The Submarine Torpedo Boat
Its Characteristics And Modern Development

THE POWER PLANT 127 In addition to the enormous amount of weight, in round numbers about 60 tons, and the valuable space which it occupies the lead battery is objectionable upon the score of its inherent dangerousness. There is the ever present danger of explosive gases collecting with the contingent result of battery fires and terrific explo- sions, the only means of fighting which seems to be to leave the ship and let them reek their havoc. There is also the continual danger from the generation of chlorine gas which is deadly poison, and which is liable to be generated at any time if salt water finds its way to the batteries, and lastly, the danger to the hull itself from leaking or the slopping over of the sulphuric acid from the cells. The acid immediately attacks the steel plates of the battery tank, and unless the installation has been made in such a way as to afford perfect inspection fre- quently, which is not the general case and in fact is almost impossible because of space limitation, the metal is soon eaten through by the chemical action of the acid. The advocates for the Edison battery are claiming for this type the entire elimination of all these bad features of the lead battery. This however is not true, for the Edison battery is quite as liable to battery fires and ex- plosions as is the lead battery, and in fact generates hydrogen gas, both when charging and discharging, more freely than does the lead battery, and it is due to this gas that most battery troubles and accidents are had. It is free from the deadly fumes of chlorine gas and trouble with leaking acid. On the other hand the lead battery has an average discharge voltage at the three hour rate of discharge of about 1.83 volts per cell, whereas the Edison battery