| Petty Harbour Generating Station | |
| Location: | Canada Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Plant Hydraulic Head: | 57.90NaN0 |
| Construction Began: | 1898 |
| Owner: | Newfoundland Power |
| Plant Turbines: | 3 |
| Plant Capacity: | 5.3 MW |
| Plant Annual Gen: | 18 GWh |
| Location Map: | Canada Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Coordinates: | 47.4653°N -52.7124°W |
The Petty Harbour Hydro Electric Generating Station is a hydroelectric generating station in Petty Harbour–Maddox Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. It was constructed in 1898 and it was the first hydroelectric generating station in Newfoundland.[1] It was built by the St. John's Street Railway Company, a company established by Robert Reid. Operation commenced on 19 April 1900.
In 1920 Reid renamed the company the St. John's Light and Power Company. On 7 February 1921, an avalanche destroyed 23m (75feet) of the wooden penstock that carried water from the dam to the generating station, cutting off all electrical power to St. John's for almost five days.[2] Then, in 1924, the plant changed ownership to the Royal Securities Corporation of Montreal, where they began extensive reconstruction of the plant and watershed area.
On 1 May 1978, the plant was entered in the Canadian Engineering Heritage Record as a model reflecting progressive adaptation to emerging technology, and remains today as one of the few plants of its type still in active service.
Location: Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Owner: Newfoundland Power
Capacity: 5.3 MW
Average Yearly Output: 18 gigawatt-hours
Head: 57.9 metres
Average Streamflow: 5.6 cms
On-Line: 1900
Original Design: G.H. Massey, A.C. Rice
Original Construction: Reid Newfoundland Company
Unit 1: (installed in 1902)Inward-flow Girard type (impulse turbine)1.4 MWManufactured by Stillwell, Bierce & SmithVaille Co.Replaced in 1912 withHorizontal Francis turbine1.57 MWManufactured by Voith
Unit 2: (installed in 1900) Victor type (early Francis turbine)1.4 MWManufactured by Stillwell, Bierce & SmithVaille Co.Replaced in 1908 withHorizontal Francis1.57 MWManufactured by Voith
Unit 3: (installed in 1926)Horizontal Francis2.05 MWManufactured by Armstrong Whitworth
Unit 2 (installed in 1900):3-phase, 60 Hertz, 550 voltsManufactured by WestinghouseReplaced in 1926 with 3-phase, 60 Hertz, 2,300 voltsManufactured by General Electric
Unit 1 (installed in 1902):3-phase, 60 Hertz, 550 voltsManufactured by WestinghouseRewound in 1926 to 2,300 volts
Unit 3 (installed in 1926):3-phase, 60 Hertz, 2,300 voltsManufactured by General Electric
48.8 metres long by 7.3 metres wideby 4.9 metres highMasonry construction
Original:
1,057 metres long, 2.4-meter by 2.4-metercross-section wooden flume
112.2 metres long, 2.4-meter by 2.4-metercross-section rock tunnel
115.2 metres long, 2-meter-diametersteel penstock
Replacements:
1926: 975-metre-long, 2.3-meter-diameterwood stave penstock
1953: Steel penstock (surge tank riser)replaced with 2.3-metre-diametersteel pipe
1999: Lower 740.7 metres of penstockreplaced with 2.3-metre-diametersteel pipe
2021: Remainder of penstockreplaced with 2.3-metre-diametersteel pipe
Intake Structure:
Concrete with steel gate and lift(integral to forebay dam)
In 1900, rockfill with timber facing.Replaced in 1926 with concrete gravity.Steel anchors added in 1992.9.1-meter maximum height.
Zoned earthfill (rebuilt 1998–1999)Concrete outlet conduit
Earthfill with concrete overflow spillway and timber crib outlet.
Unlined canal excavated in rock137 metres long