Investigation of a water turbine built according to Euler's proposals (1754)

TL;DR

This paper translates and analyzes a 1944 prototype test of Euler's 1754 water turbine design, demonstrating its feasibility and providing historical and technical insights into Euler's original proposals.

Contribution

It offers the first modern evaluation of Euler's 1754 water turbine design, confirming its practical viability through experimental testing.

Findings

The turbine prototype operated successfully according to Euler's design.

Experimental results support Euler's theoretical predictions.

The study bridges historical design with modern validation.

Abstract

This is an annotated translation from German of Untersuchung einer nach den Euler'schen Vorschlagen (1754) gebauten Wasserturbine [Investigation of a water turbine built according to Euler's proposals (1754)] that reports the tests results of a modern (1944) prototype of the so-called Segner-Euler turbine, which was strictly constructed according to Euler's prescription as laid down in E222 -- Theorie plus complete des machines qui sont mises en mouvement par la reaction de l'eau. (Memoires de l'academie des sciences de Berlin 1756, Vol. 10, pp. 227-295.), showing the feasibility of Euler's original proposal. A reproduction of the original paper is attached at the end of the translation.