Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-01
REMODELED POWER
LINES PREDICTED
Change in Electricity Trans
mission Expected to Follow
Oil Developments.

Extensions or the present Oil and gas
pipe lines, which have been a feature Of
industrial growth for the last year, are
likely to involve a remodeling Of the
transmission of electric power in nearly
every section of the country. This
trend is being forwarded by the devel-
opment Of the commercial aviation lines
and the necessity of providing plane
passengers and pilots against the ter
rife dangers involved by power trans
mission and distribution lines above
ground. The subject Is being given
close attention both by Government Of
ficials who are interested in aviation
regulation and power regulation and by
engineers of the great utility compa-
MES and those of the electrical manu-
featuring companies.
The building of underground natural
gas lines over tremendous distances has
led to the question of whether these
lines cannot be utilized to transfer cleo
trio current underground. The demands
for electric current for both domestic
and industrial purposes have pro-
crossed by leaps and bounds. and the
transfer of current above ground is be-
ing vigorously opposed.
It seems unlikely that the transmits
sion of high-voltage electric power
through oil and gas pipe lines them
selves can be accomplished as yet. Ac-
cording to j. F. Peters, consulting en-
gineer of the Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Co., such transmission
usually requires several conductors,
usually three. These conductors must
be spaced apart at varying distances,
ranging from 4 feet for $4,000 volts to
20 feets for 100000 volts in overhead
wiring. This is a larger space than
would be required IL the lines were I'M
exposed to rain or sleet. This would
REQUIRE at least line of 6 feet in di-
ameter for underground transmission of
66 900 volts.
OH N. a dielectric In high-voltage
apparatus and 1t should be possible,
according to Mr.. Peters. to use the oil
in a pipe line for insulating high volt
age. But in order to be effective the
oil should be highly refined, which is
not the case in the contents OF the
normal pipe line He points out that
there would also be difficulties in max
ing connections within such a line as
we'll as in locating any failure in trans
mission as might occur.
The wires and supports would occupy
some space, declares r. II. Summer
hays, engineer of the central station
of the General Electric Co.,
thus interfering with the primary pur
poses of the pipe line. IF it were re-
quired to run an electrical circuit over
the same route as the gas circuit" he
continued, "it might be possible to lay
a three-conductor lead-covered cable
inside pipe line, but a better scheme
would be to lay the cable in the same
trench as the pipe line and alongside it.
The saving in this case on the electrical
cable line might be 40 to 60 cents foot,
which would be the cost of digging a
trench specially for the cable.
May Reach Agreement.
These opinions by eminent electrical
engineers have given rise to the belief
in some governmental circles closely
allied with transportation that some
agreement may be reached for laying
cables for electrical trans
gas lines. In many instances the inter
ests connected with the gas and Oil
pipe lines are also intimately associated
with the distribution of electrical power
Underground transmission of cleo
tricity is being strongly urged not only
by industrial executives whose plants
use electric power but by the fire, acct
dent. casualty and burglar insurance
These concerns feel that |
the reliability of power transmission is
Of the utmost Importance and 1t has
been said by insurance. executives that |
it would be better to have the police !
of any large city wiped out
than to have, the city left without cleo
trio light and power.
Copyright. 1919