The Crystal Palace Electrical Exhibition.  The Engineer, 1st April, 1892.

The present exhibition at the Crystal Palace will mark the successful operation of one of the most practical modern schemes for the distribution of electric current over wide areas. The continuous current transformer has here asserted itself, and proved that with carefully worked out details in construction, and in the system with which it is used, it is a most trustworthy and efficient means of securing the advantages of a high tension distribution with a continuous current supply. No undertakers who find themselves called upon to extend their low tension mains into remote suburban districts need fear that because they do not happen to be using alternating currents, they must either bear the cost of additional stations to feed the network or sink excessive amounts in mains.

The entire system has been worked out on a practical basis by the Electric Construction Corporation of Wolverhampton under the guidance of Mr. Thomas Parker, the works director, and one of the most pleasing exhibits in the exhibition is to be found in the stand of this Corporation in the Machinery Court, containing as it does machines of such high-class construction, and controlling apparatus so well suited to the requirements of the system.

The largest machine in this stand, Fig. 6, is a continuous current transformer or motor transformer, identical in size and output with the ten machines used inside the Palace for the supply of current to exhibitors. It is to be regretted that it was found necessary to fix these machines so far out of sight underneath the Palace, as otherwise their full display in operation would have considerably added to the practical interest of the exhibition.

We have already explained the working of the machines in the Palace, which receive current at 1,000 volts pressure from the Crystal Palace and District Electric Supply Company’s Station at Sydenham, one and a quarter miles distant, and transform it down to a pressure of 110 volts for exhibitors. The complete system of distribution by these motor transformers for town lighting, as now adopted at Oxford, will be understood by reference to Fig. 7.

In the first place there is the generating station, the site of which is selected with reference to good water supply and economical facilities for delivery of coal. In this station are installed the necessary engines and boilers, together with the electric generators and their exciters. As the area of lighting extends, more generators can be added, their manipulations in parallel being perfectly simple. These produce current at 1,000 volts pressure, which is delivered by all the machines on to one pair of bars in the station, known as omnibus bars, or shorter, bus bars. From these the current proceeds along the high tension mains to the most central point in the district of supply, at which is located a central switch station.

From this station is controlled the working of all the transformers used in the system, these machines being located in sub-stations situated radially around the switch station at points most favourable for feeding the low tension network of supply, and keeping the electric pressure uniform throughout. At the switch station there is a pair of omnibus bars receiving the high tension current from the generating station, and from which the same current is, through double pole switches, connected onto the feeders supplying the motor transformers at the sub-stations. For the complete control of all the transformers only one man is required in the switch station.

The voltmeters in this station show the pressure on the town supply network at all the sub-stations, and as the load increases in any district, the pressure is kept up by switching on an additional transformer located in that district. Although the sub-stations where the transformers are fixed are at various distances away from the switch station, the switching in or out of these machines controlled by one man at the above station with perfect certainty and ease.

In performing this operation the first thing to do is to close the two-pole switch which conveys the high-tension current to the transformer. The current, which passes through a considerable resistance before leaving the station, passes into the armature of the machine on the high-tension side, and excites the field through a few turns of thick wire in series. The brushes on both commutators are kept permanently down, and need no alteration of lead for changes of load, as the reactions of the two armatures neutralise one another. Once the excitation of field is started, the machine starts, at first quickly, but the shunt field rapidly building up, the speed soon decreases again, and is then brought up to the required amount by reducing the main resistance in the switch station. So far the transformer is started, but the secondary winding on the armature is not yet put in connection to feed the supply mains. This is done at the switch station by the simple act of momentarily closing and opening a switch which short-circuits the voltmeter. This causes a current to flow through an automatic circuit closer fixed with each transformer in the sub-station.

This apparatus, shown in the figure, consists primarily of an iron-clad electromagnet, the exciting coil of which is included in the circuit of the voltmeter at the switch station. The resistance being small does not interfere with the voltmeter readings, and, moreover, by short circuiting the voltmeter in the switch station for an instant, a large current from the supply mains flows through the coil, causing the armature of the magnet to be drawn up. The armature carries two pawls lying on a ratchet wheel, and upon its being attracted upwards, the left-hand pawl engages one tooth and moves the ratchet.

