Economical combination of water power and steam plants and a convenient method of solution

A determination of the respective economic limits in steam and water power plant developments. Formulas are derived for determining total annual costs of each type of plant and the most economical combination. Certain general conclusions are reached as follows: Practically all water power plants should be developed beyond minimum power available and hence in combination with a steam plant. The economic limit depends largely on the value of money, fuel, labor, the increasing efficiency of steam turbines and the location of the enterprise.