Photo cells used in power plant : C. E. Miller. (Power, Vol. 79, No. 12)
✍ Scribed by R.H.O.
- Book ID
- 104130694
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1936
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 47 KB
- Volume
- 221
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0016-0032
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✦ Synopsis
Vol. 79, No. 12.) Industrial applications of photo cells have been many and varied, but their use in steam plants is relatively new. In the Buzzard Point plant of the Potomac Electric Power Co. there are installed pulverized fuel fired boilers. In operation of boilers of this type, particularly at very low ratings, it is important that the operator know instantly when ignition fails. Photo electric cells installed in each boiler at this plant so arranged that the source of illumination is from the furnace fire, operate an alarm if the fire goes out. In this way the operator is immediately notified and he can either cut in the gas lighters to relight the coal or cut off the coal feeders. Thus, unburned pulverized coal is prevented from being blown into the boiler setting. Another application of photo cells in this plant is on the circulating water intake screens in which clogging constitutes an ever present hazard. To obviate the necessity of having an attendant at the screens, and the possibility of an emergency shut down due to circulating water failure, an arrangement was adopted in which a float in the water on the inlet side of the revolving screens moves a photo electric cell. Water level on the discharge side moves a I IO volt lamp attached to another float. As the tide changes, the light source and photo electric cell move up and down with no change in their relative positions. If the screens become clogged, the water level on the discharge side will drop and raise the light beam off the photo cell. This causes, through relays, the starting up of a screen wash pump and the sounding of an alarm. R. H. O.
."The highest form of research, whether its intent classifies it as pure research or applied, is not that which is concerned with things as they are, but that which is aimed clear out beyond existing things to something altogether new."--T. A. Boyd, "Research.