Again, on breaking the short-circuit the armature falls, and the right-hand pawl engages, forcing the wheel round further in the same direction. The double operation moves the ratchet wheel and cam through one-eighth of a revolution. In this position one tooth of the cam bears down on the contact block, so completing the low tension circuit from the transformer to the mains. The load on the mains is equally divided between the transformers at work, but in case of short circuit or any accidental stoppage which would cause an undue rush of current into the machine, an automatic cut-out, shown at M is fixed in connection with the above apparatus. The armature of the electromagnet M would in such an event be drawn up and strike the cam, shifting it round and disengaging the tooth from the contact piece S, thus breaking the circuit.

Similarly, as the load decreases, the various transformers can be severally disconnected from the supply by the operator at the switching station. Once closing and opening the voltmeter switch shifts the cam another eighth round, and allows the contact piece S to rise and break circuit.

By this arrangement the transformers are only used as the load requires, and are therefore, for the greater part of the working time, near their full load; and as the efficiency of these machines reaches 92 percent when delivering their full load of 40 kilowatts, and 87 percent at half load, see curve, Fig. 8, it will be seen that the whole system is worked with great economy. The only regulation required in the generating station is the adjustment of the strength of exciting current supplied to the generators, the pressure, as indicated by a voltmeter on the omnibus bars in the station, being maintained constant by this means. The exciting current is regulated by resistance in the shunt field of the excitors, of which there is a separate machine for each generator.

The Corporation have also carried out several important contracts in alternating current plant. We illustrate the Elwell -Parker alternator, Fig. 9, of 80 kilowatts, as exhibited in operation at the Palace. The armature is a stationary external ring, built up of soft iron rings, to the inside surface of which are clamped the coils. The latter are twelve in number and composed of copper strip, the edges being placed radial to the machine. These are held by wooden clamps bolted round the ring on each side. The field magnet, with the same number of coils, mounted on cores and yoke of solid forged iron, rotates inside the armature. The machine being high-tension, the armature is externally cased-in with a wooden cover, and the terminals of the machine are protected under a portion of this cover, kept under lock and key. The wires leading from these terminals are also taken underneath the bed of the machine in casing through the concrete, so that complete immunity from danger is attained.

Alternate current transformers of 2 and 4 horse power output are also shown in Fig. 10. These are of very simple construction, the two circuits being first bound together and afterwards encased around with soft iron plates made in the form of the letter L and built up on each side of the coils. The two rows of discs are then clamped together by bolts passing through cast iron end pieces.

The Corporation also exhibit a new pattern of adjustable resistance, sets of cut-outs fitted in porcelain boxes, and a high tension automatic switch used in connection with the above transformers.

 
Electric Lighting in Oxford.  The Engineer, 1st July, 1892.

On Saturday, June 18th, the electric current was switched on for the first time to the City of Oxford, by the Oxford Electric Company, and a large party had been invited to a dinner given at the works in honour of the occasion. The arrangements were very satisfactorily made by Mr. George Offor, the secretary of the company. We have referred previously in our issue of April 1st last to some of the features of the system employed, and are now able to give a full description of the plant.

It was found impossible to obtain a suitable piece of ground for the works near the centre of the city, a piece of land was therefore acquired at Osney upon the banks of the River Isis.

The outside of the building, which are of a neat design in brick, is shown in Fig. 1. The interior of the engine room is shown in Fig. 2, from which it is evident that there is ample room for more plant. This position will enable the company to charge electric launches, which will be an important source of revenue, and the works are kept away from the better parts the town.

The system adopted is that of high-tension continuous currents, with dynamotors or current transformers, which produce currents of low pressure for the network. The dynamos at the generating station produce the current at a pressure of 1,000 volts, and this is transformed down at the sub stations to a pressure of 100 volts. Fig. 3 is a plan of the part of the city in which the substations are placed, and the mains already laid along the streets are shown.

