Discovery Museum - Steam Yacht Turbinia

Image: © Chris Allen Taken: 13 Apr 2003

This is among the most important preserved vessels in the world. It was built by Charles Algernon Parsons in 1894 to demonstrate the use of steam turbines for marine propulsion. As built it had radial flow turbines but when Parsons regained control over his axial flow design it was fitted with a three cylinder triple expansion turbine driving three shafts, each with three propellers. The turbines developed 2100 horsepower using steam at 200 psi from a three drum water tube boiler. The stokehold was pressurised with a fan on the centre turbine shaft and at full tilt flames leapt from the funnel. Turbinia was the fastest vessel afloat and could run up to 34.5 knots (37 MPH), She made an unannounced appearance at the 1897 Spithead Review and was unstoppable. Following this there was no stopping the rise of this means of propulsion and by 1906 the Mauretania and Lusitania had turbines of 70,000 horsepower and regained the Blue Riband for England. She is displayed at Discovery Museum with viewing panels in the hull opposite the photographer. Geoff Horseman of C A Parson, later Siemens has the following to add: - Her appearance at Spithead was agreed in advance with the Admiralty. In fact, it was proposed by Sir John Durston. However, the Admiralty didn’t tell the people policing the event because they wanted to see if anyone could catch her if she was unexpected. The myth of the unannounced intrusion was due to the Times correspondent who made this assumption. Of course, this gained much attention and publicity in the press, so Parsons didn’t go out of his way to deny it. By the way, the Turbinia had only one radial flow turbine driving one propeller on a single shaft initially. The original engine produced 1600 – 1700 shp by design but was able to transmit only around 900 - 1000 shp into the water due to cavitation. Parsons discovered this after investigating the initial poor top speed. The special tank he developed to photograph cavitation using a strobe light is on display at the Discovery Museum. The three shaft / nine propeller arrangement was adopted to suppress cavitation – it wasn’t done just because he had regained his axial flow patents.

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