Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1920 — LIGHT AND POWER SITUATION [ARTICLE]

LIGHT AND POWER SITUATION

ENGINEER CHAMBERLAIN SUBMITS CAREFULLY' PREPARED REPORT. The Republican undertakes the publishing of the report or Engineer Charles Chamberlain to the city council of Rensselaer relative to the needs of the city in added facility in toe way of electric current. The report is of considerable length and will appear in installments. It win be of vital interest to every citizen and tax-payer of this city. (Continued From Yesterday) PLAN NO. 1. Present Power and Light Plant. First plan will 'be for the installation of some new and modern machines in our present station. This would require the following machines and changes ip power plant equipment for the economics that should be jnaintained. Ist. Ort 500 kilowatt self-excited condensing steam turbine, running on 28 inches of vacuum. 2nd. One condenser with auxiliaries, for above turbine.. 3rd. Basement under turbine and 4th. One cooling tower or spray pond for condensing water located on additional ground other than what we now own. sth. One 360 to 400 horse-pow-er high pressure water tube boiler installed in the place of our No. 1 boiler which is now 22 years 010 and originally 'built for only 100 pounds steam pressure. This boiler would require some basement under it for grates and ash pits. 6th. One additional smoke stack to take care of new boiler or the enlargement of present smoke

stack.' 7th. Coal handling machinery at railroad and also at present plant. Bth- One three-ton auto truck equipped with three 1-ton buckets for handling coal. 9th. Real estate to the amount of one city lot at least to be purchased alcmg the line of the railroad for coal dump and unloading and loading devices. 10th. Changes on present steam pipe headers for the purpore of strengthening it for the additional pressure that will be used. 11th. One steam reducing valve on our present Corliss engine so that it can be used on the high boiler pressures. 12th. Dynamo connected with our Corliss engine is about twenty years did and will not syfichromize with modem dynamos. This dynamo can be rewound or traded.w .on a modern second hand belt driven dynamo that will synchromize with the new proposed turbine generator. ‘ This would do away with the almost instant period of no cutrent on lines at the time of changing from ope dynamo to the Other which is very annoying,at timpa to power users as it teips their no current release on their motors and causes their machinery to choke up by the stopping of the motor and compelling them to re start their motors under very heavy

Inada _ . Our present No. 2 and No. 3 tubular boilers were built about ten years ago for 150 pounds of steam pressure. These boilers should be used for emergencies and be equipped with modern furnaces, tins would increase their efficiency over present conditions. , However, their efficiency will never reach that' of toe water tube boiler as the pressure on them is limited and is not sufficient to get best results from a steam turbine, also more danger of turbine casing over A “lag of water from them, damaging the blades. These boilers will have their pressure reduced by the boiler insurance company fast from now on as their age is against them, and as tney grow older they, crystalize causing this reduction in steam pressure to make them safe. From present preliminary prices and data obtained, the above plans for additional machinery in present station would cost from sixty-five to seventy thousand dollars. The expenditure of this amount of money on present plant has several disadvantages to consider. Ist. Constant increased drayage of coal as loads on plant increases. 2nd. Upkeep of two coal loading and unloading devices, one at rail-

road and one at central station. 3rd. The handling off coal two times. -. . ■ . / 4th. Smoke and dirt nuisance for the whole year by being located Tn a nice, neat and. -thickly settled residential neighboihood. 7 th. Last but not least is the fact that some old machinery will be operated and can not reach the economies of new machines. Advantages ®f Location. Advantages of present location are in favor of the city school winch have enjoyed a very cheap steam heating rate which amounts to ILGOO for the year. Hus is not enough to pay ua for the lowes incuxred by conducting this steam to the ihe bU heltSg <rf school houses could be taken care th Th^dec water pump now in use in the present station can be driven ta electacity from a new station if plan two is adoptPLAN NO. X A This involves the following equipment, building and grounds: Ist The erection of a MW power house on some suitable This übilding buiit large enougn |

for present equipment and for future equipment, also provide ground room for extending the building if it should ever become necessary for more machinery. 2nd. The erection of a radial brick smoke stack 175 feet high and eight feet in diameter. This will take care of two thousand horsepower, which is probably large for some time and if not another stack can be built This will save up so much money for several years. This size stack with proper stokers under boilers should do away with the smoke nuisance. 3rd. Coal dump and coal conveyors for unloading coal at a reasonable price. 4th. Two 500 kilowatt steam turbines self excited with switchx>ard and condensers. This would give us 200 kikxwats more in either machine than we noW have in our entire plant. This is about as large as good engineering practice will permit on our present load condition If these generating units should become too small additional generating units could be added as room should be provided for this emergency. It will probably pay us to move our present small engine to the new building to take care of the extreme light loads that will ■ occur during- the- midnight hours for some time to come.

