Infrastructure Tour at Bagnell Dam

Home|Previous Page|Next Page

100_6795.jpg
Nameplate for the 27.5 megawatt Westinghouse A.C. generator, one of eight main units. Reading it reveals why it's best for everyone to configure our loads for high power factor.
100_6796.jpg
The generator is so much copper and steel without the Allis-Chalmers turbine underneath it.
100_6799.jpg
A shot of the control arms for the throttle vanes of the turbine. The large ends sit on the axles of the vanes and the small ends connect to a ring. The ring is turned by a bellcrank actuated by two large hydraulic cylingers and the hydraulic pumps and controls shown on the previous page. The four small items along the wall are lubrication devices. Note the lines going to the top grease fittings on the control arms. The entire plant's lube system is automated.
This is a sore point by the way with many plant workers across our nation. As more automation is available, they find themselves replaced by machines. It's a real pity, because these are not simple hourly workers, but highly skilled mechanics and engineers who have devoted their lives to keeping this machinery going for our convenience. Computers are indeed the instrument of the devil, played like a bagpipe. ahem..

Page 3 of 18