24 January 2009
Water power at Niagara Falls
Posted by Cecilia under: Energy .
“The successful development of the water-power of Niagara Falls was the signal for the utilization of water powers all over the world.” These were the words of William Andrews in The American Monthly Review of Reviews in June 1901.
In 1886 engineer Thomas Evershed submitted a plan for the generation of water power at Niagara Falls. He proposed to divert the water via hydraulic tunnels above the Falls instead of harnessing water power below them.
The problem of getting the hydro-electric power to the people who needed it was solved by Nikola Tesla’s system of alternating current transmission.
Some of the original generators are still in use at the plant. Today, the Niagara generating stations supply 1/4 of all power used in New York State and Ontario.
The total power generating capacity of the Niagara station is a whopping 2,575,000 kW on the US side, with an additional 2,045,000 kW being generated by the Canadians.
An interesting fact for prospective visitors is that between November 1st and April 1st the water flow rate over the falls is reduced because the Niagara River is diverted into the hydro tunnels to generate more power.
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Today in Sikantis - January 24, 2009 « Sikantis Says:
24 January 2009 at 12:19 am.
[...] Innovative News - Water power at Niagara Falls [...]
