Westinghouse Apparatus And The Tesla System Adopted At Niagara Falls

The Cataract Construction Company, has finally, after a long and thorough investigation of all the means submitted for transmitting power at Niagara, awarded the contract to the Westinghouse Company who will employ the Tesla multiphase system. The introduction of multiphase currents was some time since determined upon, but after protracted examination the Cataract Company settled upon the two-phase plan, this being recognized as the most flexible and remunerative in commercial exploitation.

The contract primarily calls for three generators of 5,000 h. p. each with corresponding motors and accessories. The revolving fields of the generators will be constructed with inwardly projecting poles and will revolve in a horizontal plane, being mounted upon the vertical shafts of the turbines. The weight of the shafts, turbines and armatures is to be carried by the upward pressure of the water-columns producing the heads for the turbines. The E. M. F. generated will be 2,000 to 2,400 volts and will be increased by step-up transformers for long-distance transmission and lowered by reducing transformers for distribution. The motors will be the two-phase Tesla. The system adapts itself readily to the use of motor generators or rotary transformers so that it is possible to develop either single-phase alternating currents or continuous currents of any desired E. M. F. as may be required for the uses of individual customers. It is expected that a large amount of power will be employed for manufacturing purposes, arc and incandescent lighting, electrolytic work and power purposes generally. It is also understood that the company contemplates sending current at high electromotive forces to Buffalo and greater distances to be used for lighting and power purposes. The work upon the apparatus has already been begun and it will be installed at the earliest possible date.

This is a high tribute to the Westinghouse Company, and not less so to the merits of the multiphase system.