HyPower
Customer magazine
from Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation

December 2005

Summary

03

04

05

07

Editorial
Hydro gets political
Focus on technological leadership
Maximum efficiency
for hydro power plants
Plant automation:
Engineering know-how makes
the difference
Excitation with maximum reliability
and performance09

Governing system:
Hybrid servomotor easens maintenance10

Vibration diagnosis:
Efficient preventative maintenance

12News from Europe
Bussolengo and Chievo:
Rehabilitation for green energy

14

New runner for Austria’s largest
Kaplan power plant

15

A new pumped storage station
for Portugal

16

News from the Americas
Modernization continues at Exelon's
Conowingo power station

17

An important visit in São Paulo, Brazil

17

New Chairman of Voith Siemens Hydro,
Brazil18

News from the Far East
Another milestone for electricity
production in Sanxia

Editorial

19

Fiscal Year 2004/05 performance
Sales are on the upswing

20

Focus on history
There is no future without the past

24

Customer contacts
Prince of Tonga visits Wavegen

25

Events 2005

26

Essay
The War of Currents

Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation
Hydro gets political

We finished the fiscal year in
September 2005. Looking back at
this year, I am pleased to say that
we have not only achieved our
corporate goals, but we were alsoable to start some things beyond
our regular efforts.

Dr. Hubert Lienhard
Chairman of the Boardof Voith Siemens Hydro
Power Generation

We are clearly focused on complete plant supply andoverall assessments. This includes new equipment, modernization and optimization of systems of varying degrees
for the maximum technical performance of hydro power
plants. We offer highly developed tools and solutions toimprove our customers’ return on investment.
Furthermore, however, we focus on the whole picture ofpolitical, environmental and social impacts of energy
generation, and we engage in the discussion of which typeof energy production is most beneficial for individual
application.
With regard to emerging technologies, we acquired Wavegen, which is one of the technical leaders in wave energy
and the only enterprise to operate a pilot plant not only fortesting, but also for uninterrupted supply of electricity to
the grid. This new technology, we believe, can for example
provide remote islands with energy systems that bringemission-free and renewable generation to its population– as may be in the case of Tonga. It offers independenceof fossil fuel imports as a highly attractive add-on.
For us, this strive is a clear indication of the heightenedawareness for urgently needed options in the energy supplyof the future. However, if you look at this year’s public andpolitical debates, it seems that the solutions stay unclear.

What concerns me most of all, is the exclusion of hydrowithin global energy solutions. Some guidelines, currently
debated, threaten hydro’s contribution to a sound andresponsible generation mix for many nations. For example,
current greenhouse gas inventories charge hydro power
reservoirs with CO 2 emissions on a general range, deriving
results from a handful of studies undertaken so far. In our
opinion, this grossly misinterprets the true causes of theseemissions, and hydro reservoirs seem to be an easy target.
At the same time that we see growth potential, we are
frustrated by the inability to move forward and reduce
global CO 2 emissions to satisfy Kyoto and other climatechange programs. It seems that a comprehensive approachis not of interest in most of the ongoing political processes.
It is time that we as an industry stand up, work with political allies and investors and clearly promote the benefits
that hydro brings. You are welcome to join the coalition of
stakeholders and industry associations to work toward what
we think is second to none in renewable and emissions-freegeneration and must continue to play an essential role in
the energy future of our world, instead of blaming “our”
reservoirs!
We are interested in your opinions and comments;
please feel free to direct them to me personally.
My e-mail address is Hubert.Lienhard@vs-hydro.com
Yours sincerely

Hubert Lienhard

hypower 12/2005

Dear readers and customers,

02
03

Focus on technological leadership

Maximum efficiency forhydro power plants

In view of the ongoing trend toward liberalization of the energy markets,
demand for cost-efficiency and intelligent hydro plant operation is bound tointensify in the years to come. But there is more to it than just economics.
Effective plant management can do a lot to actually make use of the fullpotential of existing hydro power stations, and thus to enhance the utilization of clean, sustainable energy. The development of cutting-edge automation and control and monitoring is just one way in which Voith Siemens
Hydro contributes to the continuous improvement of plant performance.
To ensure that, Voith Siemens Hydro has developed the HyCon family, an
automation system, which as a multifunctional approach offers a numberof highlights.

