All About Engines

3°6 All About Engines the refrigerating plant of the Aquitania, by means of which food is preserved in cold chambers, is capable of making 30 tons of ice every twenty-four hours. Of course, only a little ice is made, the chambers being cooled by brine circulating in pipes. These are placed near the roof—not, like hot water pipes, near the floor—because cold air sinks. Again, the Olympic has 10,000 electric lamps, and a central generating station producing as much power as is consumed by many towns of 100,000 inhabitants. There are 520 electric radiators throughout the,ship and 150 motors, varying in horse-power from J to 40. Then the steering of the same ship is effected by means of a steam engine with three cylinders, each 17 inches in diameter and 18-inch stroke, taking steam at 100 lb. on the square inch. In respect of its machinery the warship is far more fully equipped than the passenger or cargo vessel. For though there is less provision for com- fort, there is all the power for working the guns and hoisting the ammunition to be supplied. It is, in fact, one vast power station, employing not only steam engines, but engines which use sources of power far more dangerous than steam. But suffi- cient will have been said to show that a modern ship presents, perhaps, more than anything else in the world, the greatest variety and the most wonderful examples of the power of steam.