Built in the early 1960s, the Niagara Power Project is undergoing an extensive 15-year modernization and digitization program called Next Generation Niagara. The New York Power Authority intends for this program to improve reliability, safety, and day-to-day performance, and to extend the operating life of this key renewable energy facility on the Niagara River.
We are performing detailed engineering for the 200-megawatt vertical Francis turbine, generator, and support systems at the Robert Moses Niagara Hydropower facility. Our work includes major components such as the head cover, guide bearings, shaft sealing systems, and access structures, along with auxiliary systems for dewatering, braking, and air admission equipment. We are delivering this work in staged, fabrication-ready packages to support the Authority’s procurement approach.
To understand existing conditions, we are using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning to capture precise measurements using laser data and develop detailed 3D models of the plant. This data will then be combined with historical records to create accurate digital models, helping the team understand how new designs will fit within an active, aging facility.
We’re also using advanced analysis to inform design decisions. With finite element analysis (FEA) we’re evaluating structural responses to force and stress, while we’re using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models flow and temperature to optimize bearing system cooling performance. Together, these tools help us support safe, reliable upgrades aligned with current standards. By combining field data, digital modeling, and practical design, we’re delivering fabrication-ready solutions that help reduce risks in the supply chain, during installation, and operation.
Through this work, the Authority will help keep one of North America’s largest hydroelectric facilities operating reliably for another 100 years.
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