Abridgment of Hydro power practise in Central Europe

This paper presents the impressions of a European trip made during the summer of the year 1929 and gives a comparative study of the conditions of European developments in so far as they are either of a particular interest or different from the conditions in the United States. The present day turbine design with particular reference to the development of Propeller and Kaplan turbines is discussed. The more interesting low-head developments, the international interconnection system in the region of the upper Rhine, as well as the extensive use of pumping schemes, are briefly described and illustrated. The tendencies in power house design and the energy destroying problems are mentioned. Laboratory work, its influence on the European developments and the high standing of the low-head developments are stressed. A short comparison between the concrete work as done in Europe and in the United States is made.