compound engine

British  

noun

1. a steam engine in which the steam is expanded in more than one stage, first in a high-pressure cylinder and then in one or more low-pressure cylinders

2. a reciprocating engine in which the exhaust gases are expanded in a turbine to drive a turbocharger

---

Example Sentences

Although the Wright turbo compound engine was standard on both the DC-7 and Super Constellation, it proved so unsatisfactory that airlines were not interested in Wright engines for the new jet airliners.

From Time Magazine Archive

For surface condensing the 1600 would be divided by 50, giving 32 tons per day; and for a compound engine the 1600 would be divided by 60, giving 26 tons 131⁄3 cwt. per day.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

There she is, solid oak and teak, a compound engine, twelve miles an hour, and good, I think, for any sea, no matter how tempestuous.

From The Rapids by Sullivan, Alan

Dr. Lardner's calculations, based upon the average performance of those days, justified him in saying that steam navigation could not pay—as was really the case until the introduction of the compound engine.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 841, February 13, 1892 by Various

In the starboard vessel there is a compound engine of 100 indicated horse power, with injection condenser, working the bucket chain by means of belts and wheel gearing, as shown on Fig.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 795, March 28, 1891 by Various