CONSTRUCTION uncharted waters alone — it is able to draw from the extensive knowledge of its divisions nationwide .
“ Here in Texas we stay in close contact with people working on the other hydro plants . There ’ s one in Kentucky right now , and one in Pennsylvania as well ,” says Pettit . “ We have them come down about once a year and we sit down for meetings to go over what they ’ ve learned from building their own hydro plants .” By pooling this information , Archer Western is able to bring clients the best and most cutting edge facilities in every frontier .
Opportunities for innovation The biggest benefit of the knowledge network that Archer Western brings to the Lake
Livingston Hydro Plant project is the ability to find new innovations for the hydro plant model . This has led to a project with unique features that combine added strength and efficiency . One key innovative feature in the Lake Livingston Hydro Plant project is its penstocks connecting the intake structure to the powerhouse .
“ Typically they will be steel pipe with a lining on the inside . Originally we had 14 foot diameter steel pipes running 2,000 feet from the intake to the powerhouse ,” says Pettit . “ Through value engineering , that ended up being changed to reinforced concrete penstocks , a big 3-barreled box culvert . It ’ s my understanding that these are the first concrete penstocks ever .”
Changes to infrastructure are
Lake Livingston hydroelectric plant project in progress , July 2015
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