ELECTRIC POWER FOR FLAXMILLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2608, 19 July 1923, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER FOR FLAXMILLS.

VALUE PROVED BY TESTS,

At the meeting of the Horowhenua

Power Board on Monday, the Engineer (Mr T. R. Overton) submitted the following report of a series of tests made with a view to securing information in respect to the suitability of electric power for operating flax-milling machinery.— “As authorised at last meeting, Mr A. A, Brown, Mr A. Seifert and myself proceeded to Wairoa where a series of tests were undertaken at the flaxmill in order to secure information on the following points.— (a) The effect of placing balance wheels on an intermediate shaft on the stripper drive. (b) Placing a balance wheel on the stripper drum. (c) ;The general use of electricity in flnxmills. Referring to (a) two 7cwt. balance wheels were placed on an intermediate shaft, which, according to the test sheets shows no appreciable difference in power consumed but a very noticeable difference in fluctuation of current. This amounts to as much as 30 amperes and the conclusion we derived from this test is that we are firmly of opinion that a distinct advantage may be effected by using balance wheels, thus ensuring an even drive, and causing less wear and tear on the light moving parts of the electric motor.

-Regarding (b) an experiment was made with' a balance wheel weighing lOOlbs. directly keyed on the stripper drum. Power consumption again remained practically the same and current fluctuations were not so well kept down. This, however, may be due to insufficient weight being applied to the fly-wheel. With respect to clause (c), namc-

ly tlie general use of electricity for flaxmilliug: in the first place we are confident that considerable savings as well as riiore congenial working conditions could be made to ilaxmillers in our district by changing over to the use of electricity. Besides this, greater production of fibre may be looked for from the same labour as. now used. One test showed feeding at the rate of 34iewt. per hour and no apparent detrimental effect was noticed on either plant or fibre. Another very important factor in the use of electricity is the quick and accurate measurements of electricity consumed which makes it very easy to ascertain any defects in, or any uneconomical machinery used in any part of a mill; such tests may be carried out in a few minutes. Attached herewith is the results of tests taken in driving the different machines, same being only taken over ii few minutes duration, and may be looked on as being fairly conservative. These show that about 240 units of electricity will dress one ton of fibre. At the Board’s present schedule of charges this would represent an expenditure of approximately 22/6 per ton of dressed flax.”

Speaking to the .report, Mr A. Boss (Foxtori) said the result to his rniud was more in favour of the Board than, of the flaxmillev. Tt would keep the load uniform but it had not shown the reduction in cost that the millers had hoped for. At the <**me time the report, was valuable as giving definite information as to the cost of electricity from the millers’ point of view, a thing that otherwise they would have only been able to guess at. Mr A. Seifert explainer! that some of the results given in the table attached -to 'they report “were rather technical arid ‘-might require explanation, and this the engineer would be willing to give. The great value of the report was that they cduld now tell a ( flaxmiller just how much it would take to run a stripper, a pump, etc., and how much it would take to run the mill idle and at. its full capacity. Moreover, it. had proved definitely that at the prices it was proposed to charge it would be cheaper to operate a mill by electricity than by any other -means. At Miranui they had a suction gas plant—a thoroughly efficient'and up-to-date one —but it would pay him to let these engines remain idle. When he was going up to Wairoa he had thought that possibly the result would justify the millers asking for a reduction in the price of power, but be was now convinced, that at the price asked the proposition was a good one. A point the Board had to consider was whether they would make some concession to flaxmillers to get them to put in electric motors. They might give substantial concessions for two years to all who joined up within that period, after which time the concession would be wthdrawn. Speaking as a member of the Board

he considered the rate asked was all right, but there would be a certain amount of difficulty in getting men who had satisfactory plants to change over unless it was made worth their while. Before he sat down ho wished to thank Mr A. Ross and the Wairoa Flaxmilling Company, who had given every assistance and help in the tests carried out, which wore very thorough. Members could rely on the fact that it would pay millers to use power at the price quoted. Mr A. A. Brown said that Mr Seifert had covered the ground pretty thoroughly and he could only endorse what he had said. He was quite convinced of the value of electricity and would use it to run his mill as soon as he could get it. Mr W. E. Barber expressed the opinion that the Board was very fortunate in getting the opinions of men who were experts in flax milling. He considered that the idea •of concessions mentioned hv Mr Seifert was a good one. The report was' adopted, the chairman stating that the question of concessions would be considered.