the engineer of 1853. We know all the broad laws as to the 

 conversion of heat into work or of work into heat ; and, numerous as are the 



f)roblems yet to be solved, we at least profit by the guiding light set out for us by 

 velvin, Joule, and Rankine. ^ ^__ 



The following Paper was then read : — 



Itecent Advances in Steam Turbines.^ * 



By Gerald Stoney, B.E., M.Inst.C.B., M.l.E.E. 



This paper was a continuation of one read by the author at the York meeting 

 in 1906, and showed the rapid progress that has been made in steam turbines 

 during the past two years. Improvements in electric machinery, both in the form 

 of continuous-current dynamos and also alternators driven by steam turbines, were 

 dealt with, as well as the application of the steam turbine to air compressors 

 and for pumping water, &c. The use of exhaust-steam turbines for utilising tbe 

 exhaust from reciprocating engines was described, and also of intermittent sup- 

 plies of exhaust steam, such as from winding-engines, by help of thermal accumu- 

 lators, along with the further refinement of mixed-pressure turbines, where, when 

 the supply of exhaust-steam fails, a high-pressure portion is brought into action, 

 thus utilising the full boiler-pressure. Improvements in condensers and the various 

 means to obtain the highest vacuum possible were also described. 



In marine work the great development of express liners on the Atlantic was 

 dealt with, and also the combination of reciprocating engines and turbines for 

 tramp steamers and vessels of low speed, from which combination greater economy 

 can be obtained than with either steam turbines or reciprocating engines alone. 



FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER i. 

 Joint Discussion tviih Sections A and B on Gaseous Exjjiosions. 



MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. The Utilisation of Peat fur making Gas or Charcoal with Recovery oj 

 By-i^roducts? By Captain H. Riall Sankey, R.E., M.Inst.C.E. 



The much-discussed subject of the utilisation of peat has during the last few 

 years been revived owing to developments in gas producers and in gas engines, 

 and at the moment it is of considerable interest in Ireland in connection with the 

 Bill which has been promoted in Parliament to obtain powers to produce gas from 

 peat, to use this gas for making electricity by means of gas engines and dynamos, 

 and to distribute electric power to works which will probably be established 

 in the immediate neighbourhood of the power station and throughout a certain 



' Published in the Electrician, September 11, 

 ' Published in Eiigineering, September 11, 



