Gas turbine goes to sea

In October 1951, the Shell tanker Auris leaves the River Tyne on the northeast coast of England and puts out into the North Sea. The Auris has been to sea many times since she was built in 1948. To the casual eye, she looks like any other tanker. But this time, there are people on her decks who are not usually seen on a tanker at sea. Above her engine room, there is a small new funnel. And in the engine room, where the diesel engines and their alternators supply electric power to the propeller motor, there is a new gas-turbo alternator set. This is the first gas turbine in the world to go to sea in a merchant ship. For the next two days, the engineers will be making tests on the new engine. The beginning of a series of trials to see how the gas turbine behaves on the long sea voyage. The scientists and engineers who are working on the development of gas turbines are leading us towards a new era. In the air, the turbojet is now supreme, reaching new heights and greater speed. From the turbojet, the turbo propeller engine has been developed. Here, the exhaust jet is used to turn a turbine, which drives a propeller. This gas turbine principle is now being put to other uses, for the small boat. And for the car. For the locomotive. And for the power station. The design and development of these machines takes time. The decision to build a gas-turbo alternator for the Auris was taken in 1944. But it was 1950 before it was ready for assembly. Some of this time was spent in finding a way to burn heavy boiler fuel efficiently in a combustion chamber. Because the turbine rotor blades get red hot, newly developed alloys had to be used. Only when all the working conditions in the gas turbine are known, can the practical work of assembly be done. Another year's work running the gas turbine on the test bed. Then the sections of the turbine begin the first part of their journey to the ship by road to Newcastle upon Tyne. This is not the first time that engineering history has been made in this part of England. Here, George Stephenson first introduced to the world the value of the steam locomotive. And near the banks of the River Tyne, Charles Parsons developed the steam turbine for ships. Now the first marine gas turbine is taken down the river on the deck of the Titan crane. Before the gas turbine can be installed, one of the four diesel engines has to be taken out. There isn't much room to spare in the engine room when such big pieces of machinery have to be moved. The alternator follows the diesel engine. The space for the gas turbine and its alternator is now ready, waiting for the lift to begin. The low pressure turbine and its alternator will be lifted first. The engineer in charge of the lift comes aboard. The manufacturer's engineers are there to see to the gas turbine's assembly. The ship owner's engineer will take charge of the turbine in the ship. Everyone must know his job before the lift begins. The men who handle the guide ropes, the riggers, the slinger who gives the signals to the crane driver. Everything is ready, and so the lift begins. Now the same job has to be done again, this time with the top section. The high pressure turbine and compressor. When this section is firmly bedded down, the high pressure turbine rotor is fitted. This turbine turns the air compressor. The exhaust from the high pressure turbine turns the low pressure turbine, which drives the alternator. The turbine cover comes down. The last heavy section of the gas turbine is lifted. Two combustion chambers where the fuel burns. A heat exchanger to transfer some of the exhaust heat to the inlet air. The turbine cover is now in place. The heat exchanger is ready to swing over to the ship. There are no more big sections to go into the engine room, so on goes the skylight. The assembly work continues. The gas turbine is ready for its test run in the ship. A diesel engine is started to supply electric power to the gas turbine's auxiliary. The lubrication system is started up. The low pressure turbine is bypassed for the start. The fuel oil pump is switched on. The exhaust is uncovered. The engineers discuss the starting and running procedure for the turbine. This first test will give judgment on three months' work in the ship. Now everyone is ready. The first start has been successful. Now the high pressure turbine is up to speed, the low pressure turbine can be brought back into the system. And now before going to sea, everything has to be checked. The running conditions of the gas turbine explained to the ship's engineer. Finally, the propeller is turned with the joint power of the diesel electric units and the gas turbo alterator. The dockyard's work is finished. The Auris is ready to go to sea. Some of the men who helped to develop and build the marine gas turbine are on the< ship to study the results of their work ashore. They will sail with the ship to continue their tests at sea. The marine gas turbine is still being developed and it will be a long time before it completely takes its place with the steam turbine and the diesel engine.