ARAPUNI WORKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 April 1932, Page 6

ARAPUNI WORKS

VIBRATION TROUBLE MYSTERY.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

HAMILTON, April 12. Vibration trouble has again been encountered at Arapuni in No, 1 unit, which was subject to similar trouble last year. Yesterday after the generator had been put through its tests with the Penrose substation, the machine was shut down* Beyond saying that the position in the power station is precisely similar to that obtained when No. 1 unit commenced vibrating in April, 1930, the engineers at the works declined to make a statement on the matter.

That the cause of the vibration is still puzzling them appears likely because it is only in the last year that the unit was completely dismantled and re-assembled, in the endeavour to remedy the trouble. It is understood that during that process only minor readjustments were made. The source of the vibration not having been determined, it was considered unwise to make radical alterations.

In the meantime, tests carried out with No. 3 unit have proved successful, and everything is ready for it to take the load. No 2 is in good working order, and is now carrying from 6000 to 10,000 k.w. If No. 1 unit is cut of action for a lengthy period, Nos. 2 and 3 can together carry 30,000 kw., and No. 4, which has now been installed and will shortly be rtfady for trying out, will bring the load up to 45,000 kw.