OIL ENGINES IN SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 138, 7 March 1921, Page 7

OIL ENGINES IN SHIPS

The results achieved by a British oilengined vessel of tons on a 17-day trip with 10,000 tons of cargo afford ample proof of the excellence of the vessel and its equipment. Tho builders guaranteed a speed of 101 knots, and estimated that the boat would consume eleven tons of fuel oil per day at that speed. What actually 'happened was that the vessel ran between New Orleans and Liverpool, a distance of 4600 miles, at an average speed of over 11 knots, and used only 9.6 tons ot oil ppr day. On several trans-Atlantic voyages heavy wen ther was encountered, but the behaviour of the ship was very satisfactory throughout. The trials of the first of a series of six standard oil engines for 9500-ton British cargo vessels have given remarkable. results. One drawback of the ot> engine for marine purposes has been Unrestricted range of speed, but this new type of engine, which develops its full 3000 horse power at 77 revolutions p« minute, has a minimum speed of 20 revolutions per minute, and is thus prim finally on a level with steam plant There are no .scavenging or exhaus ■ valves, and the control of the engine vr therefore very simple. The horse-power per cylinder is 675. which is a highet figure than any previously obtained in a marine oil engine for a merchant ship. Jt te expected that, there would be no difficulty in making engines of thie type to develop AMO or MOO