Greenwood and Batley: Steam Turbines
Note: This is a sub-section of Greenwood and Batley
Greenwood & Batley built steam turbines under licence from De Laval of Sweden. See also De Laval Steam Turbine Co.
1902 From 14th annual meeting of Greenwood and Batley: 'Steady progress continues to be made with the De Laval steam turbines for electrical generation, pumping, and other purposes. The works of the English De Laval Steam Turbine Company, adjoining Albion Works, in which company Greenwood and Limited are large shareholders, are completed, the plant is installed, and the manufacture of turbines sa now being carried on there. The directors look forward to a steady increase in the sales in this important branch of the engineering business.'[1]
In 1902 The English De Laval Steam Turbine Co was said "to be practically part of Greenwood and Batley's business" but because of the interest of the Swedish parent the accounts were kept separate[2]
1911 From annual meeting of Greenwood & Batley: 'In view of the practical monopoly in the British Empire which the company had of the manufacture of the De Laval Steam Turbine, it had been thought desirable in the interest of their business to acquire the complete control of the English De Laval Steam Turbine Co, and to extinguish the interest which the Swedish De Laval Steam Turbine Company had hitherto held in the English company; also to acquire at par, viz., £180, the price paid for them, eighteen shares, which were originally taken by Greenwood and Batley’s nominees, among whom were some of the present directors, to facilitate the formation of the company. He mentioned this fact, and asked the shareholders’ approval, because those of the directors who owned some of these shares (he, for instance, owned one), were in the position of being both buyers and sellers, but it was to the interest of Greenwood and Batley to obtain the shares, and become the sole owner of the concern. When this transaction had been completed, the whole of the 6,627 issued shares of the English De Laval Steam Turbine Company would be held by Greenwood and Batley, and would represent an integral part of their business.'[3]
De Laval steam turbines were small and simple, having a single row of blades. They ran at very high speeds, and were provided with double-helical rduction gearboxes. Every aspect of the design was carefully thought out.
An example rated at 450 HP and driving a DC generator, was supplied to Griff Colliery, Nuneaton. It was very unusual, each blade having two distinct profiles, one above the other. See illustration. The taller inboard portion was for low pressure steam at about 1 psia, while the smaller outboard portion took live steam at about 80 psi from a boiler, suitable nozzles being provided.[4]
See Also
Sources of Information