Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The Thesis is divided into seven chapters with chapter four comprising nine subchapters which describe the types of crosshead marine diesel engines designed by British companies.Early application of the diesel engine to marine purposes is covered in chapter I and this also looks at the initial interest shown by British companies to this form of propulsion.The following chapter deals with the British attitude to the motorship both in terms of the shipowner and the shipbuilder.The influence of the British coal industry is considered and the evidence offered to show that the coal lobby was influential in obstructing adoption of the diesel engine by British shipowners; this in tum hindered development of British marine diesel engines.Continental owners faced no such opposition.Economics of motorship operation are covered in chapter 3 and show that, during the 1920s and early 1930s, for most cargo ships of moderate power diesel propulsion was more economical than steam.Diesel machinery cost more than steam plant but the lower operating costs and reduced size, which allowed more cargo to be carried, gave the diesel an economic advantage on many world routes and even in the tramping trades.Evidence is offered to support this.All British designed crosshead marine diesel engines are discussed individually in terms of technical detail and possible reasons for their failure to make an impact on the market.Only Doxford and Harland & Wolff (H& W) engines were constructed in the post-WWII years and these are covered in some detail.Work done by other British engine builders in terms of co-operation with overseas designers is also considered together with the apparent unwillingness of British designers to actively licence their designs overseas, or even in Britain.Reasons for the failure of British crosshead marine diesels, apart from Doxford and H&W, to make any impact on the market are discussed and conclusions drawn.Reasons for abandonments of the H& W engine in the 1960s and Doxford engine in the 1980s are also examined.These show that technical difficulties alone were not responsible for the decline, particularly in the case of the Doxford engine.
Source: Liverpool John Moores University
Author: Griffiths, D
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2589005337