A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION OF THE ART FOR THE USE OF ENGINEERS, STUDENTS, AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN ELECTRICAL PLANTS VOLUME I. THE GENERATING PLANT BY FRANCIS B. CROCKER, E.M., PH.D. PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK 171934 MAL 4 1013 TPL .087 6958592 PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. ELECTRIC LIGHTING having now become one of the most important branches of applied science, there is a demand for information on the subject. This demand is by no means confined to electrical engineers, but applies also to mechanical, mining, and other engineers, architects, fire underwriters, students in colleges. and technical schools, lawyers and business men who may be called upon to consider questions relating to electric lighting. But the development of this art has been so very rapid, and so many changes and improvements were continually being made, that heretofore any attempt at a complete treatise on the subject would become out of date while it was being printed. There are already good elementary works on electric lighting; and in the case of special branches, such as the dynamo, transformer, electrical distribution, etc., we have several excellent books; but none of these cover electric lighting as a whole, or what might be called electric-light engineering. The author believes that the time has now arrived, however, when electric lighting has reached a sufficiently perfected and established state to allow of its being treated in a fairly satisfactory and permanent manner. The plan adopted in this book is to follow the usual sequence in which the electric current is generated, transmitted, and utilized in electric lighting. That is to say, the introductory principles are first given; then the building, boilers, engines, dynamos, distributing conductors, lamps, etc., will be considered in the natural order in which the electrical energy is first obtained, and finally converted into light in the lamps. The attention of the reader is particularly called to this arrangement, which is given in full in the Table of Contents. This order not only facilitates the understanding and remembering of the various parts of the subject, but also enables one to quickly turn to any particular part without iii using the Table of Contents or Index, since one knows without any effort of memory the position of each element with reference to the others. The entire subject of electric lighting naturally divides itself into two parts; one relating to the generating-plant, and the other covering the distributing conductors, lamps, special applications, etc. The present volume is confined to the first part, the other subjects being given in Volume II. In many courses of instruction the subject of steam- and gasengines, water-wheels, and other purely mechanical matters, are not included in the lectures on electric lighting, being taught by other instructors as entirely distinct matters. In fact, the author approves of this plan himself; nevertheless, for completeness, it was deemed proper to incorporate the mechanical subjects with the electrical ones, and to consider particularly their application to electric lighting. These portions of the book will at least serve as a review or memorandum of what it is essential to know, even though the knowledge has already been acquired elsewhere. It is quite a common fault in technical books that many of the machines and methods given as examples are either untried The author desires to express indebtedness to his former pupils, Messrs. C. H. Parmley and Max Osterberg, whose carefully taken notes of his lectures formed the basis of this work; to Professor R. B. Owens of McGill University for ideas on the location of a station (Chapter V.); to Professors M. I. Pupin and F. R. Hutton, Mr. E. A. Darling and Mr. G. F. Sever of Columbia University for proofreading and suggestions in regard to the steam-engine, dynamo, etc. (Chapters VIII. to XVII.) ; also to Mr. Gano S. Dunn and Mr. D. R. Lovejoy for proofreading. PREFACE TO SIXTH EDITION. THE first edition of this book appeared in 1896, and four editions containing revisions have been published since. The present edition has been practically rewritten, bringing the various branches of the subject thoroughly up to date. The original arrangement of topics and the treatment of fundamental facts are retained, but the earlier types of apparatus have been replaced by the latest examples. Much new matter relating to recent developments in station design, steam-turbines, gas-engines, direct-connected generators, storage batteries, etc., has been introduced. Particular care has been exercised in eliminating the dead wood consisting of antiquated illustrations and statements, which are too often left in revised editions of technical works. This book has been used for eight years as a text-book in a number of engineering schools, and as a result of this experience the new edition is better adapted to its purpose. It is also intended as a handbook for engineers and architects, including those not specialists in electrical work but who desire to obtain information regarding it. "Electric Lighting" is retained as the title, but generating plants for railway, power, electrochemical, electrometallurgical and other purposes embody the same elements arranged in a similar manner, so that the book also applies to them. In a general treatise of moderate size it is impossible to cover this subject exhaustively, but the principle, construction, and action of each main or auxiliary piece of apparatus, also its relation to the others, is explained to an extent proportional to its importance. In the preparation of the present revised edition, the author received much valuable assistance from his friends and colleagues. Morton Arendt, E.E., Dr. C. E. Lucke, and Professor George F. Sever. The author also takes this opportunity to thank the various manufacturers and engineers who have kindly furnished information as well as illustrations. V |