Plant automation:
Engineering know-how
makes the difference

Having developed and built thousandsof machines, Voith Siemens Hydro isable to tailor an advanced modular
system to your specific needs – evenwhen multiple plants with different
types and sizes of machines have tobe equipped with a uniform control
technology. Highly flexible systems
allow for completely customized
automation concepts.

Control room testing

In the case at the Cameron Highlands
hydro power stations in Malaysia,
the group of seven plants located in
the central highlands north of Kuala
Lumpur is currently being automated.
In order to extend the lifetime ofthese plants, built between 1959 and1963 with a total installed capacity of
263 MW, most of the mechanical andelectrical auxiliaries will be replacedalong with the installation of a newcontrol system.

Intake at hydro power station Woh,Cameron Highlands.

Voith Siemens Hydro, responsible forthe mechanical and electrical rehabilitation, will deliver a complete control
system for the Jor, Woh and Habu
plants, and will equip a central control
room for the whole group of plants.
Habu, a small hydro plant with two
Francis units designed for remote
operation, requires a rather compact
and cost-saving solution. To keep
costs at a minimum, the complete
unit automation and the on-site
control panel are integrated into asingle cabinet – a solution where allfunctions of the HyCon 400 control
system are integrated in a special“all-in-one” configuration. At the Jorhydro power station with its four
25 MW Pelton units and Woh with its
three 50 MW Francis turbines, priorities are different. Here, high availability is the most important factor, so
distributed control architecture isneeded. For these plants, fully redundant servers are provided with a hotstandby backup system.
hypower 12/2005

The need to process the immense amount of information necessary to control a hydro plant’s vital functions calls for a high level of automation.
This might suggest that high-tech software is the answer, but it takes a lot
more than that to develop a technologically advanced solution like HyCon:
It is the plant engineering know-how that is at the core of a leading-edge
automation system.

04
05

Focus on technological leadership

Similarly, the central control room isequipped with redundant servers andan additional historical archive computer, automatically storing all relevant data. From here, the HyCon 400
system allows the operator to monitor
the functions of all of the hydroplants. It also features the full rangeof on-site operating possibilities
provided in the system, for example,
the ability to manually operate drives
and switches. Reliable communication is another important aspect forthe operator of the Cameron Highland
power stations. By implementing two
process buses as separate units,completely independent of and isolated from one another, communication
can always be maintained.

Pedra do Cavalo, Brazil

Access to all PLCs (programmable
logic controllers) from the local
control rooms in Jor and Woh, aswell as from the central control room,
can be guaranteed at any time.
Installation is underway.
Its reputation for excellent reliability
was a significant reason why the
HyCon 400 control system also wasinstalled at the Brazilian 160 MWhydro power station Pedra do Cavalo.
The brand-new plant, which began
full commercial operation in January
2005, provides almost 800,000
people in the Brazilian state of Bahia
with electricity, and significantly
reduces the risk of blackouts in theregion. Therefore, it is most important that the plant functions as astable source of electricity for many
years to come.
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

This requirement also applies to thecontrol system. HyCon 400 meets thisdemand in many ways: not only is it
based on Siemens SIMATIC S7 technology, renowned for its highly reliable long-life components and globally available spare parts. Its software
has been developed exclusively forthe special conditions in hydroelectric
generating facilities.
For more information:
Klaus.Krueger@vs-hydro.com
Eberhard.Kopf@vs-hydro.com

Detailed information isprovided in our brochure
HyCon 400, t3302 e.

Excitation with maximum reliability
and performance

Incorporating Voith Siemens Hydro
technology, the Thyricon excitation
system is designed to meet all needs.
This modular system can be customized to individual needs in a wide
application range. All hydro power
generators and motors from 0.5 to800 MW can be provided with an
optimized solution.

Thyricon offers reliable software andhardware; its technology is based onstandard Siemens hardware. A worldwide network assures total availabilityof spare parts at any time. The excitation system is equipped with digital
voltage regulators that allow a fast
grid response. A power system stabilizer, minimizing power oscillations,can be added.

Detailed information isprovided in our brochureThyricon Excitation system –the intelligent choice,t3307 e.

Thyricon excitation system
The intelligent choice

Reliable, leading-edge
technology

Incorporating Voith Siemens Hydro
technology, the Thyricon excitation
system is designed to meet allneeds. This modular system can becustomized to an individual excitation system in a wide application
range.

