MK2 Alum Drive

The MK2 Alum Drive has its basis in standard alum powered steam engines. It has one major difference, however. The Mk2 Drive takes advantage of long tubes where water siphons heat off of the steam, allowing for the recycling of water through the engine. This would severely reduce the amount of water needed to carry on a journey to power a steam engine, or in the case of an airship, it would reduce the number of stops to take on water from the ocean.   The second improvement which the MK2 Alum Drive capitalizes on is an extra furnace for coal. That may seem like a step back, but having the ability to increase the output of the engine by tapping into a second power source could be instrumental in a fight. The reduced water requirements of the drive should theoretically allow for storage space to be allocated to the coal required. The Ministry of Defense directly funded this portion of the Drive's development, citing a desire to develop airships with air to air capabilities in case any enemies acquire their level of technology.   The third improvement boasted by the MK2 Drive is a hydraulics assisted axial. Advances in hydraulic technology has allowed the addition of pistons, with hydraulic oil to provice pressure, to effectively double the rotational energy output of the engine. This additional energy is theorized to be able to increase the max speeds of airships by at least ten percent.

If the technology spearheaded with this prototype works and produces as much energy as Ministry of Aeronautics researchers and engineers think it could, it will revolutionize airship travel and cut travel times by a quarter to a third.