The record-union., 1892-02-24
LONG DISTANCE TRANSMISSION OF
ELECTRICAL POWER.


Some time ago the dispatches announced
that long distance transmission of cleo
trical energy had been tested, with sue
cessful results, in Germany.
We now have an official account of this
important matter from the American
Consul-General, Frank II. Mason, located
at Frankfort. The report comes to the
State Department, and appears in an
official volume of Consular reports. AS
1t is more concise than any other account
that has fallen under our notice, and as
it is matter of much interest and settles
the disputed point about leakage or loss
In long distance transmission, we give
some of the details.
The test was one of sending powerful
electrical current, with a motive power
from 200 to 800 horsepower, more than
100 miles on naked wires strung on poles,
as is the ordinary telegraph wire. Theex
pertinent was undertaken by two power
ful manufacturing firms-the Allgemeine
Electricians Gesellschaft, of Berlin, and
the,Maschinenfabrik at Oerlikon, Switzer-
land. The cost of the plant has been
about $4,000, one-third of which ex-
pense is borne by each of the firms named,
while the remainder is paid as a subsidy
by the management of the Frankfort Ex-
hibition.
1t took seven months to complete the
necessary machinery, erect the wires and
make the official safety tests by the
governments of the several provinces
through which the lines ran. In Septem-
Der lasttthe dynamo, operated by water
power, was ready for work. One end of
the lire is at Frankfort The other end
is in ,Laufen.
When the test was made it was found
that 70 per cent. of the energy created at
one end was received and made available
at the other terminus. A part OF the cur
tent is used to supply 1920 arc glow
lights, while the remainder drives
powerful rotary pump, drawing water
crest Of an artificial hill in the exhibition
grounds at Frankfort, whence it tumbles
in pretty illuminated waterfall.
Thus the fall of water at Lauffen trans
nnits its energy over three delicate copper
wires ana produces desired effects in
Frankfort, morn than a hundred miles
away, and the loss of the current en- route
is rs per cent. AT Lauffen Girard tur-
bine wheel of 300 horsepower operates
under twelve-foot head of water and
couples with dynamo of the multiple
CURRENT or rotation current type. The
turbine makes thirty revolutions min
ute and the dynamo $50 revolutions.
This produces three-phase rotation
current, whose three components have
an electro-motive force of fifty volts and
1,400 amperes each, giving an output
available for transmission equal to 200
kilowatts. From the generator strong
cables lead to switch board provided
with measuring instruments for current
and motive force, and thence into a trans
former of special pattern. A large dy-
namo is also used, a continuous current
machine, and operated by special tur-
bine, as an EXETER for the principal gem
orator.
In the transformer the current is con-
verified into one of intensely high pressure
and small strength. Because the air is
not competent insulator for currents of
high intensity, the transformer is i'm
mersed in large, closed tank filled with
oil.
The coverted current having now a
motive force of 1,500 volts at twelve to
thirteen amperes, is sent out on the three
light copper wires, which are naked. and
are but four millimeters in diameter, and
hang upon poles twenty-five feet high
and 100 feet apart. They are supported
upon porcelain insulators with troughs
filled with oil, but the oil is not neces-
sary in clear, dry weather.
The copper wires are $50 miles in aggre-
gate length, and weigh $4,000 pounds.
On arrival at Frankfort, los miles distant
from Lauffen, the current passes into two
oil1protected transformers, and is reduced
to a pressure of 200 voAs, with CORES
ponding increase of quantity. After the
1900 lamps are supplied, 100 horse power
remains and is used through the two
transformers. and reduction to 100 volts
to drive the large rotation-current motor
at 600 revolutions minute. which oper-
ates the rotary pump for the waterfall
mentioned, and supplies also several
smaller motors for ventilating fans and
IL II 4