Blaenau Ffestiniog and other Medium-Head Pumped Storage Schemes in Great Britain

Abstract

The lecture deals briefly with: (1) The general features and the mechanical aspects of the 300-MW Blaenau Ffestiniog Pumped Storage Scheme, which will be commissioned in 1961. This station is conventional in layout but nevertheless the vertical arrangement of the four 75-MW machines and other design considerations introduced some interesting and unusual problems. (2) Recent developments in Great Britain where high output reversible pump-turbines for 600-1200 ft head are contemplated. Problems associated with design and performance of this type of machine are mentioned, together with those of a more general character for coastal pumped storage schemes using sea-water, which introduce fresh civil engineering questions. These are interrelated with agricultural and maritime interests and more specialized problems such as the performance of plant and steel structures exposed to wave action, salt-water corrosion, resistance of concrete to high velocities, cavitation, and possibly marine growths.