Performance Test of Hydroelectric Generating Units at the Sault Ste. Marie Power Station

Abstract

Edison Sault Electric Company's (ESELCO) hydroelectric plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, was originally constructed at the turn of the century to house 78 horizontal, tandem-mounted, camelback turbines of various manufacture. The original distribution of turbines consisted of: 41 - Webster, Camp & Lane units (Nos. 2 thru 42); 22 - S. Morgan Smith units (Nos. 44 thru 65); 15 - Wellman, Seaver & Morgan Company units (Nos. 66 thru 80). Subsequent to original construction, turbine/generator unit Nos. 2 thru 4 were taken out of commission in order to use the space for a fishery. Unit Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45 are devoted to providing power to four (2) DC generators for exciting the remaining 71 AC generators. At present the total generation capacity at the ESELCO plant consists of 71 operating turbine/generator units of approximately 500 kW capacity each.