Abstract :
PROGRESS in the art of steam station design and operation has been so rapid as to rather bewilder even the men who are giving their whole time and thought to this work. We have grown quite accustomed to seeing our dreams become actualities almost over night. The past year has witnessed the actual generation of power in an 80,000-kw. generating station at a coal rate of kw-hr. 20 per cent lower than any previous performance on a commercial scale. May we with confidence look forward to further gains of the same magnitude? May we expect that each new station built will establish a new record for operating performance? Why does each new steam generating station differ so radically from those already built? If we are to answer these questions, we must evaluate the present day tendencies, look backward a bit to see how far we have come, and attempt to look forward.
