Modern Electric-Power-Distribution Ideas as Applied in a Large War Plant

Abstract

It may be concluded, without reservation, that the application of load-center distribution principles as herein described was responsible for an amazing reduction in material investment, principally copper and steel, compared with that which would have been required by power-distribution methods employed only a short time ago. In the planning of this project, the greatest emphasis constantly was placed on conservation of materials. The use of compact, repetitively manufactured metal-clad, load-center unit substations do realize good economy in materials and man-hours, and at the same time incorporate simplicity and safety. Unusual features incorporated in this system, which in themselves are responsible for large savings in material, manhours, or both, include: 1. The application of forced-oil air-pressure cooling to the main incoming service transformers. 2. The use of overhead high-voltage feeder-cable troughs. 3. The use of spaced single-conductor low-voltage feeder design with moderate unit copper cross sections. 4. The use of 265-volt fluorescent lighting in combination with common load-center unit substations for serving power and light. (This feature alone accounts for a saving of five tons of copper and ten tons of steel compared with the most economical method of applying 120-volt fluorescent lighting. The secondary selective system design offers a well-balanced combination of simplicity and service reliability. The negotiation of the entire distribution system as a single unit proved highly beneficial in reducing the time of execution and insuring the best co-ordination between the several component portions.