FEAR OF FLAW

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 9

FEAR OF FLAW

Arapuni Generator Tests TURBINE MACHINERY Surmise by Engineers By Telegraph—Press Association. Hamilton. April 13. It is believed that the cause of tbe vibration of tbe No. 1 generator at Arapuni. which has been a source ol mystery' for nearly two years, has been determined. Careful tests and calculations narrowed down the possible causes to an unbalanced hydraulic condition in the turbine, due, it is feared, to a small flaw in the manufacture of the “runner” (the revolving part). If this is the cause, the vibration set up by the unbalanced condition in this part of tlie machinery would be easily transmitted te the generator, in which the trouble first became noticeable. No information could lie obtained from tlie power station superintendent or the Arapuni engineers, but it was reliably learned from an outside source that the suspicions of the experts are as stated. ______