Update: Ozark-Webbers Falls Turbines

by Thomas W. Plunkett, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Waterpower '89

Abstract:

The Ozark and Webbers Falls powerhouses were designed and constructed under the supervision of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Both are located on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. In the early 1970's, eight identical 20 MW slant-axis Kaplan units were installed. Beginning in 1975, failures were experienced in various parts of the rotating assembly. Studies indicated that cyclic bending stresses due to rotation of the 250 ton shaft and runner on a 12 degree incline were large enough to cause the premature fatigue failures. A redesign was initiated and the new design and detailed repair procedure were completed in April 1982; formal repairs were begun by Allis-Chalmers. The last of the three units at Webbers Falls was returned to service in December 1984 while the five units at Ozark were completed and returned to service by April 1985.

Subject Headings: Power plants | Turbines | Shafts | Rivers and streams | Navigation (waterway) | Hydro power | Failure analysis | Arkansas | United States

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