The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-28

OF the transmission system at Gatun,
Mlranores, Crlstopal and Balboa; and
the three loci control houses.
the nydro-electr1c station measures
u feet by 1871 feet m has an ex-
treme height or "A fee The build
Ing is designed or the unit principle.
TO admit OF future extension, and con-
slsts or a single room open to the
o exposing the trusses upon which
is laid the reinforced concrete root
SLAP, which, in turn, receives the red
ed concrete ~ inches thick to the
level or the crane rails, near the
cornlce. The interior has four pr1n-
clpal elevations; namely, q pit for the
three z5UU-kv-a. hydro.electric turbines,
a main floor, and WI galleries. The
turbine pit, with an area of over 2,lUO
square feet, is located 6 feet below
the leveI Of the main floor and is
reached by iron stalrways descending
alongside the turbines. From the pit,
other stairs le.I down to the store
room IN the north side, and to the air
compressor and Oil pump compart-
ments at the ends.
Inc main IGOR divides into two
parts, n being partitloned of and
devoted to the Use OF the electric
equipment, and the other forming an
uninterrupted passage on the long1-
rudlnai axis OF the building, terminal
Ing with two large entrance doors at
elrner end. Easy access to railway
cars is AFFORDED by meal of a rack
which enters his tioor from grade
through n northwest door, thus CIV
ing every FACILITY for handling heavy
machinery by the 30 tor electric crane
running the length of the building
Overhead.
concrete stairways at either end OF
the building give acces to the mez-
zanlne and second galleries, which
are devoted to the switchboards, oil
switch compartments, reactance coils
and otner electrical equipment. Two
sucn galleries extend the entire length
OF the station on the northeast side,
ana IN Inc south corner are super.
imposed Two smaller ones used as a
macnlne shop and an office respective
ly.
Inc three quo XIV. main generating
units IN The hydro-electric station are
each driven by q special, SO inch,
vertical, sings runner, Francis tur-
plne. Eacn turbine has q maximum
capacity OF 5000 h.. p. when operated
under an erectiye head OF IS feet
and at a normal turning speed Of $50
revolutions per minute. The turbines
are located at such a height that the
center OF the runhers is 20 feet above
tail water. a.
Generators and Direct Connected Ex-
citers. +
me three main generating units
are OF the vertical revolving field type,
a c being provided with a direct on
nected exeter. The generators are or
the General Electric company manu-
racture M are three-phase, %25-cycle,
with a guaranteed continuous capacity
or Z,UUO XIV. at U.8 power-ractor, 2,2OO
volts, Z5U revolutions per minute. and
with an overload rating OF $500 XIV
at U.Y power factor for two hours.
Inc exclters are OF 90 XIV. capacity
at z volts, each capable OF furnishing
exciting current for W generators
under maximum guaranteed load.
Each unit, generator and EXETER,
weighs approximately IS tons.
Ine generators, under official tests,
showed an efficiency OF 95.1 per cent
at 2,UU XIV, 10 p~ower-factor; 94.3 per
cent at l,5UO XIV, O.S power-ractor;
ana y2.5 per cent at 1000 XIV, O.S
power-1actor. The. guaranteed temper
allure rises OF 40 degrees centigrade
above room temperature, Of 25 degrees
centlgrade under continuous opera
ton at ruIl load Inc So degrees cent?
grade rise after two hours I'll at 20
per cent overload, we're met with an
ample margin.
Distribution Scheme.
On account OF the great distance,
the current is transmitted at a voltage
OF "A 100 from the power stations to
potn ends OF the canal. The step-up
transformers are, however, not locat-
ed IN the power plants, but in sub
stations IN their vlcinities; there
therefore, the power plants generate
and distribute only 220v-volt current.
DECREASING DEMAND