The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-12
PLANS TO USE A
STEAM TURBINE
Utah Light & Power Company to
Employ Device.
INVENTION IS REVOLUTIONARY
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROSPECT
FOR THE LOCAL PLANT.

One of the first steam turbines ever
Installed in. the west will probably be
brought to salt Lake by the Utah Light
q Power company. Manager r. 5.
Campbell accompanied by r. F. Hay
ward. electrical engineer, and John
Kemp. jr., gas engineer has returned
from a "trip over a month in duration
in which electrical equipment was in
spected in several of the leading cities
Of the east. They saw the working of
the new steam turbine, which mechan-
zeal engineers say will revOlutiOniZe the
manufacture Of steam engines, and
they tried TO order one for the improve
ments planned in the local plant.
They were told that so many orders
We're ahead that the turbine could not
be promised before October. 1904. This
was declared too long a wait but the
intention is to increase the plant still
further and 10 use the turbine for all
new'steam power.
The steam turbine is a remarkable
invention" said Mr.. Campbell yester-
day. 1T is estimated that it will save
Is to 20 per cent Of the cost in general
ing power When / or per cent means
thousands of dollars in a big plant
it is easy 70 see what an enormous diff
ference Is to 20 per cent makes. One
per cent is almost a difference of a
dividend"
Demands For Device.
The new device is being installed in
Chicago and New York. A few weeks
ago there were contracts ahead at the
works for machines aggregating 100000
horsepower. The steam turbine is es-
peSialy adapted 20 electric generators
on account of its high speed.
The principle is Identical with that
in the water turbine. the pressure being
directed against a series of blades. In
/ external appearance the machine is
little more than an upright cylinder. It
weighs about one-eighth as much as
an ordinary engine of the same capa-
| city and can be manufactured much
more cheaply.
During their absence from Salt Lake
Messrs- Campbell, Hayward and Kemp
visited Chicago. Minneapolis, Milwau-
kee, Pittsburg, Schenectady New
York, Providence and Buffalo. looking
over electric and gas plants. Their OBJ
| ject was to determine the type of ma
| chinery to be used in the contemplated
| additions and improvements in the
I company's various plants.
Addition to Plant.
It has been practically decided to
| build an addition at once to the Jordan
/ power plant at d cost of about $500 600.
/ This viii add 1900 kilOwatts to the
/ capacity and is a step in the company's
| policy Of adding to its reserve of steam
/ power to deal with emergencies grow
/ ing out OF failures in the water power.
| At present the reserve Of steam is ? 500
/ 10 1900 horsepower. The proposed i'm
/ provements viii add $500 horsepower.
/ It is expected later that this will be in
/ creased still more until a capacity of
| 10000 horsepower is reached in addition
| TO the water power depended upon reg
/ ularly.
1T is our intention to build up our
! service to the highest possible stand
/ ard, said Mr.. Campbell. I'VE do not
wish to be caught again as we were
| last season by a shortage or water.
! We shall have steam power in reserve
/ TO enable US 70 give a continuous serv-
/ ice. no matter what may happen to our
| water power
| Another Improvement which is to be
1 undertaken is the enlargement of the
! gas holder on West Temple street to
six times its present capacity and to
I modernize the plant. This will entail
! an expenditure Of 100000.
1T is our intention to push the fuel
| gas branch Of our business" said Mr..
| Campbell. I'VE are already doing a
| great deal of missionary work along
| this line. and we shall make a more
active campaign as soon as we get our
| plant iODrOvpd