More Satisfactory Proof of Turbine-pump Efficiency.
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An engineer contributor is this week responsible for an interesting addition to the list of records which support the practical efficiency of the turbine pump for fire-brigade purposes. At full load, the plunger pump is capable of giving an einciency which can be regarded only as excellent, but it falls off considerably below full load and during the usual working stages,, such as are required in fire-brigade practice, and its curve of effi.ciency is not nearly so flat as is that of a turbine pump. In consequence, there is a higher average efficiency, for usual fire-brigade requirements, for the turbine pump than there is for the plunger pump. On a previous occasion (issue of the. .18th July last), we accidentally stated 70 per cent, to. be the " maximum " efficiency of such pumps for firebrigade purposes, whereas the word " average ". should have been used. Our emphatic point is, that the turbine gives the higher average in practice. One point that is frequently overlooked, when the merits of the rival types of pumps are being considered, qua fire-brigade purposes, is this: that the turbine pump, when running at a certain r.p.m., cam deal with larger and larger volumes of water as the head is reduced, without any regulation of the motor.. The performance from the turbine pump is not limited. to a certain quantity in relation to engine speed, as it. is in the reciprocating pump, which type of pump has to fill or empty the cylinder once per stroke. The turbine class automatically adjusts itself as more nozzles are put on.
The undeniable advantages of the turbine pump,. compared with the reciprocating pump, are these: (1) lower price ; (2) constant flow ; (3) better lets; (4) better lifting capacity ; (5) better average efficiency over usual range of work ; (6) facility to utilize and to. augment pressure in mains.