Niagara Falls 100.000-Hp. Development

38 ] Niagara Falls 1 00,000 Hp. Development located in the control building, are of the utmost sim- plicity. Vertical panels are used, of natural, dull-finished black “Linstun.” Each unit control consists of three panels, one containing the voltage regulators and tem- perature indicating devices, the second the main gene- rator instruments and control switches for exciter and field circuits and governor speed control, and the third, the generating station signal system and control switch for the line circuit breaker. The boards are arranged upon a circular arc, space being provided both for con- siderable extension of the new station and for the entire control of the old, which it is intended ultimately to re- locate at this point. On the lower floor of the control building, directly beneath the generator control boards, are panels for con- trol wire terminals, relays and recording instruments. terminal buildings and a three-panel board for the con- trol of the 2,200-volt circuits for the supply of power for excitation and service in the generating station. All switchboards were furnished by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, after plans and specifications of the power company. From the foregoing description it will be noted that the entire control of both main generator and exciter circuits, with the sole exception of the exciter motor- starting equipment, is in the hands of the control room operator. First, he may select the source of 2,200-volt power for excitation, i.e., 2,200-volt generator, Station 3 bus, or gate-house service bus. Second, he may select the source of power for driving the exciter for each generator, i.e., exciter bus or reserve bus. Third, he may select the source of direct-current power for •SIMPLICITY OF LAYOUT AND ACCESSIBILITY OF EQUIPMENT ARE EVIDENT IN DESIGN OF CONTROL HOUSE FIG. 52- A—Main control room showing oil-switch control handles .instru- ments for operating- units, signal apparatus. Tirrill regulators and annunciators which indicate location of trouble. On the left side of the desk is a roll chart on which is plotted a station- Here are also mounted the exciter rheostats operated from the control boards above. A storage battery rated at 120 amp.-hr. capacity at 220 volts for control circuit operation occupies a battery room in one corner of this floor, and immediately adjacent thereto is installed a 16-kw. motor generator set for charging purposes. In addition to the main generator control switch- boards in the control room there is also a six-panel service switchboard for storage battery control and charging and for direct-current control, alternating- current lighting and heating circuits in the control and log. Below this room is the board shown in B, which carries relays and recording and integrating meters. The cables coming to this board a.re supported in troughs along the walls, as shown in C. Back of the panels to which the cables lead are conduits. each generator field, i.e., individual exciter or direct- current bus. Fourth, he has full control of generator fields, either through the individual exciter field or through the common main field rheostat, and of the field switch. Fifth, he has control of the turbine gov- ernor for varying the 'load and synchronizing, and, finally, of the main generator oil-circuit-breaker con- necting the generator to the transmission line. The duties of the generating station operator are, therefore, confined to starting and stopping the appa- ratus and attention to its proper mechanical operation,