The contractors for the whole work are the Electric Construction Corporation, of Wolverhampton, and it has been carried out under the supervision of Mr. Thomas Parker, the managing director. The building is a well built structure of brick, designed by Mr. Brevitt, of Wolverhampton, and the builders were Messrs. Kingerley, of Oxford.

It is divided into two main sheds, separated by a brick wall. The engines and dynamos are placed in one part, and the boilers in the other, and all the plant is on the ground level. The engine room is thus kept perfectly free from coal dust. Three steel boilers of the locomotive type are at present installed; these were all built by Messrs. J. and H. McLaren, of Leeds; a Green's fuel economiser is placed in the main flue and a suitable by pass is arranged so that gases may pass direct to the chimney if needful.

The engine room is well lighted from above. The steam pipes are arranged upon the ring system, so that in case of breakdown, as little as possible of the plant would be affected. Stop valves are placed between each two engines, and the bends are all of copper. Three engines are now put down, and these are of the inverted triple-expansion type, built by Messrs. J. and H. McLaron and Co. By the courtesy of the makers we are enabled to give the results of tests which were carried out at the works by Mr. Wilson Hartnell, Professor Goodman, and the inspecting engineer, Mr. Watson. The sizes of the cylinders are:- high-pressure, 9in. diameter, intermediate, 14·25in., low-pressure 22·5in. diameter, by 24in. stroke.

Two trials were made, in one of which it will be observed the steam jackets were used, an in the other were not used. We may add that the high-pressure and intermediate cylinders are jacketted with steam at boiler pressure, and are drained through a McDougal steam trap into the hot well. The low-pressure cylinder is not jacketted. The McLaren automatic governor is placed inside the fly-wheel upon the shaft itself, and it works direct on to the high-pressure slide valve, which is not balanced in any way. The governor is self-locking, and is therefore not affected by any friction on the slide valve. The engines run very steadily, and all danger of the governor being put out of gear by the breaking of a belt is obviated. The surface condenser is fitted with brass tubes and tube plate; the tubes are ⅞in. outside diameter, and there is 382 square feet of cooling surface.

The air pump is 11½in. diameter, the circulating pump 10in. diameter, and the feed pump 1¾in. diameter, all three having a stroke of 14in. The pumps are placed behind the condenser, and are worked by levers from the intermediate engine. The crank shaft is of forged steel, 5¼in. diameter, the crank pins 5½in. diameter, and the engines are thoroughly well finished. Each of the engines is provided with a heavy fly-wheel, and drives a dynamo by means of belting; two of the belts are of the usual double-sewn type, and the third is a Gaskin link belt.

The three dynamos, one of which is shown in Fig. 4 are all similar, and were built by the Electric Construction Corporation; each develops 1,080 volts and 80 amperes, when running at 400 revolutions per minute. The dynamos are provided with an extra bearing outside the driving pulley, and each is excited by a small Elwell-Parker dynamo, driven from a rope pulley keyed on to the shaft of the main generator. The exciters give 135 volts, and can thus be used to charge the accumulators which are used for lighting the central station.

The electro-motive force of the dynamos can be regulated from 1,100 volts at full load to 1,000 volts at light load, by means of resistances placed in circuit with the exciters. In the circuit of each dynamo is placed a double pole automatic cut-out, shown in Fig. 5 which protects the dynamo in the event of any excessive current, and is reset by hand, but it is so arranged that the cut-out cannot be held on. The dynamos are all connected in parallel to two common omnibus bars upon a switchboard at the works.

The foundations for the engines are of a solid block of concrete, and that for the dynamos another solid block, weighing about 100 tons each, and about 11ft. deep. Air spaces are left round the blocks to diminish vibration.

The switchboard at the works is very simple, and consists of three panels, each of which is similar to Fig. 5, and carries one ammeter for the high tension circuit, one for the exciter circuit and the knocking-off switch previously alluded to.

