"The accumulator may consist of a large tank in which are numerous plates over which water can flow, or may contain simply water rapidly circulated by artificial means. As the exhaust steam from the engine enters this accumulator, it spreads out over the exposed water surface, and some of it is condensed if there is an excess of pressure due to more steam being supplied by the exhaust than is being utilized by the turbine." —Derr, 1911

Interior View of Rateau Accumulator

"The accumulator may consist of a large tank in which are numerous plates over which water can flow,…

"Suppose a hollow cube to be filled with some fluid (water or steam) at a given pressure, and to have an opening in one side that can readily be closed. The arrangement is such that when the outlet is opened, the internal pressure will remain the same. If the outlet is opened, the fluid will rush out, and if the jet is supposed to strike against a board free to move, the jet will exert a force upon the board tending to swing it in the direction of the jet." —Derr, 1911

Apparatus for Measuring Jet Stream of Steam

"Suppose a hollow cube to be filled with some fluid (water or steam) at a given pressure, and to have…

"The upper bearing with dowel—pins and key fit into corresponding dowel holes and key—way in the bottom of the shaft, and rotate with it. When the oil is supplied to the bearing, under a high pressure, it fills the central circular space between the blocks and forces them slightly apart. The oil then escapes between the annular edges of these two blocks and is collected into a drain and returned to the original supply." —Derr, 1911

Cross Sectional View of Curtis Turbine Step Bearing

"The upper bearing with dowel—pins and key fit into corresponding dowel holes and key—way…

"The marine turbine of this type (Curtis turbine) installed in the U.S. Cruiser Salem had seven pressure stages with four velocity steps in the first stage, and three in each of the others. Steam passes from the steam chest through the nozzles, each of which may be closed by a valve operated from the governor. The number open at any one time depends upon the load." —Derr, 1911

Cross Sectional View of U.S.S Salem Steam Engine Showing Curtis Turbines

"The marine turbine of this type (Curtis turbine) installed in the U.S. Cruiser Salem had seven pressure…

"Now if the plate were shaped as shown, so that the direction of the jet were completely reversed turned through 180 degrees, there would be an additional pressure on the plate, due to the reaction of the jet leaving it. This, neglecting friction, would be equal to the original impulse, thus making the total force on plate 2 F instead of F. It is quite evident that if the force is twice as great, the work must be double." —Derr, 1911

Force Measurement by Deflecting Water Jet 180 Degrees

"Now if the plate were shaped as shown, so that the direction of the jet were completely reversed turned…

A cross sectional view of a four stage vertical Riedler—Stumpf turbine. The steam enters and exit, indicated by the arrows. The steam spins a series of turbines located in the middle at a high pressure. As the turbine spins, the shaft, located in the middle, produces useable energy.

Cross Sectional View of Four Stage Vertical Riedler Stumpf Turbine

A cross sectional view of a four stage vertical Riedler—Stumpf turbine. The steam enters and exit,…

"By placing the condensers underneath the turbine, as is frequently done at the present time, not only may a considerable amount of floor space be saved, but the turbine can more readily exhaust into the condenser. As we have already seen, at high vacuum the volume of steam is very large, and the exhaust pipe from the turbine will be proportionally large." —Derr, 1911

Corliss Steam Engine Generator Plan

"By placing the condensers underneath the turbine, as is frequently done at the present time, not only…

A cross sectional view of Rateau electric generator turbine by Western Electric Company. Steam is used to turn the turbine to generate electricity. The turbine rotates at 1500 revolutions per minute and operates at 1500 horsepower.

Cross Section View of Rateau Turbine Electric Generator by Western Electric Company

A cross sectional view of Rateau electric generator turbine by Western Electric Company. Steam is used…

"The bearings are of the plain ring—oiling type, usually provided with water jackets. The shaft not being unduly long, there is little danger of whipping, and the speeds of rotation not being very high, special precautions are not necessary. Sometimes the turbines are supported by three bearings, the high and intermediate states being separated from the low by a third bearing." —Derr, 1911

DeLaval Steam Electric Generator

"The bearings are of the plain ring—oiling type, usually provided with water jackets. The shaft…

"Turbines require very much smaller foundations than reciprocating engines reciprocating engines of the same power, and these foundations will therefore cost very much less. It is hard to get a direct comparison between turbines and reciprocating engines as a class, because the foundations for high—speed reciprocating engines will not be as massive as for the heavier, low—speed engines." —Derr, 1911

Westinghouse Turbo Steam Engine Generator Plan

"Turbines require very much smaller foundations than reciprocating engines reciprocating engines of…

"The Zoelly turbine has been developed rather extensively abroad, and is being manufactured largely through a syndicate of builders including some American firms. It is a turbine essentially of the Rateau type, a multi—pressure—stage turbine, but it has fewer stages, usually not over ten for condensing and five for non—condensing." —Derr, 1911

Zoelly Condensing Turbine Electric Generator

"The Zoelly turbine has been developed rather extensively abroad, and is being manufactured largely…

"In the Curtis turbine, steam is admitted through a series of valves, the number of which depends upon the capacity of the machine. The valves are arranged to open successively, two—thirds of them being open at full load. The action of the valves is so regulated that they are either fully open or fully closed. Any increasing load is taken care of by the opening of an additional valve, this valve closing when the load falls off." —Derr, 1911

Sectional View of Governor for Varying Number of Nozzles Opened

"In the Curtis turbine, steam is admitted through a series of valves, the number of which depends upon…

