| Show mechanical THINKER SOLVES TRANSIENT VOLTAGE PROBLEM NEW YORK using a mechanical thinker scientific detectives have tacked down the specific causes and effects of transient tran voltages on power systems they reported their clues and solutions before the annual midwinter mid winter convention of the american institute of electrical engineers transient voltages they explained pla ined are produced by arcs which are formed when the circuit is opened or closed and some times built up to as high as six times normal voltage in the system the report summed up two years research with an alternating current calculating board by R D evans A C monteith and R L witzke electrical engineers of the westinghouse in electric manufacturing company one of the investigators by operating this calculating board solved intricate mathematical problems which would have required man days ot of ordinary engineering figuring by setting up on the board a miniature equivalent ot of a full size electrical network said mr monteith we were able to apply faults to the system and study and measure the resulting surges this has enabled us to analyze systems and to secure data to allow the selection of the best method of operating systems so tar far as grounding requirements quire ments are concerned with this new research tool too its even possible to make the trans voltage go through its act sev eral times so that it can be analyzed at leisure like a slow motion picture of ofa 4 football game the alferna alternating ting current calculating board is housed at the east pittsburgh westinghouse works in a room surrounded by panels like a telephone switchboard by inserting plugs and turning dials the engineers can bring electric networks under the microscope of the calculator although the calculator does not contain toy size motors generators or transformers it does include a labyrinth of coils and condensers which duplicate the electrical characteristics acte of those big fellows of the power world its own sources of electrical power are neatly packed away in cabinet drawers |
