The Steam Turbine
The Steam Turbine, Part I
The Steam Turbine by Sir CHARLES A. PARSONS, K.C.B. Best viewed with window no wider than the above line.
THE STEAM TURBINE In modern times the progress of science has been phenomenally rapid. The old methods of research have given place to new. The almost infinite complexity of things has been recognized and methods, based on a co-ordination of data derived from accurate observation and tabulation of facts, have proved most successful in unravelling the secrets of Nature; and in this connection I cannot but allude to the work at the Cavendish Laboratory and also to that at the Engineering Laboratory in Cambridge, and tot he association of Professor Ewing with the early establishment of records in steam consumption by the turbine. In the practical sphere of enginerring the same systematic research is now followed, and the old rule of thumb methods have been discarded. The discoveries and data made and tabulated by physicists, chemists, and metallurgists, are eagerly sought by the engineer, and as far as possible utilized by him in his designs. In many of the best equipped works, also, a large amount of experimental research, directly bearing on the business, is carried on by the staff. The subject of our lecture today is the Steam Turbine, and it may be interesting to mention that the work was initially commenced because calculation showed that, from the known data, a successful steam turbine ought to be capable of construction. The practical development of this engine was thus commenced chiefly on the basis of the data of physicists, and as giving some idea of the work involved in the investigation of the problem of marine propulsion by turbines, I may say that about 24,000 £ was spent before an order was received. Had the system been a failure or unsatisfactory, nearly the whole of this sum would have been lost. Further, in order to prove the advantage of mechanical gearing of turbines in mercantile and war vessels about 20,000 £
The Steam Turbine by Sir CHARLES A. PARSONS, K.C.B. Best viewed with window no wider than the above line.
THE STEAM TURBINE In modern times the progress of science has been phenomenally rapid. The old methods of research have given place to new. The almost infinite complexity of things has been recognized and methods, based on a co-ordination of data derived from accurate observation and tabulation of facts, have proved most successful in unravelling the secrets of Nature; and in this connection I cannot but allude to the work at the Cavendish Laboratory and also to that at the Engineering Laboratory in Cambridge, and tot he association of Professor Ewing with the early establishment of records in steam consumption by the turbine. In the practical sphere of enginerring the same systematic research is now followed, and the old rule of thumb methods have been discarded. The discoveries and data made and tabulated by physicists, chemists, and metallurgists, are eagerly sought by the engineer, and as far as possible utilized by him in his designs. In many of the best equipped works, also, a large amount of experimental research, directly bearing on the business, is carried on by the staff. The subject of our lecture today is the Steam Turbine, and it may be interesting to mention that the work was initially commenced because calculation showed that, from the known data, a successful steam turbine ought to be capable of construction. The practical development of this engine was thus commenced chiefly on the basis of the data of physicists, and as giving some idea of the work involved in the investigation of the problem of marine propulsion by turbines, I may say that about 24,000 £ was spent before an order was received. Had the system been a failure or unsatisfactory, nearly the whole of this sum would have been lost. Further, in order to prove the advantage of mechanical gearing of turbines in mercantile and war vessels about 20,000 £