Electric Heating as Applied to Marine Service

Electricity is being adopted to a great extent for space heating in marine work because of the simplicity and low cost of installation, saving in weight, freedom from leaks, noises and disagreeable odors as compared to steam heat, availability for heating of individual rooms, ability of placing heaters where most efficient, portability so that storerooms and other seldom-used spaces may be readily heated when desired, ease of regulation so that individual staterooms, etc., can be maintained at any desired temperature without affecting the whole system. A comparison of convector and radiant heaters is given, the proper use of each type is shown, and the conclusion drawn that for space heating on shipboard with metal decks and bulkheads, the convector heater is most efficient. Curves are given showing results obtained on tests to determine the best type of heater for shipboard, and desirable features of heater are indicated. With low cost of electricity on shipboard, electric heating compares favorably in cost of maintenance with steam heating. It interferes very little with the lighting load, thus increasing the load factor, and seldom requires extra generator capacity.