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Photo from inside Company Christmas Card
shows 2 of the Generators
Found a picture that says they were equipped
with "Canadian Westinghouse Rotors".
Taken by Bud Walker in the tunnel
leading to the Powerhouse
They held a Open House for families
that never had the opportunity
to get inside before this.
Views of drilling out for the Powerhouse,
International TD24 on left in both pictures
3 Photos showing the construction
of the Powerhouse.
It was blasted out from the roof down.
Top Photo-
Drilling work on the Penstock Tunnels
they were on a 42 deg angle,
pretty tough working conditions!
Bottom photo-
Access tunnel from Camp 5,
to the Powerhouse, inside the mountain
From a color slide
This is a scanned copy
of a large picture negative
(2.25 in x 2.25 in)
taken by an old box type camera,
it is a color picture,
and needs to be printed to fully enjoy it.
stay tuned!
Camp 5, was located in this location
The whole area was controlled
by the construction company
of Morrison-Knudson from Boise Idaho.
Alcan contracted them to build the tunnel,
and powerhouse.
The plant produces 896 MW of power,
1,200,000 HP, from its eight generators,
each of which has a capacity of 112MW.
A 16km horseshoe shaped
Tunnel 25 ft wide,
the width of a 2 lane highway,
from the 6.5 billion gallon, Nechako reservoir,
created by building the 324 ft high, Kenney Dam,
takes the water 800 vertical meters,
to the Generator turbines.
It took 20 months
to build this 10 mi tunnel for the water.
One source I read,
said
16 men died building this tunnel.
I can't find further proof of this, or a list of names.
2- 2500ft head steel penstocks,
each 4450 ft in length,
were built in the mountain.
The 11ft diam. penstock,
powers BLH Pelton Impulse turbines
built by Baldwin Lima Hamilton, (note 1)
in Pennsylvania, USA.,
The turbines turn at 327.5 rpm.
Referred to as a Hydraulic Penstock design.
First Generator went into operation July 9, 1954.
followed closely by units 2 and 3.
By 1967, 8 units were in operation.
Note 1- In 1951 Lima Hamilton,
merged with Baldwin
Locomotive works,
to form BLH.
These were the largest multi nozzle turbines
at the time.
Vertical, single runner, 4 nozzle types,
designed for 150,000 hp.
they drive directly, 3 phase, 60 cycle,
13,800 volt generators,
rated at 122,000 kva
The power then feeds a bank of 3,
Single Phase 89,000 kva transformers.
A 300,000 volt, 4in diameter power cable
with 60lbs / sq in. oil pressure, carries the power
2,000 ft to the surface switchyard. |
Early view of Access Tunnel
to Powerhouse
From a color slide
Another scanned color negative,
this time the Tailrace Tunnel,
and Spillway
Dec 28, 1953
Inside Tailrace Tunnel Section
Nov 14, 1953
Taking Micrometer readings
to center Unit 1
Dec 24, 1953
Removing Stator from Packing
with 225 ton Crane
Dec 7, 1953
pouring concrete
for the transformer roof
 
Attaching Shoe to Sole Plate
Apr 30, 1954
welding 13.9 KV
Aluminum Bus Bars
Battery Room
for Emergency Lighting
and Protective Gear
Apr 30, 1954
Apr 10, 1954
Control Room Construction
Thomas Raymond "Bud" Walker,
2nd man from left,
others unknown
Albert (Al) James Brown
Family
in front of the unfinished Access Tunnel
to the Powerhouse
l/r- Lois his wife, Al, 2 Brown sons,
Dave Brown and Chris Brown.
Ayce Walker, rest unknown
Early Excavation picture
of the Kemano Powerhouse
courtesy Grant Walker |
