Boilers

[YM-Mundrabilla]

An extract from the Melbourne Argus of Friday 20 February 1903 that I accidentally came across.

Might be of interest to someone?

BELLEVILLE BOILERS.
CONCLUDING TESTS.
LONDON, Feb. 10. [1903?]

The series of tests conducted by the
Admiralty to determine the relative merits of
the Scotch and the Belleville boilers in
warships was brought to a conclusion
yesterday by a race between the second class
cruisers Minerva and Hyacinth from Gibraltar
to Spithead.

The Minerva was fitted with Scotch
cylindrical boilers and the Hyacinth with
Belleville boilers. The Minolta won the
race, the Hyacinth breaking down and
abandoning the trial.

It was subsequently ascertained that the
piston rod of the Hyacinth became over
heated, and expanded to such an extent
that a severe strain was put on the tube
which appeared likely to be dislocated. The
engineer promptly shut off steam, and thus
averted a terrible accident. [sic - entire para].

At the time of the accident, which was
23 hours after starting, the Hyacinth was
40 miles ahead of the Minerva.

[The Hyacinth has been unfortunate. In
July, 1901, the tubes of the Belleville boiler
burst while a trial was being conducted
between the two classes of boiler on the
same cruisers. At a second trial in October
of the same year the superiority of
the cylindrical boiler was thought to have
been demonstrated. In July last year the
Admiralty Water-tube Boiler Committee
issued a second report as to the most suit
able type of boiler for use in British war
ships. In an earlier report the committee
recommended that Belleville boilers should
not in future he fitted to any British war
ships, but that in vessels already completed
boilers of this type were to be retained.

The later report was more decidedly adverse
to the Belleville boiler and favourable to
the Babcock and Wilcox type which had
recently been more largely used
in warships. The committee was unable,
however, to recommend a standard boiler
for the navy. It held that the water tube
boiler was less economical than the
cylindrical boiler, and until a more satisfactory
type of water tube was obtainable
it recommended for large vessels and
battleships the cylindrical pattern. The
steam pressure for both water tube and
cylindrical boilers should be 210 lb per
square inch inch [psi]. This, if attained, would have
the double effect of economising coal and
largely increasing the radius of action for
each warship.

Lord Selborne, the First Lord of the Admiralty
subsequently expressed the opinion that
the water tube boiler had a future before it
and that even the Belleville boilers would prove
efficient if properly manufactured. ]

Geoff (YM)

[Tim Gibbs]

My favourite boiler was the 3-drum Yarrow. Straight generating tubes so dead easy to clean and superheat elements which were a doddle to change if necessary.
Shame about all that asbestos dust I breathed in as I stood around the boiler room admiring them

[YM-Mundrabilla]

Asbestos dust and lead paint. What could be wrong?

[Howard]

HMS Hyperion, a 1930s destroyer, was fitted with two Admiralty pattern Yarrow boilers and an experimental Belville water tube boiler. My father was Chief ERA in her when she was sunk in the Mediterranean. He said they used the Belville boiler as little as possible because it was impossible to maintain a constant water level in it. As the water level rose the steam output dropped and as it dropped the steam output rose. At full power this meant that the speed was going up and down by five knots. As she was ‘Half Leader’ she sometimes lead a half flotilla and apparently station keeping at full power was somewhat ragged!

[Engine Serang]

My favourite boiler was the Burco in the Duty Mess, far more reliable than the ones down the engine room.

[Makko]

Originally Posted by Engine Serang

My favourite boiler was the Burco in the Duty Mess, far more reliable than the ones down the engine room.

On the 12-4, we used to filch bacon, eggs and bread to enjoy sarnies at 0400. The eggs were left to boil in the duty mess "geyser". The only person who regularly used the water was the Leckie who only did daywork at sea. The Leckie was a strange person and didn't socialize with anyone.

Anyway, one fine morning, we forgot about the eggs. Several days later, a plate with festering boiled eggs on was left on the bar with a note saying "WHO HAS BEEN BOILING EGGS IN THE GEYSER". The Chief said the Leckie was "very upset" because the underlying sulphur taste had spoiled his smokoe and could we please stop doing it.

So, properly chastised, I set out to "upset" the Leckie again. I set up an empty alarm as "Low Level Egg Boiler".

On the next standby, C/E and Leckie present, me on the controls, 2/E and J/E show up too. I then set the alarm off. C/E went to have a look and muttered something about never having seen it before. He turned to the Leckie and asked him to please check the sensor. When the Leckie looked at the alarm, he turned a deep purple colour and started shouting and stormed out of the ER. Everyone was laughing but after the hilarity had subsided, Bill Turner, the C/E, put on his sternest face and told us that it was the end of practical jokes on the Leckie.

We later learned that the Leckie stormed off to tell the Master whose first reaction was to laugh his head off! The C/E was summoned and he solemnly made the peace with the Leckie and told him that there would be no more tricks. He also told him to lighten up.

It seemed to relax the Leckie and afterwards he loosened up and became a good shipmate. Next trip, I was having a beer with him and he started laughing, remembering the stunt. He admitted that it was rather good and asked us to not remove the "alarm"!

So, if you are onboard Cape Henry, ex Barber Priam, let me know if the LL EGG BLR alarm in the CR is still there! PS: I also altered the alarm schematic to include the alarm in the right place.

Rgds.
Dave