Hydro power systems

Loch Sloy dam: 290 m head, 130 MW rated output

Lairg dam and power station, Sutherland

Kilmorack, near Inverness: 15 m head, 20 MW rated output

Shira power station, Argyll: 45 m head, 5 MW output

Augst-Whylen power station, River Rhine: 13 Kaplan turbines

Kaplan turbine runner, 8.4 m diameter, 20.5 MW

Pelton Wheel rated at 117 MW under a head of 686 m

6-jet Pelton wheel, rated at 122 MW under head of 650 m; Aoos River, Greece

Francis runner, 9 m diameter, rated at 248 MW under a head of 44.5 m. Stainless steel, 260 tons; Hunan, China

Large Francis runner: hand finishing prior to delivery

Sectional drawing of modern Francis turbine installation showing the inlet valve and spiral casing, guide vanes, runner and draft tube. Direct shaft drive to the generator mounted above.

Schematic drawing of a hydro-electric power plant using a reaction turbine (valve and surge chamber on the inlet side have been omitted)

Cwm Dyli power house, built in Wales in 1906

Underground power station: Ceannacroc, near Fort Augustus. 90 m head, 20 MW total power output from two turbines

Exposed pipework for hydro plant, Peru, S. America

Clunie dam, Pitlochry: 50 m head, 61 MW rated output. Fish ladder to give access to upper reservoir

Construction of Longyang dam, China. 178 m high, it will incorporate 3 turbines each rated at 320 MW

Construction of 1200 MW pumped storage scheme at Yantan, China

1200 MW pumped storage scheme, Guangzhou, China

Cruachan pumped storage scheme, Argyll: 365 m head, 400 MW rated output; 4 Francis pump/turbine units

Aerial view of Cruachan site showing upper reservoir and dam. Administration and visitor centre is on the shore of Loch Awe below; power station is underground, some 400 m from the loch-side