=Number and Size of Units.=--The best number and size of units for an electrical plant is usually governed by the requirements of the driving engines. As a rule, dynamos and motors are not much less efficient at quarter load than at full load, and the smaller dynamos are fully equal to the larger machines in this respect, therefore, a generating plant can be subdivided, and if so desired, without any detrimental results except those to a multiplicity of units.
=Ques. What is the important consideration with respect to efficiency?=
Ans. Efficiency at maximum load is not so important as efficiency at average load.
For instance, in the diagram, fig. 439, the rated efficiency of one dynamo as shown by the curve A, is 95 per cent., and that of another, as shown by curve B, is 91 per cent., but it will be observed that the average efficiency of B is much higher, being 75 per cent. at quarter-load, 89 per cent. at half-load, and 91 per cent. at three-quarter load, to 55, 77 and 89 per cent. of A, at the corresponding loads. In this case, A is higher than B only at full load, and as full load is a limit which should not be reached except in special cases, and then only for short intervals of time, the service rendered by B would be much more satisfactory in the long run. In order to avoid the difficulties possible under these conditions, a guarantee to carry 25 per cent. overload for two hours without injury should be required, and either this or the rated load be taken, as the full load, so as to give a factor of safety of 25 per cent.
[Illustration: FIG 439.--Efficiency curves for 100 K. W. dynamos. The efficiency of a dynamo at maximum load is not so important as at average load. For instance, if in the figure the curve O B C represent the efficiency of a 100 K. W. dynamo and O A D, that of another machine, it would be in accordance with common practice to compare them at rated load, at which the efficiency of the first is only 91%, while the other is 93%. The first machine, however, is far better than the second, since its average efficiency is much higher, being nearly 91% between half load and 25% overload. It should be noted that full load is a limit which should be but occasionally reached, and then only for short periods of time.]