Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - First Years of Engineering Experiment Station (1906) [PAGE 42]

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ILLINOIS ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION

rocating engine to the steam turbine. Gas engines of large power have recently been installed, and the development of this type of motor bids fair to be more rapid in the near future. Still newer types of motors are being proposed from time to time, the gas turbine being one t h a t at present occupies much attention as an attractive possibility. I t is evident t h a t the Experiment Station may be of considerable service in this line of work. F o r the user of power, it can investigate questions relative to t h e economy of various types of power installations with given conditions of service. F o r the builder of motors it can investigate t h e new and perplexing problems that have arisen. T h e properties of the various fluids used in heat motors need careful study. Superheated steam is essential to the proper working of a steam turbine, yet little is known of its properties. T h e properties of ammonia and other fluids used in refrigeration are not known accurately, and even the properties of saturated steam are based on Regnault's experiments made nearly seventy years ago. A careful investigation of the properties of heat media of all kinds, extending if necessary over a series of years, would furnish data of t h e greatest value to engineers, and would in addition be a noteworthy contribution to science. Railroads.—Considerable work for the railroad interests has already been done by t h e railway mechanical engineering dep a r t m e n t of the University. The dynamometer car owned jointly by this department and the Illinois Central Railroad has been used in numerous road tests, and these tests have been used as a basis for the computation of tonnage ratings. This work will be prosecuted vigorously under the direction of the new department of railway engineering and administration recently organized. Other problems relating to design, maintenance of way, etc., will be attacked as they arise. T h e question of electric traction is becoming one of great importance in Illinois. The electrical engineering department has recently added to its equipment a new dynamometer car, with which' tests may be made on electric lines, and it is expected t h a t these tests will furnish valuable data. Manufacturing and Building.—It is expected t h a t the Experiment Station will prove helpful to t h e manufacturing and building interests of Illinois in several ways. I n the first place, it will supply accurate data r e g a r d i n g the properties of the materials used in engineering structures and buildings. The new lab-