Document Y7KXX81rq46VzroOQOokwn78

I Close-up of (he new Elliott 7 500-kw turbine-generator unit. The turbine, designed for 400 psi, 7 50 F inlet steam, is equipped with three extraction openings, only one now used. Below right, another view of this unit. The coal storage area and equipment, including a Caterpillar bulldozer, was increased so as to pro vide more adequate storage facilities. l! In March, 1944, a survey of adjacent industries was begun to determine the feasibility of supplying steam to the major local industries located within a half mile radius of the power plant. It had become evident by this time that as the profit margin per unit sold decreased, due to fixed sale prices and rising costs, sales would have to be increased in order to maintain a safe operational margin. The steam survey indicated that the power plant could sell industrial steam in a limited area in order to increase plant load factor and efficiency, and to reduce the unit labor cost per kilowatt. This busi ness, which now has a gross revenue of over $114,000 per year is mutually profitable to the Power Plant and the local industries. Steam distribution pro The new 7500-kw turbine-generator unit with its Elliott surface condenser visible immediately below it. vides a service at reasonable cost, with man-power savings; and abatement of a local smoke nuisance. basis provided the foundation for the long range Since 1946 the Piqua Plant had supplied approxi expansion program. mately 60 per cent of the energy requirements of the In 1943 a study of street lighting conditions was Pioneer Rural Electric Co-operative, Inc., which begun, although new fixtures and luminaries were organization supplies rural areas in three adjacent not available at that time. To date every street has counties. Now all their requirements are supplied, been mapped and the engineering completed. Over Pioneer having just constructed a 33-kv trans 600 new street lights have been installed and 1000 mission system which made distribution of the more will be placed in service during the next three energy economically feasible. years to give the City better lighting service. The acquisition of the Pioneer contract and the Engineering on a new plant addition was official sale of industrial steam on a long-term contractual ly begun in July, 1944. The general program was i || ( Water-box end of Elliott 12,000-sq ft two-pass divided water-box, spring-supported surface condenser. --------'"'SSsStu^ZI CRIMDEBN00000284