Electric Power Transmission Plants And The Use Of Electricity In Mining Operations

Author : Thomas Haight Leggett
Publisher : Forgotten Books
ISBN 13 : 9781330294260
Total Pages : 65 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (942 download)

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Download or read book Electric Power Transmission Plants and the Use of Electricity in Mining written by Thomas Haight Leggett and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2015-07-23 with total page 65 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Electric Power Transmission Plants and the Use of Electricity in Mining: Written for the Twelfth Report of the State Mineralogist, 1894 Some one has aptly spoken of California as the Switzerland of America. Certainly the rugged scenery of its snow-capped Sierra, and its numerous lakes and mountain streams, justify, in part, the simile. In Switzerland they have been quick to realize the advantages to be derived from the utilization of their water powers for the generation of electric power, and its transmission to distant points; here in California, we are but beginning to grasp the situation. In electricity the miner has undoubtedly gained a most efficient and valuable ally. Through its aid the latent power of the many streams now running idly down the mountain slopes can be made available, and brought across long stretches of country by means of a simple line of wire, to operate the machinery of mine and mill. In sections where no water powers are available, and fuel is scarce and dear, electricity may be generated at the center of fuel supply, and the power transmitted from this central station to operate a number of mills and hoisting works in the distant mining camp. One of the great advantages of electric power is its adaptability to ready subdivision into small units without material loss of power, by reason of the high efficiency now developed by the best types of dynamos. Hence, separate motors may be used in the mill for running crushers, stamps, concentrators, pans, etc., or in the mine for hoisting-engines, pumps, and air compressors, effecting a very appreciable saving when any of these machines are idle. To accomplish this requires the use of the direct current, but this can be readily obtained from the alternating where such is used for the transmission, by employing rotary transformers, or "motor generators," of high efficiency. In a letter to the writer, accompanying photographs illustrating the Telluride, Colo., transmission plant, hereinafter described, Mr. Chas. F. Scott gives the following excellent resume of the present status of electricity in the field of mining: "In the introduction of electrical apparatus to the operations of the mining industries of the West, the field of electrical power transmission is extending upon lines which have already been well established in other industries. The electric motor is becoming an important factor in almost every industry in which power is utilized. One of the most notable instances is in electric traction. The electric street railway motor has not only almost entirely replaced animal power, but it has wonderfully increased the speed, comfort, and economy of street railway operation, and has also extended it to distances and classes of service which were previously impracticable. The early railway motor had many and peculiar difficulties to overcome, but the problems incident to it have been rapidly surmounted. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.