October 15, 2007

This month in POWER…

October 1932

The 1930s witnessed rapid expansion in the size and power output of central-station diesel engines around the world. POWER noted that "only a few years ago, it was assumed that the oil engine would never be able to compete for high power outputs, first because it did not lend itself to manufacture in high outputs, secondly because the cost would be greater than that of a corresponding steam plant. Lately however, some fairly big oil engines, coupled to alternators, have been built for use in European power stations, mainly to take the peak load. By far the biggest installation, however, is that for the Copenhagen Power Station [Figure 3]. Two or three years ago, it was decided that considerable extension would be needed, and because Burmeister & Wain, pioneer diesel engine builders, have the works in Copenhagen, the question of building a new central station wholly with oil-engine drive was considered. An order was placed for an alternator set . . . with a normal output of 21,000 b.hp. but that if necessary it should be able to develop 22,500 b.hp. continuously.

3. The world's largest diesel engine in 1932.

“The [engine], which operates on the double-acting two-stroke-cycle principle . . . has a guaranteed fuel consumption of 0.55 lb. per kw.hr.” [Editor: approximately 33% thermal efficiency.]

4. The first Edison Jumbo.

POWER also reported that the "first Edison Jumbo dynamo [Figure 4] went into operation in Thomas A. Edison's first central electric light plant, New York's historic Pearl Street station [and] the fiftieth anniversary of which was celebrated Sept 4. It is now in Henry Ford's Museum of American Industries [Editor: now the Henry Ford Museum] at Dearborn, Mich., having been given to Mr. Ford by The New York Edison Company, successor of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, the pioneer company of the Edison system of incandescent lighting. This is the only one of the six dynamos with which the station was originally equipped that is still in existence."