HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1929, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

TWO <HUG,E MACHINESSOUTH CANTBEBUEY DEVELOPMENT. WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. Tlio Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Hansom, announces that tenders have been accepted by the Government for the first two units for electrical power generation in connection with the South Canterbury scheme on the Waitnki River. - The approach railway from Kurow is completed, and work is in progress on the big gravity dam. Initial power development will be by two units, each Generator having a capacity of 16,660 K.V.A., generated nt 11.000 volts, this beinor stopped un by transformers to 110,000 volts for transmission. The generators are to bo coupled to Francis reaction turbines of 2A.000 horse-power each. Tliev will be similar to those installed at Arapnni, though much larger. These machines will he impressive in their dimensions, as the diameter of the generator is 29 feet. Tts speed will he 125 revolutions nor minute. The total weight of the generator and turbine is over JOG tons. The weight of Hie moving Iparts, plus hydraulic thrust, will be 250 tons. This will be carried principally on a Michell thrustbearing, similar to that, in successful onerntion in marine nractice carrying tbe impulse of prnpol’.ors. Those giant machines will need a large supply of water. They are designed for a bead of seventy .feet and the inlets will be concrete continuations of the main dam. Each turbine will ’>e fed through a water passage of 26 foot wide, and 20 feet deep, permitting a flow of 3000 cubic feet per second. The head works are designed for five units, the first two of which are to be constructed in England.