Development of excitron-type rectifier

J. H. Cox (Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.): I am most pleased that Mr. Wino-grad´s paper points out the basic superiority of the single-anode tube over multianode construction, even in the large-size units. This makes unanimous agreement on that point among the builders of mercury-arc rectifiers in America. I have thought for a long time that the early rectifier engineers were misled by the fact that most electric apparatus became more attractive as the size of units was increased and continued to struggle for more anodes in larger units even though it was recognized that an increase in size of unit increased losses. Of course, a balance must be struck between efficiency and the complication of multiplicity of parts. However, Mr. Wino-grad has demonstrated that, even with the continuous-excitation principle, by better engineering of details and of auxiliary apparatus the complication can be minimized to a point where the sacrifice demanded by single-anode construction is well justified by the efficiency gain and the simplification of the main arc carrying features.