sth. On cooling tower or spray pond for coolifig the condensing water. This would provide for the same water being used over and cooled by the action of the air. This pond or tower would not be necessary if plenty of fresh water could be procured for condensera, from wells, which I doubt very much can be done. This pond should be so located that it could be enlarged if necessary to accomodate additional generating units. 6th. Two high pressure water tube boilers each 360 or 400 boiler horse-power with provision made for two more boilers of this size or larger, equipped with either stoker or chain grates in furnaces, •0 that the cheaper grades of fuel such as slack coal can be used successfully and economically. 7th. One feed water heater with enough capacity to take care of 2,000 horse-power. This will provide for future growth the same as provided for in the smoke stack. 3th. One additional well for water works located near power plant for the purpose of furnishing water for one or two water works pumps located in new station. This will probably furnish us with additional needed water for our present water works system and also be a safeguard, as a fire could destroy our power lines extending from new station to our present station feeding current to our present electnc pump.

FINANCES. From the preliminary prices which we are able to obtain at this time, this' plan which calls for entire new central station located on the railroad, with new generatingunits, boilers and auxiliaries with highest efficiencies will cost from $135,000 to $140,000. , . ♦The financial condition of light and water fund* as shown by Treasurer’s bosks December • 31st, 1919, are aS follows: Light: Light fund, cash on hand $10,400.00 Money loaned to other funds 3,000.00 Amount due for street lighting, 1918, 1919-. 6,125.00 dtje for electric power furnished to water works pumps —— 2,600.00 Amount due from City Schools for steam heat- . . ing furnished in 1918 1,000.00 Light Fund Total -$23,125.00 Water. Water Fund, cash on - J hand Dec. 31, 1919-5,600.00 Money" due for fire hydrant rentals, ’lB-’l9— 4,000.00 Money due for water meter service and deUn- - quents — 750.00 Total — -$10,350.00 Total amount of money on hand and bills receivable to- Dec. 81, 1919, on light and water funds $38,475.00 Liabilities. Unpaid bonded indebtedness against present plant -----—519,000.00 Last bond matures in 1929 Other liabilities such as employees’ salaries to Dec. 81st, outstanding accounts to local merchants for 1919, suppKes, etc. 1,455.00 Water fund dr. to Light fund for electricity furnished for power for water pumps for 1919 2*600.00

Total indebtedness water_ _ n and li^it^^hnt---- -..$23.055.00 C *5JuiCK ASSETS ____slo,42owoo Valuations on water and lignt property are being made at tans time and total assets will be given If' city should decide to pay bonded and all other indebtedness, against water and light plants at thia time from accumulated water and light earnings, nine years before last bond matures we should still show a balance of $10,422.00 in the above funds. I consider that of very good showing during these times of high prices that have existed for several years and taking into consideration the size of plant we .have after operating 28 years, first on small electric contract rates and for a number of yean on our present rates of 8, 5 and 4 cents per kilowatt hour, with 10 per cent discount for prompt payment We have also furnished water at a very reasonable rate that amounts to $5.00 and SIO.OO per annum for business from the earnings of our infants on I ID6I6TV* * • i’ .‘ ' a.j

and about one-half of water is metered, with enough meters in •tore room bought and paid for before the advanced prices to meter the other water service. Many 250 candle power incandescent street lamps have been added. Also the pioneer installation of Novalux Ornamental 600 candle power gas MM incandescent street lamps with- Kingepst iron poets located on our main and farmers have enjoyed UVUII „ SOU Wil V • loljClXa ’ •_ ajlupjfW Dice fl I WrUl ytvjio*