Power house: generators 3A and B (GOF183, Nos. 376 and 377) all generators sets powered by pelton water turbines, all but one made by Escher Wyss and Cie of Zurich

Description Power house: generators 3A and B (GOF183, Nos. 376 and 377) all generators sets powered by pelton water turbines, all but one made by Escher Wyss and Cie of Zurich

Date 9/4/1991

Catalogue Number B 13382

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 716951

Scope and Content Generators Nos 3A and 3B in the power house, Aluminium Works, Kinlochleven, Highland The aluminium works at Kinlochleven was built between 1904 and 1909 by the British Aluminium Company Limited. By 1911 the works were producing about 7,112 tonnes of aluminium per annum which was around 87% of the total output of the company at that time. The works closed in June 2000. This shows generators Nos 3A and 3B with an impulse turbine, invented by Pelton, on the right. The power of the water flowing into the power station was harnessed by the turbines and used by the 12 generators to make direct electric current. The main part of an impulse turbine is a wheel which is turned by water hitting its blades. Direct electric current (DC) flows in one direction whereas alternating electric current (AC) flows back and forward between points. The manufacturing of aluminium requires a lot of energy and hydro-electric power is ideally suited because it is cheap and renewable. Aluminium is a lightweight metal which is strong and anti-corrosive. The metal was widely used for domestic utensils in the late 19th century. Today, aluminium is used manly in aircraft manufacture. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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