Byron weston dam - Case study

The Byron Weston hydro plant is located on the East branch of the Housatonic River in Dalton, Massachusetts. The dam was built in 1887 and is owned by Crane & Co., the oldest paper manufacturer in North America. The hydro plant which had been decommissioned in the early 1950’s was put back in operation in 2013.

CHC provided a water-to-wire equipment package including a 1250 mm axial flow Kaplan turbinedirect connected to a 250 kW/514 RPM induction generator along with complete plant controls. The equipment was installed within the existing Byron Weston Defiance Mill building and has a generating capacity of 250 kW, enough electricity to power 80 homes.

PROJECT FACTS

• 1250 mm Vertical Axial Flow Kaplan
• 250 kW/514 RPM Induction Generator
• Switchgear, Controls and Protection
• 250 kW Generating Capacity
• Commissioned 2013