A BIG TURBINE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 555, 9 July 1909, Page 9

A BIG TURBINE.

;' : -■■■'■:■ ■'••■■< : \ : ~ —■'.*.. ' '''.'■"-'■• :••■.■ iATJGdIENTING OJJR; ELECTRIC POWEB. ' The condenser plant of tho 'biggest turbine 'engine in New Zealand arrived by the Tura'kina last; week- consigned: to the Electrical .(Department of'the Wellington City Council. This is.a -2000 'horse-power Parsons turbine 'for. tho new part of the lighting power-house' !in'.Mercer Street. For-some time past the' .lighting power-house machinery has been carrying a full load in tho evening, arid if an' accident wore to' occur to any one of the :sots,. says Mr.- Stuart' Richardson, something' would have to go short' of power. The- erection of tho big turbine will put, .the'station a .little ahead of actual-requirements, and .will provide against contingencies. In preparation for tlie reception or tho new engino there are two huge blocks,of concrete 14ft. ; in height, with foundations sunk through tho' reclaimed ground to the solid. The top' of these blocks will be the floor of the now engine-room on the Mercer Street side. As evidence of the size of this turbine, it need only be mentioned that the condenser itself weighs 10. tons scwt., and the condenser valve weighs 3 tons 17cwt. The engino (tho rest of which is on the water) will be erected under the supervision of nn engineer who is being sent out for the purpose by the manufacturing firm. The work of erection should be completed in two months from tho time all the parts are. in Wellington.