POWER FOR FLAXMILLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2559, 24 March 1923, Page 3

POWER FOR FLAXMILLS.

experiments as to use. new- methods are discovered of applying electrical energy to the hemp industry,' it is very probable that the big mills lying within the ijoundaries of the Horowhenua Power Board will continue to use their motive forces in preferencelo Mangahao power. This will mean that the Power Board will not link up its biggest prospective consumer. The flaxmillers themselves, are anxious to take the power, but they are surprised at the amount required for flax-dressing operations, as revealed in tests recently made by the Board's Engineer. . . '' Mr Overton recently visited Wairoa,'where lie inquired into the application of electric power to flaxdressing, and he gave the results of his investigation to Wednesday’s meeting of tW Board. Mr Overton •said he found they were putting through 25 to 27cwt. of flax up here to about a ton down south, and it was not surprising that it took a lot more power. Prom the first test he took it appeared that it took 22 h.p. to run an automatic scutcher. One stripper with pump and elevator took 57 h.p. Two strippers and a'-large lOin. centrifugal puifap and elevator, with countershafting, etc., accounted for .134 h.p. If the meter was correct, that power was being absorbed either in the shafting,or in the pump. The engineer explained that the load required for a flax-dressing plant varied very greatly, and the motor was sensitive to every variation. If they had a 50 per cent, overload, for instance, the motor instantly rose to carry it. In other forms of power production they had a certain amount of kinetic energy in the fly-wheel, which helped to carry the engine over these periodic overloads. Mr A. Seifert said he had inquired from two sources in the South Island and was informed that it took 50 h.p. to drive a stripper. It seemed that what took 134 h.p. ot drive by electric power only required 80 h.p. generated by a gas producer plant. It seemed that it was going to take far more power than was expected to drive flaxdressing machinery by electricity, and, according to the cost of power (lid per unit) the mills would do far better with their present power.

Mr A. Ross said the figures were very surprising. The flax industry required a great amount of power but before the millers could be approached and asked to take it, certain experiments would have to be carried out with a view to overcoming the difficulty. On the figures before them they would not get the industry to take the power. In answer to Mr Matheson, the engineer said he did not think the reliability of the testing meter would account- for the result indicated.

The chairman said they could not get much further at present. It might he that means could be devised of carrying the motor over the load by the use of a balancewheel, or something of that sort. He understood it was the butt of the leaf that required' the greatest load. Mr Seifert explained that forty “feeds” per minute were made. A blade of flax was six to eight feet long and there was a space between each when little power was needed. Tests showed-that the load varied from 40 h.p. to 6 or 7 h.p. in the course of the operation. The change over to electric power would cost Miranui about £3,000, and before they could decide to spend that amount of money they would need to be sure of their ground. The chairman: Unless you are going to make a saving you would not be justified. \

Mr Seifert offered the Engineer the use of any plant at Miranui required for experiments. He said the millers’ 'were anxious to take electric power but on the face of the figuresnqtrated they would need more information.

The Engineer was authorised to take such steps as lie thought necessary to investigate the matter, with - a view to" bringing electric power within reach of the flaxmillers.