| Short trip shorter report [message #90036] |
Sat, 26 June 2010 19:14  |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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The last Friday in June is Engineer's Day at the Soo Locks (Sault Saint Marie - MI). I'm not sure why they call it that, because I could not find a lock engineer to ask a question of. One can always go into the park and watch ships lock through, but this one day a year that let people walk around in the actual facility and see some neat stuff. The commercial power plant down Portage Road was also open and there I got a hold of an engineer and did get some questions answered about that. After many times through the
locks, this is the first time I stood on the ground and watched ship go up or down.
I took a different friend along as my wife was involved with other things these last few days. Between the locks, the power plant and the museums - one of which is an old lake steamer the Valley Camp, we about walked out feet off. On Valley Camp, I was discovered to be the available native guide for about another half a dozen people. I didn't mind, but it was a little unnerving.
A two tank trip, one there, and one more home.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: Short trip shorter report [message #90060 is a reply to message #90036] |
Sat, 26 June 2010 20:35  |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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| mcolie wrote on Sat, 26 June 2010 19:14 |
The commercial power plant down Portage Road was also open and there I got a hold of an engineer and did get some questions answered about that. After many times through the
locks, this is the first time I stood on the ground and watched ship go up or down.
I took a different friend along as my wife was involved with other things these last few days. Between the locks, the power plant and the museums - one of which is an old lake steamer the Valley Camp, we about walked out feet off. On Valley Camp, I was discovered to be the available native guide for about another half a dozen people. I didn't mind, but it was a little unnerving.
A two tank trip, one there, and one more home.
Matt
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Matt - How did you like the long long row of generators? That is a very unique plant. It was originally constructed by Union Carbide to make calcium carbide. The carbide furnaces were on the second floor. The rest of the production operation was in a building south of the plant. If the plant is at full output and trips the surge down the power canal will rise up over the top of the pond wall and run down the stair cases from the pond level down to the main floor. Not a real problem, just wet. The output of this plant has been very restricted with the recent low water levels on Lake Superior.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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| Re: Short trip shorter report [message #90096 is a reply to message #90060] |
Sun, 27 June 2010 06:15 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| midlf wrote on Sat, 26 June 2010 21:35 |
Matt - How did you like the long long row of generators? That is a very unique plant. It was originally constructed by Union Carbide to make calcium carbide. The carbide furnaces were on the second floor. The rest of the production operation was in a building south of the plant. If the plant is at full output and trips the surge down the power canal will rise up over the top of the pond wall and run down the stair cases from the pond level down to the main floor. Not a real problem, just wet. The output of this plant has been very restricted with the recent low water levels on Lake Superior.
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As said, I managed to latch on to a retired operations guy.
The water flow allocation had the plant at about one-third capacity. What I though was really interesting was that there original equipment was 2500V, 25HZ and appeared to be single phase. The machines were actually disassembled and re-wound for 4160, 60Hz and 3ph. The 25Hz is no surprise, that is the highest frequency that will still run a DC motor and still allow a transformer to actually work. The displays were very well done, but I had to shoulder my way through the kids collecting pop corn, hot dogs and balloons to look at a lot of it.
Too bad the state does not want tourist traffic in motorhomes.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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