Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-09-19
ELECTRICITY VERSUS STEAM
Some Advantage Claimed for the
Former.
Safety Valve.

Safety Valve.
The expression electricity is cheaper
than steam" is often heard from those who
have not devoted sufficient attention to
the subject to know whether what they
are stating is true or not, and an idea as to
the advantages to be gained by the employ
ment of electric power is frequently i'm
parted. Under certain circumstances
electricity is cheaper than steam as
power, but invariably in indirect applica-
tion; where it comes to the emplOym OF
steam power directly, it must naturally be
cheaper than electricity for the simple rea-
son that the cost of converting the motive
force developed by steam into electric
current and tnen changing it back again
into power involves certain amount OF
loss by friction or otherwise.
A good dynamo is capable of delivering
say so per cent. of the power of the engine
operating it in the shape of working force,
and it is for the engineer to calculate
whether or not this is saving over ordin-
ary means of transmission. When the
weight of shafting, pull-ys and betting is
taken into consideration. together with the
friction they create, it will be very evident
that in most cases it will involve greater
waste than 10 per cent. OF the power de-
velOped. Nor is this the only point to be
considered. The transmission of power by
chatting or gearing necessarily involves
risk of break down, which may be seri-
GUS enough to put an entire stop to opera
tions. Where the power is distributed to
q large number of small machines and they
are as is frequently the case, placed at IT.
regular but convenient points, the difficulty
of connecting them all, the loss by friction
and the liability to break down are all in
creased.
How much easier, under these circum-
stances, is it to manage power plant
operated by electricity, no matter how
complex the arragements. The wires be-
ing flexible can be run without trouble in
any direction to the motor, placed wher-
ever power is desired; separate motor can
be attached if preferred to each machine
in use in large establishments, and by
means of we'll arranged switchboard and
primary power, properly subdivided, 1t is
possible to run any part or the whole OF
factory according to the work to be done.
The wire is subject to no wear; 1t occupies
no space to speak of; it never requires lu-
brication, and consequently causes no oil
or dirt.
If, however, electricity il desirable for
use as substitute for steam power where
the employment of the latter is admissible,
how much more advantageous is it where
other forms of power are open to serious
objections. In the operation of ventila-
tor, for Instance, in q 70 I'm for running light
Household machinery, the small tools used
by dentists, watchmakers etc the conven-
fence, cleanliness and n0iseless Of the
electric motor make it prime fav0rite; and
it is really much cheaper for such purposes,
the subdivision of steam power to such an
extent being unavoidable attended with
an extra percentage of l,ss of friction.
1t is, according to the opinion Of many
practical electricians, only matter of time
before the electric motor will be adopted
fer nearly every purpose for which steam
power is now used, reducing the independ-
ent steam plants to the smallest possible
number, in the interest alike of safety and
economy, for it has been abundantly de-
monstrated that in proportion to the power
it fu. nishes, and with the best type of
boiler and engine the ordinary steam plant
is often an exceedingly wasteful institu-
tion. By centralizing this power |generat-
ing it on large scale for ultimate distribu-
tion to the point Of utilization-a very ma
terial saving may be effected in the cost of
operating almost any kind of machinery.
Electricity affords Us the best possible
means of practically applying this system.