All hydro power generators andmotors from 0.5 to 800 MW canhave an optimized solution.

hypower 12/2005

The energy that a hydro generator produces is worthless unless it can besupplied to the power grid. It is the job of the excitation system to guarantee that this energy can be transferred, and therefore, the priority is on
reliability, fast voltage responses and the utmost stability: requirementsthat are fully met by Thyricon excitation system.

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07

Focus on technological leadership

Easy visualization is of great importance, and trend functions are displayed on the operator panel to help
speed up commissioning and maintenance.
The energy-saving qualities of thishighly-efficient system make it thebest choice, not only for new installaThe Thyricon excitation system tions. Since the product can be intecontroller is a user-friendly
grated into existing power stations
Human Machine Interface (HMI).
and control systems easily, it is alsoa most suitable solution for modernization and rehabilitation projects –as is the case at Piva hydro power
station, Montenegro.

Piva hydro power station,
Montenegro

The first of three 120 MVA generator
units was retrofitted this summer;
modernization of the others is to befinished soon.
Thyricon excitation systems havebeen operating in around 500 hydropower stations all over the world,with excellent results.
For more information:
Geir.Smaaoeien@vs-hydro.com

Governing system:
Hybrid servomotor easens maintenance
The ability to control a hydro power plant and the quality of the electric
power it provides largely depends upon the performance of the governing
system. The governor maintains the turbine speed and regulates its output.

Voith Fuji Japan has developed away to combine the advantages ofboth size and ease of maintenance,
by using ultra high oil pressure.

By boosting the pressure from a
conventional 6 MPa to ultra high
10 MPa and integrating the pressure
oil system, control valves and pump
set into a single component, the sizeof the servomotor system has been
reduced and its structure simplified.
The 10 MPa Hybrid servomotor system is directly driven by a reversible
pump and controlled by a DC servomotor and a digital governor.

The oil pressure tank, compressor,
sump tank, distributing valve andmany control valves are no longer
necessary. Installation is easy and no
piping is needed. Over recent years,
several plants in Japan have alreadybeen equipped with hybrid servomotor
systems with excellent customer
feedback.
For more information:
Hiromu.Hayama@vs-hydro.com

Hybrid servomotor installation
at Kubusugawa, Japan.

hypower 12/2005

Small to medium sized hydro power
stations have increasingly beenequipped with governors with a motor
operated servomotor. However, thisreliable and easy-to-maintain system
calls for a much larger footprint thanthe conventional pressure oil operated
servomotor.

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09

Focus on technological leadership

Vibration diagnosis:
Efficient preventative maintenanceThe complex excitation mechanisms and the large scope of dynamics inoperational transitions make high demands on measurement, data processing and evaluation procedures. The interpretation and diagnosis of vibration
behavior of a hydro power unit requires an enormous amount of data.

The HyCon vibration diagnosis system is capable of compressing large
amounts of measurement data into amanageable and comprehensive set of
information, thus enabling continuous
monitoring and archiving, which inturn allows for long-term evaluationof machine conditions.

Venda Nova II, Portugal

Furthermore, HyCon vibration
diagnosis incorporates a deep comprehension of the functional relation
between vibration causes and effects.
It integrates the profound knowledgeof hydro technology accumulated
over decades of development, manufacturing and operating hydroelectricmachinery. In the event of abnormal
vibration behavior, different error
pattern probabilities are processed.

Goldisthal, Germany

This enables the causes of major
known abnormalities to be clearly
identified and remedial recommendations are provided. By remote connection to the power plant, a vibration
expert can diagnose the system andoffer online support when needed.

data acquisition– monitoring– analysis– storage

Voith Siemens Hydro
diagnosis– evaluation– fault probability– machine condition

HyCon vibration
diagnosis system

With its high-resolution measurement
data, the system was able to separate
multiple influences on the vibration
behavior of the units and to provide
important information for evaluationand interpretation. HyCon vibration
diagnosis has also been used tosupport the commissioning processof two new machines at the Portuguese Venda Nova II pumped storage plant.
For more information:
Ulrich.Seidel@vs-hydro.com

HyCon vibration diagnosis
Condition-based diagnosis for hydroelectric machines

Vibration diagnosis is one of themost important aspects of machinediagnosis. It has increasingly gained
in importance as part of conditionbased maintenance for hydroelectric equipment. The variety of units,
the complex excitation mechanisms
and the large scope of dynamics
which occur in the operationaltransitions represent great demands
with regard to measurement, dataprocessing and evaluation procedures.

