The Design of a Power and Lighting and Heating Plant for the University of Tennessee

Author

P. I. Tinkler

Date of Award

5-1921

Degree Type

Thesis

Major

Mechanical Engineering

Major Professor

Charles E. Ferris

Abstract

THE PRESENT PLANT

Boilers

At present the power plant consists of 3 boilers, 2- 80 H. P. and one 175 H.P. totaling 333 H. P. This plant supplies light for all buildings on the campus, and power for the machinery at Estabrook Hall.

In winter the exhaust steam is used to heat Estabrook Hall, all other buildings are heated by live steam from the boilers. At present this installation is large enough to supply the demand.

ENGINES & GENERATORS.

The generating units consist of one 50 K. W. D. C. generator, direct connected to a compound horizontal reciprocating engine, one 25 K. W. D. C. generator direct connected to a simple slide valve engine. There is also an old belt connected generator, but this is to be considered more as a relic than an asset to the plant.

FEED WATER HEATER

The feed water is a closed heater and is heated by exhaust steam.

PROBLEM

It is desired to install a power plant that will furnish light heat and power for every building on the University campus at present and make provision for future extension. For present conditions about 1000 B.H.P. will be adequate to supply the demand, but there will be future extensions, and a probability that buildings not on the campus will be heated and lighted from this central plant In this case, provision must be made for a larger installation. It is estimated that 1200 B.H.P. will be large enough.to supply this extra demand. Instead of making provision for a future unit, it seems to be the best plan to make the initial installation large enough to supply this increased demand.

By having a plant that is more than sufficient to carry the load means that there will be no necessity for operating them above rated capacity.

Since this is to be a purely theoretical design and will not be used in event there is ever a new plant built, expense will not be considered as closely as if it was an actual design to be used, but will make an effort to design as near an ideal plant as possible.

LOCATION

The plant will be located on the west side of Estabrook hall, the front of the building being in line with the front of Estabrook. A fifty foot space will be left between buildings. In this location very little excavation will be necessary, since the hill slopes gradually back to the railroad. A spur track will be built from the Southern Railroad to supply coal. An entrance bridge will be built extending from the road to the main floor of the engine room.

Recommended Citation

Tinkler, P. I., "The Design of a Power and Lighting and Heating Plant for the University of Tennessee. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1921.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/14385