Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-11-23
$4,000 WOULD MAKE LIGHT PLANT
efficient PRODUCER.
Continued from Page IL

/ tltiN EIttN ~ tOiipAbtN poAHR SO -
100 plus $40. cquallin9 $50 square feet.
However. owing to internal conditions and
methods of coupling the two condcnsers
together. the smaller unit has proved prac-
.ically useless in practice. This Is proved
~ the fact that, even nj peak load. tax
ny the small unit out OF service has no APP
preciablc effect on the vacuum further
more the discharged circulating water
shows no material increase in temperature
above that of the injection water. lit ~,
therefore, evident that the arrangement
lust mentioned j. actually a detriment,
lnasmuch n the vacuum pump is forced 10
maintain n vacuum in the smaller con-
denser TO no useful purpose.
Thu I70 square feet Worthington con
denser should be connected to No. 2 en-
CINE. Ii j. Of ample size for this purpose.
The smaller condenser should be connected
TO No. | engine.
Ii will be noted that the turbine should
nave a condenser of at least 500 square
feet cooling surface, therefore the sub
stitution Of the Wheeler 600 square feet
condenser for the Worthington 400 square
iftt NblIsssl~ti -. III itdtllN ~ iusiAtNiiiiis
although it will undoubtedly show an i'm
provemcnt in operation of the turbine.
The circulating water conditions obtain
ed AT the present time are unsatisfactory.
both from an operating and consumers
viewpoint. The latter j. served with hot
water when in the natural course of events.
il should BE- cold. While the operator Is
limited to the amount Of cooling water
available by the consumption.
However. this situation will be relieved
in the near future if the Arrangements
Iprc>cnt plans are carried out. In other
words, when Your new settling tank be
comes operative and contemplated changes
in pumps and pipes are complete, there
I%srould be an abundance of clear, cool wa
ter for city use and for circulation water
TOR the condensers. These statements are
based on the assumption that the settling
basin will come up TO expectations.
The proposed arrangement Of pumps and
dipping apcpar to be satisfactory and ade-
quate in every respect and require no com
mcnt here.
t5) When the new river pumps arc in
stalled the present 1ver pump should be
used to supplement, and al certain por-
tons Of the day. replace the steam circu-
lating pump. ~ il i more economical to
operate.
t6) \ small air compressor should be
purchased for the power plant. This would
be inexpensive and prove of great value in
Keeping the various apparatus free from
injurious dust.
(D The use of an oil meter Is most
strongly advocated, a a means Of check
ing oil consumption under the various
conditions which NAV obtain.
tS) The use Of 4 tlue gas analyzer OF
the Orsat type would be Of great assist
ance in improving operating conditions Of
the boilers. As n matter of fact the oil
meter used IN conjunction with the iluc
gas analyzcr in an intelligent and careful
manner will undoubtedly show a substan-
tial saving in fuel oil consumption.
Available Quantity Of Water for City
Use-This will be limited only BY the ca
pacity of the filter. The filter has m APP
rroxlmatC capacity Of 100000 gallons
per day or about 700 gallons per minute.
At fifty gallons per day per capita. this
would serve 4 population of 10000. "A very
conservative figure for the amount Of wa
ter in question.
For fire protection purposes. provision
will he made for connecting city pressure
pumps direct 10 the settling basin, with a
combined capacity Of approximately , 600
gallons per minute, at an initial pressure
OF approximately Sixty-unc pounds per
square inch which would be equivalent f.
q 40 foot head. Assuming that the water
main, are Of ample size. the head in feet
al the fire plugs should 10 well over l00
feet. with fire hose in operation. This Is
a matter which should be carefully check
ed after the changes referred to have been
made. In ease unsatisfactory heads de-
lvclop It viii in AL probability be found that
the mains are too small. or are DISTRACTED
In either ease the remedy u obvious.
Mr.. Prydc here gives 4 table covering
the monthly expense Al the plant for th,
six months from April. 1917. TO and in.
Guiding. September, 1917.
These expenses. monthly average, are
Oil and waste, S57.57; fuel oil, $2,63l.5S
salaries. $l,l29.l7; supplies, $3.50
overhead, 800.
The total expenses for the six month,
arc: Oil and waste. S2S7.S3; fuel oil, SIS,
oO7.4I; wages, ~S5,625.06; supplies. SO.
45l.T9; overhead, 5000.
Another table shows the earnings OF tn,
water and light departments for the 81
months.
Earnings from current April, $3.7l9.25
May, S~3.7SJ.55; June, S.i.5g6.: 80; july. -.