Hydroelectric Plant

Cornell University Fall Creek Hydroelectric Plant

The first electrical generation facility in Fall Creek gorge was built in the early 1880's. That plant was powered by water from a dam just above the present dam, with a water wheel just above the present plant with a cable to a generator located near the Foundry. In 1904, the present plant was built. Construction was preceded by replacing Triphammer Dam slightly west of it original location in 1896. Water is supplied to the plant from Beebe Lakeby a five-foot diameter underground penstock, 1700 feet long. The existing intake dates to 1953 and was upgraded in 1981.

The original plant capacity was 300 kW with 2 Pelton Wheel turbines and 2 30kW DC exciters. This was increased in 1913 by adding a 360 kW Francis turbine. The facility was overhauled in 1935 after being completely flooded. In 1957, No. 2 generator was replaced with a 175 kW unit. The plant capacity then stood at 850 kW @2,400 volts. In this configuration, the plant last operated in 1970. It was vandalized in 1972.

In 1981, the plant was completely renovated and all the original machinery removed except for one of the DC exciters. Two Ossberger crossflow turbines were installed with a total rated capacity of 1,950 kW. The plant, however, is limited to about 1,100 kW output because of the size of the penstock.

This hydroelectric plant is "run of river", which means that no water is stored. At all times, 10 cfs must continue to pass over the dam. The average production for this plant is 4.5M KWh to 5.5KWh.� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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������������������������������������ Unit #1������������������������������������ Unit #2
Turbine:����������
Manufacturer���������������� Ossberger�������������������������������� Ossberger

Type, Model������������������Crossflow G8069/17g (2 cell)���Crossflow G1078/20g (2 cell)

Rated Capacity������������� 712 kW (conservative rating)����� 997 kW (conservative rating) 

Net Head����������������������115 feet������������������������������������ 115 feet

Discharge��������������������� 88.3 cfs������������������������������������ 123.5 cfs

Speed Increaser:��������

Type����������������������������� Induction motor������������������������� Induction motor

Rated Capacity������������� 800 kW������������������������������������ 1,072 kW

Voltage������������������������� 2,400 V������������������������������������ 2,400 V

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