Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-05-09
NEW POWER PLANT AT
RONCEVERTE.

Ae new Greenbrler Power Plant
OF the Virginia-Western Power Com
p31y at RonGeverte lis practically
completed and will shortly be placed
Ill service. At the present time the
machinery is being tried out with this
end in view. The capacity of the
new pant is approximately 1000
morse power. The building is OF SUI
i:cient size to accommodate practical
ly double its present capacity By the
installation of additional apparatus
The new station will practically
double its present capacity by the in
stallation of additional apparatus.
The new station will practically
double the present capacity OF the
Virginia-Western Power Company's
system. The plant is strictly modern
snd up to date in every particular
and is firerroof throughout.
The power is generated at $500
volts and stepped up 10 $4,000 volts
and controlled ry means OF an out
door suostation adjacent to the plant
$4,000 volts being the line of vol
tagc Of the present system.
The station contains one steam tur-
bo-generator unit with a normal ca
pacity Of 5000 XIV, operated at 215
to 225 pound steam pressure, 1875
degrees super heat, 2Sh inches Of
vacuum, 5000 revolutions per min
ute.
\ A surface condenser with the nee
essary auxiliaries is located in
water proof pit under the turbine.
Steam and electrical driven field ex-
citing generators are located en- the
main flow which flow is fifteen and a
! half feet above the highest flood
level. ( Steam is furnished by two
Stirling boilers with a normal rating
Of 500 horse power each. These boil
ers are equipped with Murphy Auto
matte Suckers.
uR1er normal conditions the boil
ers will generate total of 1000 boil
er horse power and under force draft
conditions $500 boiler horse power,
more than ample steam to operate
the tIr3o-generator at a reasonable
over load.
Coal is unloaded on the siding into
Il coal hopper, passes through a
crusner and is elevated by a bucket
conveyOr to the coal bin located above
the boilers. From thence it is dis =.
charged into the stokers which arc
operated by a small Steam engine.
Practically no manual labor is re-
quired to operate the boilers.
A reinforced concrete intake IS
constructed on the bank of the river
through which is pumped condensinE
water at the rate of 5000 gallons per
minute or nearly nine million gallons
per twenty-four hours
A 2O7 foot reinforced concrete
stack is erected adjacent to the build
Ing and connected by steel smoke
fues to the boilers
Feed water regulators work auto
matically and keep the water at the
proper level in the boilers. Record
iEg instruments arc installed in the
building and record the operation Of
the plant such, as the amount of
steam generated by the boilers, the
amount of coal burned. the condition
Of the fue gases, the amount of wat
er pumped into the boilers. a continu-
Gus record Of steam pressure, feed
water temperature, vacuum, etc.
On the switch board, electrical in
strurents record the amount Of cur
rent generated. With the data OBJ
tanned from these instruments 1t is
possible to keep complete record
as to the output of the station and
cost Of current.
The maintenance Of the substation
on the Lewisburg road will in no
way be effected at the present time
The construction Of the plant has
been under way uince the Fall of
1917. The work was considerably
delayed by war conditions, resulting
in scarcity Of labor and difficulty in
getting material and apparatus The
cold weather Of 1917 and 1918 also
delayed construction, making il nee
essary to suspend work for some
weeks.
The plant was designed by The
J. G. White Engineering Corporation
Ct New York and constructed by them
under the supervision of Mr.. J. L..
Sheppard, Jr., Construction Supcrin-
'endent. The work being carried on
in the name Of the Greerbrier Power.
Company. which company is owned
and controlled by the Virginia. West
ern Power Company, of Clifton
Forge. Virginia, Of which Mr.. A. ii
Grimsley Is general manager.