data acquisition– monitoring

Voith Siemens Hydro
diagnosis– evaluation– analysis– storage– fault probability– machine condition

VSHyCon, the vibration diagnosis
module of Voith Siemens Hydro
meets all these challenges and gives
additional value-added features toour customers:

To increase the owner’s benefit,
the module was designed as an integral part of our VSHyCon control
system family. This provides evenmore benefits:

 early detection of incipient
damage reduction of inspection andrepair work increase in time between
inspections, resulting in greater
availability
 reduction in insurance premiums
possible avoiding adverse operating
conditions, particularly in thecase of remote operation
 optimization of starting
procedures
 automatic functions to reduce
unfavorable vibration behavior
are introduced into the control
system such as power limitation,load changes, or in the worst
case, machine shut-down.

Detailed information isprovided in our brochure:
HyCon vibration diagnosis –condition-based diagnosis
for hydroelectric machines,
t3309 e.

hypower 12/2005

This remote diagnosis service canbe especially helpful during the tightschedule of a commissioning process.
A good example is the beginning ofoperation at the Goldisthal pumped
storage plant in Germany. Here, vibration experts from the Voith Siemens
Hydro Corporate Technology Center
supported commissioning and guarantee testing from Heidenheim.
The HyCon vibration diagnosis system
was installed along an existing vibration monitoring system. It was used
for a synchronous unit as well as fora variable speed machine.

1011News from Europe

Bussolengo and Chievo:
Rehabilitation for green energy

Detail of the historical buildingof the Chievo power plant.

Inside the Chievo power house.

Early this summer, Voith Siemens Hydro, Italy successfully completed
the modernization of two hydro power plants for Enel Power of Italy.
This upgrade now gives the operator the chance to take part in the state-run
incentive scheme which encourages the use of renewable energy.

Fit for Green Certificates
The output increase and modernization has been a big step forward forthe operators on the liberalized energy
market in Italy. Following the overhaul, Enel can apply for Green Certificates and earn additional revenue.

The Green Certificate earnings system
was launched by the Italian government in 2001 as part of the Kyoto
resolutions. Since the beginning of
2002 all major power producers andimporters have been obliged to generate or purchase 2% of their energy,
exceeding 100 GWh, from renewables.

Through this period, the certificates
can either be traded through bilateralagreements or on the Green Certificate Exchange itself. In this way,
Green Certificates in Italy both promote the generation of electricity
from renewables and allow the producers of power from renewables
to achieve extra income in addition
to the earnings on the power itself.

Adige River, Verona, Italy

Output increased
The Bussolengo and Chievo plants on
the Adige River in the province ofVerona have been in operation sincethe 1940s. The two largest hydropower plants of the region with maximum 40 and 25 meter heads form
part of the hydro power generation
system near Ala. After the upgrade,the Bussolengo and Chievo turbines
now generate 17.5 MW and 10.5 MW
respectively. Together, both plants
generate some 550 GWh of powera year.

In 2003, the contract for upgrading
three three-meter Francis turbines
was awarded – one that was handled
as part of a state-run promotional
program. The engineers were able tocomplete the plant assembly one
month ahead of schedule. The units
were put into commercial operation
following completion of the dry run
tests in May.
For more information:
Vincenzo.Marino@vs-hydro.com

Inside the Bussolengo power house.

hypower 12/2005

Power plant operators like Enel Power,
whose plants were installed after
April 1, 1999, or have been put backinto service following plant extension,
replacement or reactivation sincethen, can apply for and trade in Green
Certificates. One hundred MWh ofgenerated energy is allocated to eachGreen Certificate. It applies to theyear in which it was issued and continues for a period of eight years.

1213

News from Europe

New runnerfor Austria’s largest Kaplan power plant
Voith Siemens Hydro, St. Pölten, in consortium with Andritz, has been
awarded the complete rehabilitation of the 40 year old Aschach power
station on the Danube River.
The station opened a 40 km stretch of
the Danube between Jochenstein andAschach for power generation andimprovement of navigation in thisvery narrow part of the river valley.
Power generation efficiency isenhanced by the high head and thehigh winter percentage of annual
energy (almost 40%). The original
turbines are still the largest in Austria.

Inside the Aschach power house.

Rehabilitation works include thesupply of four new Kaplan runners
with an increased diameter of 8.6 m,
and new spherical discharge rings,
as well as the refurbishment of the
distributor, changing the greaselubricated wicket gate bearings tomaintenance-free bearings. A special
challenge for the runner assembly ismaintaining the original bottom ringwith its existing diameter.

