The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-05-09

SAtci . Inc IutdhE.
10y Engines.
The Allfree engine is generally con-
sidered to have good economy but it's
complicated valve motion requires
cure continuously satisfactory opera
ton. When the load is such that no
single engine can be shut down for a
period of greater than about one-half
day, as is the case in the present
instance, it becomes difficult to keep
the engines in first class running con-
ditiOn. This particular make of en-
CINE is not one that is very extensive
ly found in service about the country.
This fact enhances the difficulty in
finding an engineer sufficiently famil-
lar with the construction OF the ma
chine to keep it in thoroughly good
shape. Both engines in the city plant
pound to an undue extent. This
condition is one that grows progress
siyely worse at a compound interest
rate, and can only be cured by a shut
down of sufficient duration to permit
OF a thorough overhauling and realign-
ment. The regulation of the engine is
satisfactory.
(1o) Generators.
The generators are two in number.
as follows
1-450 K. w. three phase, General
Electric Field Generator, $500 volts,
$50 r p. M, 60 cycles.
300 X. w. three phase, General
Electric Field Generator, $500 volts,
$50 +. p. M, 60 cycles.
Hence the total full load capacity of
the generators is $50 K. w.
The equipment includes two General
Electric Is X. w. engine driven ex-
citers direct come cted to Allfree
simple engines running at 400 r. p. m,
and also two rotary converters for
furnishing the direct electric current
sold to consumers.
The condition of electrical machin-
cry is in the main very good. The
smaller unit has ground between the
field winding and the frame of the
machine. This 10 condition which
should be remedicd at once since any
ground that might occur on the high
tension circuit would bring about an
electric strain On the field, and ex-
citing circuit which would almost
surely result in trouble. 1t would be
a simple matter to locate the grounded
spools and replace them by sound
spools.
(11) Switch Board and instruments.
The condition of the switch board
is satisfactory, but the instruments
are in need of adjustment and calibra-
ton One ammeter fails to indicate;
another has a badly bent pointer,
while one of the watt-hour meters, up
on which the monthly output of the
plant is measured, gives rather dub
ious indications.
(12) Transformers.
The arc light service or Tub
transformers seem to be in saisfact-
DRY condition.
(13) Load Conditions.
On Saturday evening, April 2Sth, the
total load indicated at switch board
rose to a maximum of GIT K. W.
This occurred at 7:45 P. M, or fifteen
minutes after the street arcs had been
turned on.
1t is clear that the plant was not
overloaded on the evening referred to-
The maximum load was 80 per cent
of the full load capacity of the gener
ators. With the addition of 35 arc
lights in the Park this load would rise
to 635 X w. approximately, or SAG
per cent of full load. The figures in
the column headed Power Factor
have an important bearing on the cap
acity of the generators. When plant
operates at a power factor OF unity
it will carry larger load than it will
when it operates at lower power
factor. When molly incande scent
lamps are in service the power factor
will approximate unity. cit can never
be greater than one) When arc
lamps are on, the power factor will
fall to a value less than one. The eff
feet of a low power factor is to cause
the generators to heat more for a Civ
en- load than they would on a power
factor of unity. Now generators are
rated by the makers as having a stat
ed capacity at unity power factor. II
operated at a power factor less than
one their full load and overload cap
acity will be less than their rating
These facts are furnished the Commit
tee in order that it's members may
understand ONE of the reasons why
the generators may have shown undue
heating on the heavy loads of last win
ter. The power factor of the plant is
as high as could be expected in NY
of the character of the load.
(14) Temperature Conditions.
The temperature of the armature
windings on the evening of the 2Stt
Benefit will be had from better ven
tilation in the dynamo room, hereto
fore mentioned, and On hot, summer
evenings from the use of fans blowing
directly upon the windings.
(15) Business.
The commercial load of the plant is
rapidly increasing. According to the
figures of the superintendent for the
last II months, the number of meters
connected has risen from 1850 to 1414
an increase of nearly 35 per cent. As
the records shown the undersigned ex
tended over a period of only II
months. it is not possible here to com
pare the business of the current year
month by month, with that of the pre-
ceeding year. A comparison of this
nature is necessary in order to deter
mine just what the growth of business
has been. The undersigned assumes