WORLD'S LARGEST SHIP

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 11786, 2 August 1935, Page 4

WORLD'S LARGEST SHIP

FITTED WITH ELECTRIC PROPULSION. (Translated from the French Description of the vessel for Transport News.) The following general characteristics of the T.E.S. Normandie, at present the largest vessel In the world, will be of interest:— Overall length 313 metres, 75. Width 36 metres, 40. Mean loaded draught 11 metres, 16. Loaded displacement, 67,500 tons. Approximate gauge 75,000 tons. Expected speed 28 to 30 knots.

For the first time in France a’ large ship has been fitted with electric propulsion. The installation consists of four turbo alternator sets of 34,200 k.w. each. Each turbine is divided in two parts on the same line running at 2,440 r,p.m., and directly connected with the alternator; the tangential speed of, the shafts in the bearings is 45 metres per second. The weight of the rotor of the alternator is 22 tons. The above named sets furnish an electric 3 phase A.C. under 5,000 volts, which is sent to four electric motors directly connected on the screw shafts; 'the speed of these electric motors is 244 r.p.m. The tangential speed of the shafts in the bearings is 9 metres per second. The weight of the rotor of each motor is 100 tons. Auxiliary apparatus consists of six turbo dynamo sets of 2750 k.w. each. These sets can produce d.c. of 75,000 amperes under 220 volts. This current acts the auxiliary apparatus of the main engines, and those - which furnish the necessary power for the lighting and ventilation of the differ ent parts of the ship. These sets are fitted with gear reducers. The turbine runs at 5,200 r.p.m., and the dy-; namo at 530 r.pjn. The tangential speed of the bearings is 40 metres per second.

Besides there are on board a lot of auxiliaries for the condensation, circulation of the boilers, ventilation, drying up, etc, . Moreover, each turbo alternator main set. and its electric propelling motor, includes an electric exciter consisting of a two exciters, one of which is destined to the alternator and the other one to the propelling engine.

The steam necessary for acting the turbines is produced by 29 boilers of the penhoet type. This steam has a pressure of 28 kilos per cm;, and a temperature of 36d deg. C. The amount of oil necessary for the lubrication of all these engines is 103 tons.— (Per favour Vacuum Oil Go.)