The runner blade assembly is accomplished inside the pit by means of a
special blade assembly opening in theembedded discharge ring. The outage
time is extremely tight, only six
months, including commissioning.
The first unit will be delivered in
September 2006, with one runnerfollowing each successive year.
For more information:
Michael.Gamper@vs-hydro.com

A new pumped storage station
for Portugal
Following a successful 30-day test period, the Portuguese Venda Nova II
pumped storage station began supplying electricity in September 2005.

Although 20% of Portugal’s energy
needs are already being met byhydroelectric power, the country
wants to obtain an additional 19%
of its energy from renewable sourcesby 2010, and is looking to wind power
to help achieve this. The pumped
storage station will play an importantrole in achieving this goal, as it isable to deliver its energy to the gridat extremely short notice, and willcompensate for the fluctuating output
of wind-generated energy.

Voith Siemens Hydro received theorder in April 2000 to supply two
92-MW units, comprising two reversible pump-turbine and motorgenerator sets, spherical valves andother mechanical, electrical andelectro-mechanical equipment.

For more information:
Markus.Thomczyk@vs-hydro.com

hypower 12/2005

Assembly of the support ringfor the thrust bearing segments.

In north-eastern Portugal, some
40 kilometers north of Braga on the
Rabagão River, the Venda Nova II
station shares an existing reservoir
with four other hydroelectric power
stations. Apart from building a pressure tunnel approximately four kilometers long and an underwater pressure tunnel 1.5 kilometers long, noother intervention in the landscape
was necessary during the construction of this underground hydroelectric
plant.

Lowering the power unit

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15

News from the Americas

Modernization continues
at Exelon's Conowingo power station
The Conowingo plant is located on the Susquehanna River in Northern
Maryland, USA, and operated by the Susquehanna Electric Company,a subsidiary of Exelon. It has been producing electric power to the transmission system since it first began commercial operation in 1928.
During an inspection on one of thegenerating units, engineers at theplant discovered serious problems.
in the generator stator.
In early 2005, a fast-track procurement process was initiated to supply
and install a complete new stator.
It brought together the experienceand resources of three Voith Siemens
Hydro operating units in order tomeet a demanding delivery scheduleby the end of 2005.
With a local manufacturing facility inYork, PA, Voith Siemens Hydro wasable to confidently deliver on the tightschedule commitments. The stator
frame was manufactured in the Yorkfacility.

Starting with a joint engineering effort
between the operating units in USA,
Canada, and Brazil, and finishing witha combined field operations teamfrom York and Mississauga, Voith
Siemens Hydro was able to designand deliver equipment to the site inrecord time.

The success of the project is credited
to the cooperation and dedication of
the engineers and staff at each of theoperating units to insure customer
satisfaction in quality and schedulecommitment.
For more information:
Kathy.Chronister@vs-hydro.com

An important visitin São Paulo, Brazil
The Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy, Silas Rondeau Cavalcante Silva,
visited the Voith Siemens Hydro installations in São Paulo, on August 31 st
for the first time. After a meeting with the chief officers of the company and
Dr. Hubert Lienhard, President and CEO, he was enthusiastic about what
he saw.
“I am impressed by Voith Siemens
Hydro’s vertical production capacity,from casting to assembly and final
production”, stated Silas Rondeau.

Silas Rondeau (middle)
during his visit with his hosts
from Voith Siemens Hydro.

The Minister was accompanied by
the advisor Ivo Costa and the former
Minister of Communications, Fernando
César Mesquita (Sarney administration). The delegation learned about
the manufacturing process for actual
projects, including a Francis turbine,which will be exported to India's
Omkareshwar project and a Kaplan
runner, which will equip the Peixe
Angical hydro power plant in theBrazilian state of Tocantins.
Financial director Heinz Herrmann
was pleased with the opportunity of
dialogue between the government andthe business community and statedthat learning about Voith Siemens
Hydro’s activities in Brazil was usefulto the government.
For more information:
Renata.Presta@vs-hydro.com

New Chairman of Voith Siemens Hydro, Brazil

Osvaldo San Martin,
new Chairman of
the Board of Voith
Siemens Hydro,
Brazil.

He succeeds Julio Oscar Fenner, wholeft the Voith Siemens Hydro Management Board of São Paulo to assume
other responsibilities.

functions for over 26 years and wasa Member of the Board of Voith
Paper in São Paulo before joining
Voith Siemens Hydro.

