Radial Flow Parson's Turbine Engines

Made:
1894 in Heaton
maker:
Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company Limited
Radial flow turbine engines originally fitted to the "Turbinia" Radial flow turbine engines originally fitted to the "Turbinia"

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Radial flow turbine engines originally fitted to the "Turbinia"
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Radial flow turbine engines originally fitted to the "Turbinia"
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Original radial flow Parson's turbine engines, part sectioned, originally fitted to the experimental yacht 'Turbinia' (fitted in 1894 and removed in 1896), by Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company Limited, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England, 1894

Charles Parsons had always been a keen sailor. In 1894 he fitted his 30-metre-long experimental yacht 'Turbinia' with a steam turbine, making it the fastest ship in the world at the time and heralding a new era of marine propulsion. Steam turbines remained commonplace in ocean liners until the 1960s, when diesel engines began to supersede them.

Details

Category:
Marine Engines
Object Number:
1927-479
Materials:
steel (metal), brass (copper, zinc alloy), paint, plastic (unidentified), bronze (copper, tin alloy), cast iron and complete
Measurements:
overall: 1635 mm x 3350 mm x 1710 mm, 3440kg
overall (estimate): 1800 mm x 1980 mm x 3400 mm, 3440 kg
type:
steam turbine
credit:
Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company Limited