Popular Science Monthly 



8Go 



result that it cannot drive its generator 

 during higli water periods. 



SECTIONAL ELE.VAT10M 



Vertical section through the turbine and 



concentrator, showing different water 



levels and other details 



Tlie current consumer needs his light 

 and power during rainy seasons and 

 thaw periods. Therefore, the small 

 water power has been considered a 

 hazardous investment without a steam 

 engine or gas engine in reserve. 



The river Rouge is a sluggish stream 

 draining a wide flat valley. It flows into 

 the Detroit river, which is often aftected 

 by winds on the Great Lakes. This 

 causes the Rouge to back up and lower 

 the head at the Ford dam at times 

 when other conditions are favorable to 

 good power. 



The farms' water power has been 

 modernized. It is now an electric 

 station which provides current for the 

 village pumping station, for Mr. Ford's 

 home, and the various requirements of 

 the farms. The problem of variable 

 heads, and variable flow, in connection 



Sujjer Draft Tube 



Tail Waier 



with constant requirements, was of 

 special importance. Therefore, some new 

 ideas and new apparatus were developed 

 in the solution. 



As has been already stated there are 

 times of excess flow, in which the actual 

 head pressure on the turbines is lowered. 

 If a greater number of turbines were 

 installed to use this surplus water the 

 cost, together with the expense of larger 

 foundations and buildings required, 

 would be prohibitive from an investment 

 point of view. This made it necessary 

 to try to increase the head by the use 

 of the surplus water itself, in other 



Head Water Level 



rj Head ' The m^i.^: 



pressure at the lower end of the turbine, and 

 ments the pressure at the intake end 



aug- 



The concentrator is in reality a tube within 

 a tube, acting somewhat like a siphon 



words, to set the mischievous 

 water to work. This was done 

 to the extent that the turbines 

 can develop more than their 

 normal power at times when 

 they otherwise would be ren- 

 dered powerless. 



This was brought about by 

 an apparatus which leads a 

 portion of the surplus flow to 

 the turbine discharge pipe in 

 such manner that a vacuum 

 is formed for the turbine to 

 discharge into, thereby adding 

 atmospheric pressure, or head, 

 to the water head already 

 acting on the turbine. This 

 produces the full head condi- 

 tions for the turbine. In 

 turn, full power is furnished. 

 This apparatus is called a 