Osvaldo San Martin previously servedin Voith’s paper division in various

For more information:
Renata.Presta@vs-hydro.com

hypower 12/2005

Effective September 30, 2005, Osvaldo San Martin has assumed the positionof Chairman of the Board of Voith Siemens Hydro, Brazil.

16
17

News from the Far East

Another milestone
for electricity production in Sanxia
The spotlight was once again focused on China’s Sanxia hydro power station
with a formal ceremony on September 16, 2005, marking the start of commercial operation of 14 generating units in the Left Bank Power House.

The consortium of Voith Siemens
Hydro and General Electric supplied
six turbine generator units for the
power station. An additional orderfor the supply of excitation systems
for all 14 units was given to Voith
Siemens Hydro in 2000.

The Sanxia systems represent thelargest and most powerful static
excitation systems ever designed
and built for a hydro power plant.
(see also our technical article on
Voith Siemens Hydro’s Thyriconsystems, p. 7-8).
For more information:
Josef.Spiegl@vs-hydro.com

Fiscal Year 2004/05 performance

Sales are on the upswing

Once more, China represents aregional focus of business – Voith
Siemens Hydro has been awarded
three projects in this market.
Additional projects were won in
Romania, North America, the Dominican Republic and Africa: Here Voith
Siemens Hydro will provide the complete electro-mechanical equipment
for Ethiopia’s Gilgel Gibe II project.

The geographic range of the orders is
the positive result of Voith Siemens
Hydro’s successful global positioning
in all countries important to the hydrobusiness.
For more information:
Barbara.Fischer-Aupperle@vs-hydro.
com

hypower 12/2005

Very good performance could be registered regarding Voith Siemens Hydro’s
Fiscal Year 2004/2005 performance. Sales have risen to € 594 million.
Final order intake is at € 625 million. The future outlook remains positive,
with expected stimulation of all markets during fiscal year 2005/2006.

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19

Focus on history

There is no future
without the past

Voith Francis Runner from 1939

When, like the writers of this issue of HyPower, you are keenly focused on
innovation, technological milestones and the future of energy production,
an examination of our industry’s history can provide a very useful way of
putting it all into perspective.
And what better way of getting afeeling for the past than visiting oneof the many museums that specialize
in displaying and preserving thevaluable artifacts of our past.
The so-called German Museum(Deutsches Museum) in Munich has
particular relevance to Germany andto the industry overall, since its
founder, Oskar von Miller, was also
an important pioneer in the field ofhydro power.

Kindly supported by
the German Museum.

His engineering office was responsible for the construction of theWalchensee hydroelectric power
station nearby Munich, for example,
which opened in 1924 and until today
operates as a peak-load power plant
for the Bavarian electricity networkand for the German Federal Railway.

The permanent hydroelectric power
station exhibit contains a crosssection model of a run-of-river power
station with a Kaplan turbine andgenerator. In addition to a number ofhistoric turbines, there are informative working models and originals
artifacts of Francis, Pelton and Kaplan
turbines, as commonly installed
today.
Visitors can glean in-depth information about the hydrological cycle,
the distribution and consumptionof water, the protection of water
resources and the history of hydroengineering. In addition to presentations on the various uses of water,
the exhibition explores the key issuesof river and waterway engineeringand hydro power.
For more information:www.deutschesmuseum.de

Francis Spiral turbine, 1952.
The model shows the arrangement of a Francis turbine andthe associated generator ina hydro power station. Based onan original of Voith Heidenheim.

hypower 12/2005

It might not surprise you to learn that
Voith AG and Voith Siemens Hydro
helped to establish the museum’s
hydro engineering section, as well as
contributed to the latest “Kultur undTechnik” (Culture and Technology)
magazine that reports on water
issues, including an overview on dam
construction from 3000 a. t. up todate and hydro power stations fromOskar von Miller to Three Gorges.
(http://www.deutsches-museum.de/bildung/veroeff/zeit.htm)

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Focus on history

Energy Museum of São Paulo.

Governor Geraldo Alckmin (middle)
at the opening ceremony.

Solidarity with the past
Because Voith Siemens Hydro hasstrong roots not only in Brazil’s
economy but also in its history, Voith
Siemens Hydro Brazil also sponsoredthe restoration of the historical building that houses the Energy Museum ofSão Paulo and the Energy and Sanitation Historical Heritage Foundation.
The building is located in the oldquarter of the capital of São Pauloand dates back to the 19 th Century.
It is known as “Santos Dumont
Mansion” and belonged to the familyof the Brazilian aviator, Santos
Dumont.

