Desirable duplication and safeguarding in the electrical equipment of a generating station

The question of how far to go with duplication of equipment and the installation of safeguards is one that plays an important part in central station design. The extent to which these provisions are made has an important bearing on the cost of installation and has a direct influence upon the dependability of the service rendered. Stations on larger interconnected systems require a greater degree of protection of this nature than is usually the case in stations on small systems on account of the importance of the service as well as the more serious results of short circuits, due to the greater concentration of energy. This article discusses the more important considerations to be taken into account and points out that local conditions will have a determining influence on the decision made.