New Ulm review., 1922-03-01
new CITY PLANT
IS MAKING GOOD
INCREASE IN PRODUCTION
AT DECREASED COST OF
OPERATING.
APPROXIMATELY $ss5 PER
MONTH REDUCTION IN
COAL COSTS.

COAL COSTS.
In spite of many unfavorable cir
cumstances which must always enter
into the operation of a new plant during
its first year, New Ulm's Municipal
Plant has already proven its efficiency
over the old one which it displaced.
Elsewhere on this page will be found
figures taken from the books of the
power station which show that the
number of Kilowatt Hours from
October 1st Of the present season to
February 26 total nearly 10000 Kilo-
watt Hours more than the old plant
produced during the same months Of
the season of 1920-1921. This is an
increase of nearly 6 per cent in output
and that figure would have been higher
but for the loss occasioned as result
of the fire at the old plant.
Reduction in Costs.
Not only has there been an increase
in output; there has been also a de-
crease in operating costs. The same
table showing the production of
the plant shows also the amount of
coal consumed during the two seasons.
In 1920-1921 it took 4,713,703 lbs. Of
coal to operate the old plant from
October / to the end Of February; for
the same period of time in 1922 it
took A, ,412,776 lbs. of coal to operate
the new plant, a saving of 100000 lbs.
of coal, and that in spite of the fact
that the present season has required
more coal for live steam for the heating
plant than last year did,. Just how
much more coal was required for this
has not yet been estimated, as the
heating season does not end at this
time. However, the present winter
has been. considera bly, colder than last
year according to weather reports and
it is fair to assume that more coal was
required for heating purposes this
season than last.
Saving $395 Per Month.
Looking at the figures in another
way it may be seen that during 1920
1921 it required 9.3 lbs. to produce
Kilowatt Hour of electricity in the old
plant. This year it required S.2 lbs.
Of coal to produce a KiloWatt Hour in :
the new plant, a saving of IL lbs. per
Kilowatt Hour. This would mean a
saving Of 29487 tons of coal during the
present season The plant is paying
$3.50 per ton Of coal delivered to the
plant and this means saving OF
$1975.93 in coal alone for the present
season, an average of 1895 per month.
It should also be RENE mbered that
the new plant was operated only few
days during the month Of October as
they did not begin to use it regularly
until after the first of November. No
doubt further saving would be. shown
if the new plant had operated from
October first. The figures show that
the saving during October 1921 was
L lb. of coal per Kilowatt Hour,
November showed a saving Of 8 lb.
and the amount saved increased every
month that the new plant was in
operation; / a lbs in December, 1.3 lbs.
in January and 1.8 lbs for February.
The slight drop in December is due to
the fact that it was during that time
most of the trouble following the fire
at the plant occurred. Production was
cut down although coal consumption
went on.
An interesting talk with Mr.. Huevel-
mann brought out a number of facts
which probably are not familiar to
Review readers. The plant is equipped
with two boilers at the present time so
that one is always ready for service.
It is necessary to clean the boilers
twice monthly. There is in the water
a magnesia which forms sort of mud
which will begin to give trouble about
the sixteenth day that the boiler is in
use. 1t is then necessary to change
over to the other boiler and clean out
the one which has just been in use.
There should be a third boiler for
the plant in case anything might
happen to the boiler in use while the
other one is being cleaned, but because
Of the expense no third one has been
purchased as yet However, the fires
Continued on page s..