日本の船用復水器の発達史

Abstract

This paper treats the progress of surface condensers used in Japanese mercantile and war ships from 1870s to 1945. The period treated corresponds to the most important period in the whole history of the surface condenser. Based on the working drawings kept in Nagasaki Ship Building Works of Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Corporation, a chronological table for condenser specifications is made and the progress in the condenser structure is described. Another chronological table is made based on a few documents of the Japanese Imperial Navy. From these tables the relation between the cooling surface area and the steam consumption or the power generated by the steam engine and turbine and the relation between the number and the length of tubes are clarified graphically. Also is described the progress in the speed of the cooling water, vacuum, tubes, shells, design policy, manufacturing and materials with reference to the structure and the performance.Epochs took place in 1876, 1895 and 1910, when the improvement of performance corresponded to the change of structure, and then followed the changes of manufacturing and materials. The relation between the cooling surface area and the steam consumption for the condensers of 722 mmHg vacuum in 1940s is applicable to large condensers of today. The design policy was somewhat different between condensers of mercantile and war ships. In general, the condenser technology in Japan was a modification of the imported one. However, Japanese originals appeared in 1940s. Main events in the technological progress are summarized in a chronological table.