Las Vegas optic., 1914-03-11
ELECTRICITY OPERATES
THE BIG PANAMA CANAL

/ Lake through a forebay which is con
structed as an integral part Of the
curved portion of the north spillway
approach wall. From the forebay the
water is carried to the turbines
through steel plate penstocks $50
feet long and 10 feet inches in dia-
meter. The headgates are raised and
lowered by individual electric motors.
These motors and the gate machinery
are housed in a small concrete gate
house erected in the forebay, The
lturbo-generating units are ofthe vertic-
al type, the rotating parts Of the gen
orator and the turbine being mounted
on the same shaft. Superimposed
upon each turbine casing is a gener-
ator rated at 1000 lulowatts, which
will deliver three-phase 25 cycle cur
rent at 22OO volts.
Transmission Of Current
The energy generated at 22OO volts
% cycles, three-phase, will be carried
along the east wing OF Gatun dam by
heavy cables in duplicate underground
lines, and through tunnels under the
locks, into transformer substation
situated on the east side Of the locks
AT the Gattn substation which is to
be situated at the north end of the
hill upon which the present Atlantic
division office building stands, the
electric energy will be transformed
from 22OO volts to $4,000 volts by
means Of step-up transformers
The transmission line will run from
Cristobal to Balboa, completely across
the Isthmus. permitting distribution
of energy both ways from Gatun. The
line is to parallel the right of way
of the Panama railroad for its entire
length. At Cristobal and Balboa will
be terminal substations similar to the
Gatun substation. The terminal sub
substations will receive the energy at
$4,000 volts, less the voltage drop IN
the line, and step-down transformers
will convert the pressure to 2200 volts
which will be the distributing volt
age for all circuits. At Miraflores,
substation will be installed for sup
plying energy for the motors ana
lamps of Pedro Miguel and Miraflores
locks. If electricity is required along
the line, the transmission lines will
be tapped by outdoor type of trans
former substation equipment This
will probably be done at Caimito,
to supply electricity to the high pow
er wireless station. at Monte Lirio,
to supply power to the lift bridge,
and at any permanent town or military
reservation which demands electric
lights and power.
At MirafIores, the present steam
turbo-generators will be tied into the
permanent electrical system through
220 volt tie-lines extending to the
Miraflores slbstation This steam sta
ton will serve as a reserve in the
event the hydro-electric station at
Gatun should be shut down. In en-
ergency, energy from Miraflores viii
be transmitted back to Gatun and to
the terminal substations at Cristobal
and Balboa, insuring a continuity Of
service on the system at all times.
Marvellous Control Boards Astonish
Engineering World
The centralized control system for
the Panama locks marks wonderful
advance in electrical engineering. |
The locks are operated by electricity
and the controlling switchboards re-
produce in miniature on the board,
by synchronous indicators, every de-
tail Of operation, SO the man in
charge sees the complete movement OF
all gates, valves, fender chains, ETC.,
reproduced before his eyes, eliminat-
Ing any errors which might otherwise
occur
Control apparatus was required for
86 transformer stations, four substa-
tions and one generator station, and