TURBINES AND ELECTRIC MACHINES.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1029, 2 May 1883, Page 2

TURBINES AND ELECTRIC MACHINES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — “ Speciall3 r constructed turbines and electric machines are in hand in France, By their aid it is hoped that the 100,000 horse-power constantly developed by the waterfall |of Bellegarde on the Rhone, may—at least one half of it—be brought the distance of 18 miles, which stretches between the fall and Lyons. M. Marcel Deprez has invented a dynamo-electric' machine, by which 50 per cent of the original force reaches the terminus, whether this be one mile or five hundred miles distant. The object is effected by machines giving the maximum of tension with the minimum of quantity. In these machines the ordinary electric wire is being used, although hitherto it has been objected that for any considerable tance thick and costly copper wires would be essential. The possibility of the Bellegarde Falls being utilised in Lyons,'is believed to-have been proved by experiments recentty conducted at the workshops of the Great Northern Railway Company in Paris, under the direction of a group, of mechanicians arid others, who propose to J work M. Deprez’s discoveries, and, in the presence of a large assembly of English, French, and American * scientists. A dynamoelectrical machine, transported a force equal to three horse power, a distance of twelve miles and a half by means of a single .iron wire; whilst, in a second experiment, a force of ten horse power was transported over a distance of 22 miles. Hitherto it had not been thought possible to transport a force beyond a mile and a quarter with a minimum loss of 50 per cent., even though the conductors should be thick copper ropes, M. Deprez believes that if the requisite facilities were afforded, he could demonstrate the possibility of transmitting power at no greater loss to almost any distance. If the scheme for utilising the Bellegrade Falls should be a success, it would be a comparatively trifling matter to utilise for industrial purposes the numerous small waterfalls which everywhere abound, even as the more expansive hope of the modern engineer which aims at utilising the river and tidal forces, would not then be long in realisation. What the Frenchmen who are supporting M. Deprez are doing, will be closely watched by the whole engineering world. If success should be attained, then it may be that steam machinery will not be immediately advantaged ; but the demand for turbines and other classes of machinery needful to harness electricity for industrial and domestic purposes will far surpass anything hitherto anticipated.” On reading the above in the Machinists Review I could not help thinking that the settlers on this Coast should consider the question of utilising the water power so abundantly supplied by every creek and gully, and look to the various ways of turning this power to account for the good of industry. One can imagine the cumberous steam threshing machine with its heavy engine dragged from farm to farm by a large number of horses—with its coal and smoko, and risk of fire and expensive labour—a thing of the past. Once more the farmer will be independent of any but his own hands, he will have a power available for use day or night, for every purpose that power can be applied, and many industries not dreamt of now will flourish. With constant and inexpensive power always available, every wet day can be made use of. The question of growing European flax and utilising the fibre would be then settled, the scutching and dressing could be done when it did not interfere with other work, and its value at present when scutched and baled, is from £4O to £IOO per ton in London. . The Borough of Palea should consider that within three miles of the town there is available sufficient water-power to develop electrical force for the lighting of the town and suburbs, including railway station and lighthouse. In addition to which it might be utilised for supplying cheap motive power, and there are many who would be only too happy to avail themselves of it at a cheap rate. The blacksmith could turn it to account in many waj’s, printing, would be done with it, the baker could use machinery for mixing the dough, the butcher for sausage making ; chaff cutting, corn crushing, turning, &c., &c,, would bo done with it. Trusting I have not trespassed too far upon j’our space, I am, &c., J .G.