The Energy Museum of São Paulo,
which was opened by the governor of
the state, Geraldo Alckmin, focuseson the development of energy inBrazil, its history, innovations andresearch. The new museum will help
to preserve more than a hundredyears of history. Its collection ispresented to the public in various
themed exhibitions. Courses will beheld and research will be conductedin partnership with universities fromall over the world.
For more information:www.museudaenergia.org.br

Many of the units installed during
this period have been replaced withnew equipment. The Electric PowerHistorical Museum in Yokohama,established by Tokyo Electric Power
Company, provides great insight intosome of the historical devices.

A wide variety of exhibits can be seenin the museum, covering topics suchas the invention of static electricity,
the development of hydro, thermal
and nuclear power, and electricity
distribution systems. In the “Hydro
Power Generation Zone”, prototypesof Voith Siemens Hydro turbines andgenerators are exhibited as monuments to hydro power generation.
For more information:
www.tepco.co.jp/rd/shiryokane/
index-e.html

39 MW Voith Francis turbine andgenerator unit of Shinanogawa
power station displayed as crosssectional view.

hypower 12/2005

The Electric Power HistoricalMuseum in Yokohama
Japan can also look back on a long
history of hydro power. The first
400-horsepower hydro power station
was built more than 110 years ago
in 1890, to provide electricity formining and lighting. Between 1900
and 1930, many hydro generating
units, including Voith turbines andSiemens generators, were imported
from Europe and the United Statesand installed in various places inJapan.

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23

Customer contacts

Prince of Tonga
visits Wavegen

His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Tonga, spent two days in Scotland
talking to Inverness based wave energy specialist Wavegen about theopportunities for utilizing Wavegen’s technology in the Pacific Kingdom.

The Crown Prince of Tonga talks
to Wavegen’s Project Manager
Ben Yeats about the company’s
tank testing facility.

Wavegen is the owner and operatorof the world’s first commercial-scale,
grid-connected wave power station,
the LIMPET plant on the island of
Islay. The tour began with a visit to
Wavegen’s offices and wave tanktesting facility. The following day, thegroup flew to Islay to visit Wavegen’s
LIMPET.

Wavegen’s team is now waiting tohear from the visitors. If they believe
wave energy is a suitable solution to
Tonga’s rising energy costs, the next
step hopefully will be for Wavegen to
conduct feasibility studies in order
to identify potential locations fordevelopment and to assess the wave
energy resource and the potential
output.

As well as being first in line to thethrone, His Royal Highness, theCrown Prince Tupouto’a is the ownerand chairman of the Shoreline Group,
the Kingdom of Tonga’s electricity
supplier. Along with Soane Ramamlal,
the group’s chief executive, and Peter
Goldstern, its development director,
he is eager to find ways of reducing
household electricity bills acrossTonga.

For more information:David.Gibb@Wavegen.com

Events
2005

Simpase, São Paulo, Brazil

Waterpower, Austin, Texas

Fuel and Energy Fair, Kiev, Ukraine

An outreach effort was created over the year to additionally focus on communication with customers, partners and engineers within the industry events.
Voith Siemens Hydro was proud to be
an active participant in Waterpower
XIV, Austin, Texas in July. Also, theparticipation in a DSI Turkey's event,in a fair in Kiev, Ukraine, and in Hydro
2005, Villach, Austria, offered wonderful opportunities to spend timewith important customers and industry professionals, during companybased cultural events.

DSI, Turkey

Fuel and Energy Complex of Ukraine
was the third international forum
for the Ukraine. The fair took placeon September 27-30, 2005 and its
organizers included the Ministry ofFuel and Energy of Ukraine and theInternational Exhibition Centre in
Kiev.
During the second day, a seminarpresenting the hydroelectric potentialof Ukraine was held. Plans for modernization of existing as well as
construction of new hydro power
plants were discussed.
For more information:
Barbara.Fischer-Aupperle@vs-hydro.
com

hypower 12/2005

Voith Siemens Hydro São Paulo –besides a series of events from CIGRE
in Ciudad des Leste, Simpase in São
Paulo to Expoman in Belo Horizonte –most prominently participated in theBrazilian energy sector entities’ event
in October in Curitiba, Paraná, at the
18 th SNPTEE (National Seminar forElectric Energy Production andTransmission).

