Feds Award $3.4 Million Contract For Hoover Dam Turbine Upgrade - Will Help @ Lower Water Levels

[hatrack]

The US Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $3.4 million contract to Andritz Hydro Corporation to upgrade generating facilities at the Hoover Dam. Andritz Hydro, which is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, will design and manufacture a new “wide head” turbine runner for the Number Eight generating unit at the power plant on the Nevada side of the Colorado River.

The turbine runner is the water wheel portion of the generating unit, turned by the flowing water to drive the generator.

Andritz Hydro will provide systems to allow the generators to provide power more smoothly and efficiently when water in Lake Mead is at lower levels because of the current drought in the region.

Under the $3,404,380 contract, the new runner will be delivered to the dam by February 2012 for installation by the Bureau of Reclamation, which is part of the US Department of the Interior. The agency said if the runner performs as expected, it may exercise a contract option for additional runners for Number Five and Six generators in the Nevada power plant and the Number One turbine in the power plant on the Arizona side of the river.

EDIT

http://www.brighterenergy.org/9098/news/marine-hydro/hoover-dam-turbines-set-for-upgrade-to-cope-with-drought/