"An admission of steam occurs about once in every thirty revolutions at approximately full load. The pilot valve is continually oscillating, thus preventing any liability of sticking, but its period of oscillation is varied directly by the governor. Steam, therefore, enters the turbine in puffs, the duration of which depends upon the load; at slight overloads the valve would be constantly open." —Derr, 1911

Turbine Governor for Varying Time of Admission

"An admission of steam occurs about once in every thirty revolutions at approximately full load. The…

"If a jet with the velocity V strikes the bucket at an angle a, its velocity A B could be resolved into two components —one C B at right angles to the shaft, and one C A parallel to the shaft. The one at right angles to the shaft, commonly known as the velocity of whirl, would produce a rotative impulse equal to Vcosa, and V1, the velocity of the vane necessary for maximum efficiency." —Derr, 1911

Jet Steam Stream Hitting Curved Vane

"If a jet with the velocity V strikes the bucket at an angle a, its velocity A B could be resolved into…

"Steam enters at E and gradually expands in volume until it exhausts at G. The rotor is usually built in three different diameters to facilitate mechanical construction and to avoid excessively small and excessively large vanes. It is thus possible to use a large number of vanes of the same size." —Derr, 1911

Cross Sectional View of Parsons Turbine

"Steam enters at E and gradually expands in volume until it exhausts at G. The rotor is usually built…

Arrangement of the electrical equipment in a modern steam-turbine generating station.

Turbine Station

Arrangement of the electrical equipment in a modern steam-turbine generating station.

An illustration of 9000 kilowatts capacity vertical Curtis turbine. Each turbines are located between the stationary nozzles. The steam enters from the steam chest into the moving gears, then to stationary blades. Electricity is then generated at the movable blades.

9000 Kilowatts Vertical Curtis Turbine

An illustration of 9000 kilowatts capacity vertical Curtis turbine. Each turbines are located between…

A cross sectional view of Westinghouse Parsons turbine. Steam enters at V and exits at E, turning the turbines, R. The turbines turns the shaft, B, to produce energy to produce electricity. During this process, the steam, at high pressure, is expanded to a lower pressure.

Westinghouse Parsons Turbine Viewed Cross Sectionally

A cross sectional view of Westinghouse Parsons turbine. Steam enters at V and exits at E, turning the…

"In 1885, Parsons took out his first turbine patent on a motor along the lines previously suggested by Wilson, and is responsible for the successful development of this type of motor. His first turbine, took steam in the center A, and exhausted at both ends through the exhaust passage E E, thus avoiding any end—thrust on the shaft B." —Derr, 1911

Early Parsons Steam Turbine

"In 1885, Parsons took out his first turbine patent on a motor along the lines previously suggested…

"In 1858, Hartman Bros. patented a turbine consisting of two revolving disks c and c' fixed to a shaft D. Between them was a segment of stationary reversing blades d d. Steam entered from a nozzle F and was exhausted at H; G is the casing." —Derr, 1911

Hartman's Compound Impulse Turbine

"In 1858, Hartman Bros. patented a turbine consisting of two revolving disks c and c' fixed to a shaft…

A simple steam turbine by Hero of Alexandra during first century AD. The turbine consists of a hollow sphere and pipes. Steam enters the hollow ball, and exits at the pipe around the equator. This then turns the sphere turbine.

Hero's Simple Steam Turbine

A simple steam turbine by Hero of Alexandra during first century AD. The turbine consists of a hollow…

"The shaft, where it passes through the diaphragm, is fitted to a bronze bushing with a few thousandths of an inch clearance. This bushing seats on the metal surface of the diaphragm with latitude for slight side motion. It is kept to its seat by the steam pressure, but can move sideways to accommodate any whipping motion of the shaft." —Derr, 1911

Sectional View of Kerr Turbine

"The shaft, where it passes through the diaphragm, is fitted to a bronze bushing with a few thousandths…

"A compound turbine was patented by Real and Pichon, the idea being to reduce the velocity of rotating passing the seam through successive wheels G, separated by disks B B containing outlets C to permit the passage of the steam from one chamber to another. H is one of the blades, F the shaft, and M the steam exhaust." —Derr, 1911

Real and Pichon Compound Steam Turbine

"A compound turbine was patented by Real and Pichon, the idea being to reduce the velocity of rotating…

A two stage condensing Terry turbine from a steam engine. The steam, entering from the top, rotates the two turbines in the casing to generate electricity.

Cross Sectional View of Two Stage Condensing Terry Steam Engine Turbine

A two stage condensing Terry turbine from a steam engine. The steam, entering from the top, rotates…

"A view of Wilson's invention is shown; a, b, and c, are vance which are attached to and rotate with the drum D, while d, e, and f are stationary guide vanes. Steam enters at the left, passes through the turbine longitudinally, and exhausts at the right." —Derr, 1911

Wilson's Compound Steam Turbine

"A view of Wilson's invention is shown; a, b, and c, are vance which are attached to and rotate with…

"If the velocity of impact of the jet is V feet per second, its velocity in the same direction after striking the plate will be zero, a definite force will be exerted on that plate, equal to the force necessary to impart a velocity of V feet in one second to the mass of water in the jet." —Derr, 1911

Water Jet Deflected 90 Degrees Measuring Force

"If the velocity of impact of the jet is V feet per second, its velocity in the same direction after…