VIBRATION AT ARAPUNI

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1933, Page 6

VIBRATION AT ARAPUNI

PROBLEM BELIEVED SOLVED. CHANGE OF A WATER-WHEEL. Hamilton, March 7. “Suspicions that the trouble experienced in running the No. 1 unit at the Arapuni power station since its installation two years ago was due to a defective water-wheel, and not to insecure foundations, have been confirmed,” said Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, chief electrical engineer of the Public Works Department, to-day after a visit to Arhpuni. Mr. Kissel said extensive experiments had been carried out in connection with the faulty unit, in which trouble through vibration had occurred. To test the theory that the water-wheel, the compelling machinery attached to the turbine, was at fault, the wheel was removed and a similar part from No. 3 unit was attached in its stead. Since the change was completed, about a fortnight ago, No. 1 unit had run satisfactorily and had generated its full load. To make absolutely certain that the problem of No. 1

unit had been solved, the wheel would be returned to No. 3 unit and would be tried out again on that macnine. The defective part removed from No. 1 unit would eventually be replaced. Mr. Kissel explained that, in ordinary circumstances, the unit would not have been taken over from the manufacturers until its efficiency had been established, but the fact that the unit was not installed before the contract of Armstrpng, Whitworth and Company cancelled altered the position, and tne work involved since had to be carried out by the department. For some months, Mr. Kissel said, part of the staff at Arapuni had been engaged in constructing a protective apron below the weir on the east side of the river at Horahora. This work would be. completed in a week and the installation of the second system of gates in the diversion tunnel at Arapuni would be ceeded with. The headrace at Arapuni had been sealed and the leakage of four gallons a minute was negligible. Arapuni was now operating satisfactorily, said Mr. Kissel.