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EssayThe War of Currents

Thomas Alva Edison(1847-1931), was a prolificinventor who was issued over
1,000 patents over his lifetime.

George Westinghouse(1846-1914),
American industrialist
and inventor.

Nikola Tesla(1857-1943),
American inventor.

When advances are made in science and technology, there is often rivalry
between different systems. One example is the veritable contest of giants
that broke out toward the end of the penultimate century as a result of two
different developmental approaches. It went down in technological history
as the “War of Currents”.
The opposing camps were basedaround two brilliant minds of thetime. On one side, the outstanding
inventor, Thomas Alva Edison, andon the other, the no less audacious
visionary and industrial magnate,
George Westinghouse.
The dispute concerning the systemused for supplying the world withelectricity had begun some timepreviously, but historians agree thatthe final round of the contest, foughtwith unparalleled tenacity, was inspring of 1890 on the banks of the
Niagara.

The trigger was a competition initiated by the New York financial industry.
At the time, it was clear to financiersand experts that the immense powerof the Niagara River at the Canadianborder should be used for more thansimply driving machines on its banks.
But no-one was able to transport thecurrent generated by the river economically and without enormous
output losses. An award to the tuneof 100,000 dollars was thus offeredto the person able to fulfill this task.
Edison was an advocate of direct
current, while Westinghouse believedin alternating current.

His conviction had been fundamentally defined by a young inventor fromthe Old World. Serbian-born Nikola
Tesla stepped onto American soil in
June 1884. Four years later, he gave alecture to an audience of experts thatmade him world-famous. In it, heunveiled the sophisticated design of
his alternating current motor operated
without wear or mechanical friction
and requiring very little maintenance.
Present in the audience was George
Westinghouse, who was impressed bywhat Tesla had to say.

Edison asserted that high alternating
currents were unavoidably dangerous.
He attempted to introduce legislation
to restrict transmission voltages to
800 volts, but was unsuccessful.
He then engaged engineer Harold P.
Brown, who dramatically exhibitedanimals in public in order to kill themwith the highly dangerous alternating
current before a crowd.
The conflict took an even moreabsurd turn when Westinghousemade an ingenious coup in 1893.
He convinced the organizers of theWorld’s Fair in Chicago that his alternating current system would enable
him to bathe the city in a sea of lightas had never been seen before andwas awarded the contract.

But Edison was not about to give up.
He prohibited the use of his lightbulbs in this event. Within a period of
20 weeks, Westinghouse had to set
up his own production facilities andmanufactured some 250,000 bulbs.
The light they produced was so amazing that almost 30 million peoplecame to Chicago to see Westinghouse’s huge carpet of light.

The big event came in 1895:
The power plant on the Niagara
opened – a break-through in technological history. Ten turbines with a
total output of 50,000 horsepower
drove huge alternating current
dynamos. The current was steppedup ten times, transported to Buffalo,
36 kilometers away, and again
stepped down to a lower voltage.

It was a triumphant victory. Even the
Niagara commission was impressed.
Only alternating current could be used
to harness the power of the Falls.
Westinghouse received the prize
money and the contract to design the
power plant. Nikola Tesla developed
the most powerful generators andturbines the world had ever seen.

A memorable anecdote for Voith:
In 1903, Voith was awarded thecontract to build four spiral twin
turbines each with an output of
8,826 kW. Turbines from Heidenheim
were required for expansion andoutput increases during the following
year!

Generating artificial lightingin Nikola Tesla’s laboratory.

The General Electric Tower of Light
display at the Columbian Expositionin Chicago, Illinois, 1893.

hypower 12/2005

This machine was exactly what
Westinghouse lacked in his current
system. He wanted not only to power
lighting for domestic homes, but also
to supply power to entire industrial
plants. Westinghouse’s problem wasthat the principal sectors of industry
were supplied with direct current
exclusively. This was Edison’s domain,and he and his company then organized a campaign against alternating
current.

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Copyright 2005
Reproduction permitted,
provided source is given.

www.msw.de

Editorial coordination:
Barbara Fischer-Aupperle

10000

Voith Siemens Hydro
Power Generation GmbH & Co. KG
Alexanderstraße 1189522 Heidenheim/Germany
Tel. +49 7321 37 68 48
Fax +49 7321 37 78 28
www.voithsiemens.com