A report on a five hundred and fifty kilowatt plant

Abstract

The object of this thesis is to present a report on an electric generating station of the size most commonly encountered in electric lighting work. This size station, and others varying in size from a little smaller to a little larger capacity, are the type found all over the country with the exception of the cities and in most cases they are in the same condition. Very few of them keep complete reports and some do not keep any records at all except of the customers that have not paid their bills. The writer has been associated with this plant and only in a few instances have figures been used which were not approximately correct. The gathering of material for this report was started early in the school year and it was the object to get the full data for it but the company changed hands, and at the same time policies, and as a result the gathering of material was somewhat checked and information was gathered from various and sundry sources which accounts for the brevity of some parts. A few suggestions are to be made as to a better arrangement of machinery and to the handling of coal. A few changes in the present condition of steam lines will probably cut down the amount of coal used and this will result in a lower cost per kilowatt hour. Proposed changes of the station building will be taken up and while they may not be considered by the owners, they will however, be feasible.