The Dam & Archimedes' Screw
A view of the dam at Tumbleton Lake situated at Cragside House at Rothbury in Northumberland. Cragside House was once the home of William Armstrong (1810-1900), an industrial magnate and founder of the Armstrong Whitworth armaments company. Today, Cragside House and its vast estate is under the care of the National Trust, being acquired for the nation in 1977 and opening to the public in 1979.
The dammed up lake is one of five high-ground man-made lakes created by Armstrong to create a sufficient head of water to generate an everlasting supply of electricity for the main house and other buildings on the estate. Cragside becoming the first hydroelectric power station in the World.
After falling several hundred feet, the force of the water from the lakes above is used to drive a turbine driven generator set situated in a stone built powerhouse further down stream.
To the right of the dam in this view is a 17-metre (56ft) long Archimedes Screw. These are normally used to lift water to a higher level, but in this case the 'screw' has been engineered to work in reverse to the normal principles of an Archimedes Screw, in doing so it produces electricity when driven by water.
Installed in 2014 as part of an upgrade to the existing hydro-power supply, this Archimedes Screw allows water to fall through it from the lakes above, the force of which pushes against the blades of the screw, turning it. The revolving screw in turn drives a generator via a gearbox mounted at the top of the assembly. The electricity generated from this device is capable of producing enough power to light all 350 lights in the house above. This additional water-powered generator can be brought into use at times of high demand.
The Dam & Archimedes' Screw
A view of the dam at Tumbleton Lake situated at Cragside House at Rothbury in Northumberland. Cragside House was once the home of William Armstrong (1810-1900), an industrial magnate and founder of the Armstrong Whitworth armaments company. Today, Cragside House and its vast estate is under the care of the National Trust, being acquired for the nation in 1977 and opening to the public in 1979.
The dammed up lake is one of five high-ground man-made lakes created by Armstrong to create a sufficient head of water to generate an everlasting supply of electricity for the main house and other buildings on the estate. Cragside becoming the first hydroelectric power station in the World.
After falling several hundred feet, the force of the water from the lakes above is used to drive a turbine driven generator set situated in a stone built powerhouse further down stream.
To the right of the dam in this view is a 17-metre (56ft) long Archimedes Screw. These are normally used to lift water to a higher level, but in this case the 'screw' has been engineered to work in reverse to the normal principles of an Archimedes Screw, in doing so it produces electricity when driven by water.
Installed in 2014 as part of an upgrade to the existing hydro-power supply, this Archimedes Screw allows water to fall through it from the lakes above, the force of which pushes against the blades of the screw, turning it. The revolving screw in turn drives a generator via a gearbox mounted at the top of the assembly. The electricity generated from this device is capable of producing enough power to light all 350 lights in the house above. This additional water-powered generator can be brought into use at times of high demand.