Las Vegas optic., 1914-03-11

Never before Nhas electricity beeI
called upon to do so much, in sucl
an entirely new and novel way, al
at Panama. The hyrdo-electric gen
GRAFTON Of electrical energy and it:
distribution, the handling of th'
ships by electric locomotives, the no
vel system Of centralized switchboard
control for the great locks, is but an
other triumph for electricity, new
departure in electrical engineering
and an advance in mechanics equallet
only by the Panama canal itself
The power system for the operation
-of the locks, towing locomotives
lights for the locks and buildings, ane
motors not directly connected with
the lock control, is composed Of:
A 1900 kv-a. 22OO volt hydro-electriC
power at the Gatun dam.
A 45Oo lzv-a. 220O volt Curtis turbo
generator electric power plant at Mi
raflores for emergency, lately used tc
supply power for construction work.
A double $4,000 volt transmission
line across the Isthmus, connecting
Cristobal on the Atlantic and Balboa
on the Pacific with the two power
plants named.
-Four 44,O00-2200 volt substations,
stepping the line voltage down at Girls
tobal and Balboa, and up or down at
Gatun and Miraflores, depending on
which Of the two plants is supplying
power.
Thirty-six 220O-24O volt transmission
stations for power, traction and light
at Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflo-
res locks.
Three 220O-220-11O volt transformer
stations for the conyroi boards at the
locks.
Stations at Cristobal and Balboa for
coal handling plants, machine shops
and dry docks.
Surplus Waters Generate Electricity
1t is expected that the surplus wa
ter of Gatun lake will ultimately sup
ply the electrical energy for the en-
tire canal zone During the building
of the canal steam plant, located
at Miraflores, furnished the electric
gal current necessary lur the construc-
sion work at the Pacific end This
steam plant win be maintained as a re
serve in case of shutdown, low water,
or damage to the transmission line.
at present it seems certain that there
will be available sufficient water to
generate fully 5000 kilowatts During
the rainy seasons, which prevail in
the tropics, water will be plentiful and
will be allowed to run to waste over
the spillway of the dam. During the
dry season the storage water will be
drawn upon. The maximum quantity
of water diverted for hydro-electric
development is about Z per cent OF
the minimum water supply and is the
excess which is not required for lock
age, evaporation and leakage.
The electricity generated at the Ca
Aun dam power house will be distrib-
mted for the operation Of the three big
locks, to the permanent machine
shops. to the dry dock, to the coal
handling plant and other auxiliaries.
1t will also be used to light the locks
and the villages of the canal zone.
IN all probability the current will also
be extensively used for electric cook
ing in the homes. as fuel is scarce and
costly upon the Isthmus- There is al
so under consideration the electrifl-
cation Of the Panama railroad.
"Details Of the Water Power Station
The hydro-electric station is locat-
ed adjacent to the north of Gatun
spillway. The building has but one
main operating floor, with turbine
pit and two galleries for electrical
equipment. Each unit Of the mechan-
zeal equipment consists Of an individ-
ual headgate, penstock, governor, gen
orator, exciter, oil-switch and contro'
panel. Water is taken from Gatun