ELECTRIC LIGHT SYSTEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 56, 15 June 1910, Page 7

ELECTRIC LIGHT SYSTEM.

THE ENGINEER'S REPORT. The following report was submitted to the Borough Council oil Monday evening by Mr. H. Black, tlie -borough electrical engineer:— Powerhouse. —with the approach of winter the loud has been steadily increasing, the average peak being from 20 to 25 K.W. more than the average for the corresponding period last year. The day load .ranges from 20 to iOO K.W., and as the lighting conies on in the evening, it runs up to a maximum between 5 and 8 p.m., falling to about 60 K.W. by midnight. The highest load recbrded was 194 K.AV. ou May 30- On Saturday May 14, with 175 K.W., the pressure could not be maintained owing to the rack of the pipe-head getting suddenly blocked with leaves, etc., and from |G. 30 to 9 ;p.m., the men were k..,i b busy I up at the pipe-head cleaning away the | accumulation. It was fortunate that those oil' duty were within call, a.s had they not been available there wouid no doubt have been a failure in the supply. As it was, the continual raking of the rack caused a small quantity of driftwood, etc. to pass through, and some of this beeing too large to pass through the Exciter Turbine, blocked the ports so that it would not give one half of its rated output. This trouble is experienced every winter, and with increasing demand, keeping the rack clear and the turbines running is becoming more difficult, so J would again beg leave to urge the necessity for enlarging the chamber at the pipe-head, and providing larger rack and settling pit. If this work is taken in hand at once and all necessary arrangements made, the work could be carried out in the early summer months and be finished, say, about the end of January. The rack has now to be cleaned twice and three times daily, and when the river is very dirty, has to be watched during the whole of the evening. The Exciter Turbine also has to be taken apart to be cleaned frequently, and as this takes some hours, it is difficult to get time enough when it is not required to be run. The output for May for private lighting power, etc., as recorded at the sub-station was 23,000 units, 3300 more than for fchc corresponding month of -last year. Connections to date number 500, and we have a number of applications for installations now in hand.

Meters.—T shall be pleased to have authority to order some more meters as early as possible. We are quite out of the smallest size, and have only enough of the next size to last about one month.

Extensions. —Herewith please find specifications for new turbine and generator. In view of the fact that it may be necessary within the next two or three years to instal another similar set, to the one now .proposed I have specified for machines for fiOOO volts. Transmission line loss on full load now amounts to about 1.5 per cent, of the energy generated. With double the present output this would be increased to about 2o per cent., and with a second 200 k.w. set, giving a total capacity of 000 k.w.. the line loss would amount to nearly 200 k.w.. or one-third of the total capacity, so that only about 400 k.w. would be available in town. By raising the voltage to 0000 the loss would be reduced to about. 40 k.w.. leaving the 560 k.w. available for use. The cost of gen-! erators for this voltage would be very little more than for lower voltage, but a separate switchboard and transformers would be required, which were not included in the estimate given for the machines only. Later it will be necessary to instal transformers in town to reduce the present line voltage for distribution, >but these will not be required until the necessary alterations have been made to J the line and the first 200 k.w. set is load--led to its capacity. I regret not having j sketch plan ready.

Tri the discussion upon the request pi Mr. S. Hooker for the electric light to he installed at the pipe-head. Mr. Black said that the liirlit was not required, and would be quite useless. Councillors queried this, and it transpired that Mr. Black's statement referred only to the ■powerhouse staff, members of which had informed him that t'hev would rather not have the electric -li'jlit. The council decided to accede to Mr. Hooker's .i.pp'.icatioa.