ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION OF WATER POWER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 4251, 22 June 1895, Page 4

ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION OF WATER POWER.

The utilisation nf water power elac;rically transmitted for mine operaiionia becoming more popular among mining men, as aach installation demonstrates not only the feasibility of the system, but also the economy which every such installation shows when compared with pre existing Bystems which it displaces, or which are in similar operation elsewhere. A notable wafer-power will shortly be utilised by the Ontario Silver Mining Co., of Park City, Utah. This company has recently completed a drain tunnel, said to be one of the greatest, and most expensive undertakings ever carried out by a mining company, not even excepting the Sutro tunnel. It is three miles long, and is now discharging from its mouth nearly 1000 cubic feet- of water per minute. This water, under a head ofl2oft, will shortly be driving motors for power and light — the thrae-phase sys f em of the General Electric Company being employed. The three phase current generated from these machines will be transmitted round the mountain to the Ontario and Daly mines, five and a-half miles from the generating station and be used to drive the mills and to light the surrounding buildings. A portion of the current will aiso be taken to furnish light, to the neighbouring town of Park City. The voltage of the transmitted current is 2500 volts. At Silverton, Colorado, the motive power is also derived from a distant water course. Three mile 3 away a special double-nozz'e Pelton wheel, four feet in diameter, running at 225 revolutions per minute under a head of 180 feet, h'vsbeen installed. This dnve3 a 150 kilowatt 2300 volt General Electric three phase generator. Tho greater part of the current is taken to a 125-horse power induction motor, which operates the mill, and which, wound foi 2000 volta, is used without transformers. The balance of the current is utilised at the mines for the oparation of arc and incandescent lamps, and the driving of smalW motors being reduced, by stepdown transformers, down to 220 volts. This plant is a model three-phase transmission and in its operation since its installation has proved both economical and fully satis factory.