Steel-tank mercury arc rectifiers: A phase of their development in America

This paper tells briefly of the work done by the Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co., on large steel tank rectifiers between the years 1908 and 1918. The difficulties involved in the development of this type of apparatus are mentioned with the continued efforts which were necessary to overcome them. Some of the design details of the rectifiers built are given with the results obtained from them. Three actual installations which are typical are discussed to show how these rectifiers performed in service. Reasons other than the performance of the rectifiers themselves were mainly responsible for the cessation of this phase of development. This work remains of great importance, as the principles established are widely used on the rectifiers constructed at the present time.