Ruin: Cassilis Mine Hydro Power Station ruins - VIC

Ruin: Cassilis Mine Hydro Power Station ruins
First class plant for the power station was chosen from tenders submitted by seven world-renowned manufacturers. The operating head of 125 metres required "Pelton wheel" turbines in which a high pressure jet of water hits curved buckets attached to the rim of a wheel. When a turbine is supplied through a long steel pipeline the water flow must not be stopped abruptly because of the "water hammer" effect. For this reason a large 2.7 tonne flywheel was added to limit the speed rise if the electrical load was suddenly switched off.
Some interesting facts...
The large 400kW turbine drove a 3-phase ac generator at 500 revs/min. Transformers stepped up the 500V output to 12,000V for transmission to the mine and treatment works at Tongio West 25km away.
A small 10kW generating set provided 115V dc for lectric light and power, independent of the main generator. To the south of this set, provision was made for a second 400kW set which was never installed due to lack of water.
Instruments and apparatus to regulate the electrical output were mounted on 3 marble switchboard panels. Behind the switchboard 3 surge diverters or
"lightning arrestors" were housed in the 3 tall concrete cubicles still standing.