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S. S. West HAvEN at Savannah, Ga., May, 1927 Superheat Improves Operation Compare Performance of S. S. West Haven With and Without Su- perheat—Better Economy Due to Superheat Saves $7600 a Year HE. obscurity which enshrouds i most of the results obtained in the operation of marine pow- er plants is due to the lack of simi- larity between them in operating con- ditions, or to the lack of sufficiently detailed data having a bearing on the test, and covering all of its condi- tions. Many able engineers have thus found themselves in serious doubt as to the confidence which they could properly place in the claims made, and to reconcile the test results with those probably obtainable in year- round service. A good deal of controversy has taken place in recent months as a result of reports published covering the operations of various steamers. In many cases the names of the steamers were not given, nor was there any way in which a student of steam engineering could identify the source of the information or check it up. There is a natural tendency on the part of many readers to ac- cept published statements as facts, and it seems, therefore, particularly important that the results of steam- ship operation should be emphasized whenever they are sufficiently com- plete and accurate so that they con- BY FRANK PAGE stitute an unimpeachable record for the guidance of marine engineers and operators. : The S. S. West HAVEN, built by Superheat @ Efficiency According to operating data obtained by the fuel conservation section of the shipping board two facts as related in this article are definitely determined for the S. S. West Haven, a 2500 indicated horsepower triple expansion re- ciprocating engined and_ scotch boilered cargo ship of 8800 ‘dead- weight tons. First, that superheat of 50 to 60 degrees Fahr. was not respon- sible for piston ring trouble. Second, that an appreciable sav- ing in fuel consumption was due to this superheat. To progress steadily toward the ideal of highest efficiency in ma- rine engineering it is essential that all the facts surrounding the practical performance of any de- vice intended to reduce the cost of operation be accurately de- termined. Jumping to conclu- sions and blind prejudice are characteristics foreign to the real engineer; proven’ facts alone should influence his judgment. MARINE REVIEW—June, 1927 Skinner and Eddy at Seattle is an 8800-ton, well deck cargo steamer, fitted with three single ended scotch marine boilers, and propelled by a 2500 indicated horsepower triple ex- pansion steam engine. She is owned by the United States shipping board, and the records of her operation have been established under the accurate system of the fuel conservation com- mittee. This is undoubtedly the most comprehensive and carefully applied method of obtaining accurate data of performance of any in use with a merchant marine fleet of equal size. The story of the WEST HAVEN’S performance is briefly outlined be- low. During many months of steaming between the United States and Eu- ropean ports, difficulty was experi- enced with rings in the high pressure cylinder, and the impression that the trouble arose from the use of super- heat gradually became a conviction. The superheaters were designed for 60 degrees of superheat, and it was frequently necessary to use two sets of high pressure piston rings in one crossing of the Atlantic. : The West HAVEN is one of many sister ships owned by the United 13