The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1956-11-29

American Gas and Electric Co.
Va, near Pomeroy, Ohio, and at
present has a generating capacity
of 100000 kilowatts. 1t is Jointly
owned and operated by Appala-
chan Electric Power Co., and
Ohio Power Co., AGE operating
subsidiaries.
Like its AGE System sister
unit, which is being built by
Indiana & Michigan Electric Co.
on the Wabash River in Sullivan
county, Ind, the new Sporn unit
will be 1870 larger than any
power producing unit operating
today.
In commenting on the selec-
ton of the Sporn plant for loca-
ton of the second 450,000-kw
unit, Philip Sporn, AGE presi-
dent, said, Our decision was
based on three important factors:
the need for still greater general
ing facilities in the dynamic
Ohio Valley, the fact that the
plant is situated near the geo.
graphical and load centers of the
AGE System, and the plants
| proximity to abundant, low-cost
| coal reserves"
Mr.. Sporn went on to describe
the revolutionary new units as
new plateauS in power genera
ton technology" He stated that
construction of the Sporn plant
unit would be undertaken early
in 1857 and that completion is
scheduled for late 1859. Cost of
the project has been estimated
at $58.000,000.
With a capacity equivalent to
over 100000 horsepower, the
| unit will be theoretically capable
Of supplying all the residential
electric requirements Of a city
of 100000. It will utilize close
to 100000 pounds Of steam per
! hour at the abOve-critical pres
sure Of $500 pounds per square
inch. and it will consume | 1,300,-
600 tons of coal yearly.
At present, Sporn plant is the
| largest power station on the
AGE System and the largest in
West Virginia. 1t has four iden-
tical 150.000-kW units, the first
OF which was placed in opera
ton in January, 1850, and the
last in February, 1852.
Completion of the new unit
will raise the plants capability
to 1,050,000 XIV. At present, only
two privately owned power
plants in the world have capaci-
ties in excess of 100000 XIV.
Like the Sporn plant they also
are located on the Ohio River:
the 1,29O,O0O-kw Clifty Greek
plant at Madison, Ind, and the
5,00O-kw Kyger Creek plant
at Cheshire, Ohio, a few miles
| downstream from the SpOrn
! plant.
The new SpOrn unit and its
sister unit on the Wabash rep
resent the final 100000 XIV OF
new power production facilities
| in the AGE Systems recently
| announced $700-million, five,
year expansion program. Thi!
expansion, extending from 1885,
through 1860, will include the
addition of 2,885,0O0 XIV of new
capacity and will raise the AGf
Systems total capacity to almos
100000 XIV by the end of 1860
In discussing the efficiency o
the two new units, Mr.. Sporl
said, Upon their completion, w
expect both units to show a
| Improvement Of Sc in therma
! | efficiency over the worlds bes
, unit to date, as we'll as a 712E
| Improvement in capital cost pc
| kiloWatt Of generating capacit!
4 The latter will be brought abou
n by economies due to larger Siz
!, of unit, higher turbine SpeeC
i space reduction, elimination {
boiler house, and many othe
It factors. While these units will /
l. capable Of producing twice ;
e much electric power as II
y largest-SiZed unit now undt
o construction on the AGE Sy
n tenn - 225,000 XIV the SpaC
- they require is only approx
: mately one-third larger"
According to Mr.. Sporn, the
new and much larger uni
evolved as a result of AGE
l. design and construction eXpel
D ence with the worlds first supe
l. critical pressure unit, now nea
S ing completion at Ohio Power
~ Philo (Ohio) plants. The dev
~ lopmental Philo 6 unit W
- operate at 4,500 psi. and lis
e F. temperature. These have be-
reduced to a more commercial
acceptable basis, however,
the Sporn unit, which will ha
Of a steam pressure of $500 p.S
IN well above the critical level
d. 3,206 psi, and a steam temper
lie ture of 1,050' F.
r; General Electric Co. will bui
ia the turbine-generator for bC
- units, which will cross-col
&c pound in design. Babcock
O. Wilcox Co. will build the