Two overhead cranes, each capable of lifting six tons, are provided in the engine house, and a battery of fifty three E.P.S. cells is used for the lighting of the station. By means of this battery and of that at the chief sub-station, it is possible to shut down altogether at the works for six to eight hours in winter, and twelve to sixteen hours in summer. At the time of our visit, Mr. McLean, the engineer in charge, had placed a dynamotor in the works in order to light up about five arc lamps of fifteen amperes each, and 370 eight candle-power lamps. Current was also supplied for the electric cooking, which formed a feature of the dinner. From the generating station run out two pairs of heavily insulated Silvertown cables, each consisting of 37/14 copper wires; these are laid in cast iron pipes, and are carried a distance of about one mile to the distributing station at Broad Street marked No.1 on the plan, Fig. 3. The system of working is clearly shown in diagram-Fig. 6 which we published in a previous issue. It will be seen that the dynamos are coupled to two omnibus bars at the generating station, and thence run the high-tension mains to the central switch station, whence all the other sub-stations are controlled.

At each of the stations, Nos. 1, 2, and 3 on the plan Fig. 3, is placed a dynamotor, such as shown in Fig. 7, which transforms the pressure from 1,000 volts to 110 volts, and gives out a current of 360 amperes when fully loaded. The efficiency of these machines is very high, being 92 percent when fully loaded, 89 percent at three quarters load, and 87 percent at half load. The main winding is a shunt to the low-tension side, and there are a few turns on the magnets in series with the high-tension armature. The oiling arrangements are very complete. The end of the armature shaft is provided with a cam, which actuates the piston of a small oil pump which feeds the bearing; the oil passes away through a filter to the oil reservoir, and is used over again. It is thus possible to run for some days without attention. The brushes upon the commutator are of copper gauze.

An accumulator of 114 cells of the L. 31 E.P.S. type is installed here, and the cells are arranged in four groups, two of thirty-eight cells and two of nineteen cells. They are charged in three groups of thirty-eight cells each, and are discharged in two groups, each consisting of thirty-eight and nineteen cells in series, and are capable of supplying a current of 120 amperes for eight hours.

Voltmeters are provided at the central switch station, which show the pressure at each of the sub-stations, and all the transformers can be controlled by one man. In starting a transformer the high-tension circuit is first closed through a resistance in order not to injure the armature windings. The dynamo field is then excited by a few coils in series. The dynamo part then begins to produce current, and the resistance is gradually taken out of the high-tension circuit. In order to put the transformer into circuit with the low pressure network, a special apparatus has been designed, shown in the diagram and also in Fig. 8; this instrument is placed at the sub-station and is designed for 400 amperes. It consists of a long-pull electro-magnet, which actuates a ratchet wheel and controls the switch. It is actuated by merely closing and opening a switch which short circuits the voltmeter on the pilot wire. One of the wires to the voltmeter is wound round the long-pull magnet, and the feeble current passing to the voltmeter under ordinary conditions is not sufficient to attract the armature, but by closing the switch the voltmeter is cut out of the circuit, and the long-pull magnet acts; the switch is then opened, the heavy armature drops, and the double movement causes the switch which connects the low-tension network to the transformer to close. In cases of accidental overloading, an automatic cut out-shown in Fig. 5 opens the circuit.

The present capacity of the entire plant is 12,000 lamps of 32 watts, and 15,000 lamps could be wired. The low-tension mains were manufactured and laid by Callender's Bitumen Telegraph Company, under the superintendence of their engineer, Mr. W. Douglas Reid. Those cables are of two sizes, half a square inch and a quarter of a square inch section, and are of the lead-sheathed type, armoured with two layers of steel tape. These cables are simply laid in a trench under the footway, at a depth of about 18in. They are laid in lengths of from 150 to 200 yards, and are connected together in cast iron joint-boxes by means of copper connectors. The box is then run in solid with bitumenised wax compound. Disconnecting branch boxes are provided at different points in the network, so that any section or street can be cut out without in any way interrupting the supply to the rest of the network.

House service wires are connected in T boxes by means of T copper connectors. These boxes and connectors are so made that the cable is not out, but is simply bared down to the copper strands and the connector put on and soldered. The box is then run in solid with the bitumenised wax compound. The small service wires are of two sizes, seven fourteenths and twelve fourteenths, lead sheathed and armoured. The arc cables are similar, but seven sixteenths. The whole installation is a very interesting example of the possibility of using high-tension continuous currents for large areas.