American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-05-21

4 ]. !. ! !. !. !. !. !. !. !. !. | !. !. !. ]. !. !. !. !: ! !. | ] ! !" !" !" !: !. !. !. ]. !: !. !. !. !. !. !. !. !. !. !.
largely in the last few years. is
u replete with wonderful engineer
ing achievements. But never be-
fore has electricity been called
EFr5 zwStyT upon TO do so much, In such an
I\M entirely new and novel way, as
Wy at Panama. The hydroelectric
8 generation Of electrical energy
IN and its distribution. the handling
OF the ships by electric locomo-
- tives. the novel system Of cen
tralized switchboard control for
the great locks, is but another triumph for cleo
tricity. a new departure in electrical engineering
and an advance in mechanics equaled only by
the Panama canal itself.
IL Is expected that the surplus water of Gatun
lake will ultimately supply the electrical energy
Tor the entire canal, zone. During the building OF
the canal a steam plant. located at Mirahores,
furnished the electrical current necessary for the
construction work at the Pacific end. This steam
plant will be maintained as a reserve In case OF
shut down, low water or damage to the transmits
sion line. At present 1t seems certain that there
viii be available sufficient water to generate fully
5000 klowatts. During the rainy seasons, which
prevail In the tropics, water will be plentiful and
VIII be allowed to run to waste over the spilIway
Of the dam. During the dry season the storage
water viii be drawn upon. The maximum guam
tity OF water diverted for bydroelectric develop
ment Is about seven per cent of the minimum
water supply and is the excess which is not re-
CURED for lockage. evaporation and leakage.
The electricity generated at the Gatun power
house win be distributed 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- II will also be used to light
the locks and the villages of the canal zone. In
all probability the current will also be extensive
ly used for electric cooking In the homes. as fuel
is scarce and costly upon the isthmus. There is
also under consideration the liberalization Of
81 IA M "a.
viii be In duplicate throughout in order to insure
a continuous service. As a further precaution.
as above stated. the water-power station viii be
connected to the steam plant at MiraRores, which
station will be held in reserve.
The power system for the operation Of the
locks, towing locomotives. lights for the locks
and buildings. and motors not directly connected
With the lock control. is composed of:
A 1900 kva. 2,2OO-volt hydroelectric spower
plant at the Gatun dam.
Four thousand FIVE hundred kv-a, 2 2OO.volt Cur
it's turbo- generator electric power plant at Mira
flores for emergency, lately used to supply power
for construction work.
A double f4.0OO-volt transmission line across
the isthmus. connecting Cristobal on the Atlantic
and balboa on the Pacific with the two power
plants named.
-Four 4f.O002 ,200-volt substatlons. stepping down
at Cristobal and Balboa. and up or down at Gatm
--" ANRNhAAnk vi hnlAH vi the TWO
plants is supplying power.
Thirty-six 2.2O02t0 volt transmission stations
for power, traction and light at Gatun Pedro
Miguel and Mirahores locks.
Three 2.2O0-220-110-volt transformer stations for
the control boards at the locks.
The hydroelectric station is located adjacent 10
the north wall OF Gatun spillway. The building
Is OF concrete and steel. designed specially for a
power station In a tropical country. The building
Is capable OF being enlarged to house six 1000
kiiowatt units. OF which three have been installed
The building has but one main operating floor
with a turbine pit and two galleries for electrical
equipment Each unit OF the mechanical equip
nent consists OF an individual headgate pen.
stock governor. generator. EXETER, oil-switch. and
control panel. Water Is taken from Gatun lake
through a Forebay. which is constructed az an
Integral part OF the curved portion OF the north
spilway approach wall. From the forebav the
water Is carried to the turbines through steel
plate penstocks $50 feet long and 10 feet 6 inches
In diameter. The entrances to the penstocks are
protected by bar iron trash racks to proven:
sunken debris from damaging the turbines. The
neadsates are raised and lowered by individual
electric motors. These motors and the gate ma.
chinery' are housed in e small concrete gate.
house erected In the forebay.
The urbo-generating units are OF the vertical
type rotating parts OF the generator and the tur.
bine being mounted on the same SHAFT. sinner.
imposed upon each turbine casing is a generator
rated At 1000 k~ilowatts. which will deliver ,hreo.
phase bicycle current at 1900 volts. The main
control switchboard for the control OF the cnrrer,
. located on the second gallery floor. where ~.