Trends in the design and arrangement of electrical equipment in hydraulic power plants

DURING the last ten years there has been a considerable development of water power resources in this country. Many different organizations have participated in the design of these projects, and many contributions have been made to reduce the first cost, improve the overall efficiency, and reduce the cost of operation. A brief review of those trends which represent the greatest changes, or have provoked the most discussion, may be of interest at this time. On many of them there is no unanimity of opinion. The reader may disagree with some, he may even question whether others represent general trends at all; nevertheless, the writer will try to give them without either commendation or condemnation, and he would not be entirely candid if he did not say that some looked rather foolish to him at first. It should be emphasized that this paper will discuss only those features which have been changing, or have provoked discussion; many things which are of much greater importance to the station may therefore be mentioned only briefly, if at all.