New runners to boost peak output at Niagara Falls

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Electrical World; (United States)

OSTI ID:5178151

Reason, J

Retrofitted Francis turbines will improve the value of power generated from Niagara Falls by increasing the peak output of the hydroturbine units at the Robert Moses hydroelectric plant. The computer-designed runners are expected to add 330 MW to the peak capacity of the 28-yr-old plant and significantly increase the efficiency at high flow rates. Next year, the first new runner will be retrofit to the highly instrumented Unit 4. If the retrofit unit meets it increased-performance expectations, the other 12 units will be upgraded between 1993 and 1998. The work is part of an overall expansion of the Niagara Power Project designed to made better use of the power value of Niagara river water, within the constraints of a treaty with Canada and the scenic value of the falls. These constraints, together with varying flows and heads, introduced enormous complexities into the selection and design of the new runners. The alterations being made to Unit 4, in addition to replacing the turbine runner, include modifying the draft tube-liners, increasing the wicket-gate stroke, replacing the turbine discharge ring (to accommodate longer blades), making various electrical modifications to the generator, and replacing the transformer. But the key to the retrofit is the computer-designed runner. Charles Grose, senior project manager, New York Power Authority, White Plains, NY, emphasizes that such computer design techniques were not available a few years ago; neither were the computer-controlled machining techniques necessary to manufacture the new runners. Other aspects of the upgrading that were analyzed include runner stability, resonance, shaft torsional stress, and runaway speed.

• OSTI ID: 5178151
• Journal Information: Electrical World; (United States), Journal Name: Electrical World; (United States) Vol. 204:1; ISSN ELWOA; ISSN 0013-4457
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130700* -- Hydro Energy-- Power-Conversion Systems
COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN
DESIGN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
FEDERAL REGION II
GREAT LAKES
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
LAKE ERIE
LAKES
MACHINERY
NEW YORK
NIAGARA RIVER
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
RETROFITTING
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
USA
WATER CURRENT POWER GENERATORS