Westinghouse Synthetic Gas Process Development Unit
Dublin Core
Title
Westinghouse Synthetic Gas Process Development Unit
Alternative Title
Westinghouse Synthetic Gas PDU
Subject
Energy--United States
Description
Westinghouse Electric's synthetic gas Process Development Unit (PDU) that was built and operated at Waltz Mill in Madison, Pennsylvania, beginning in 1972. The U.S. government program under which Westinghouse performed low-BTU gas testing was aimed at the development and demonstration of the Westinghouse Air Blown Fluidized Bed Gasification Process, which makes synthetic fuel gas by partially burning coal in air to create hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
Originally called the Westinghouse Electric Company, George Westinghouse (1846-1914) founded his manufacturing company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 8, 1886. In 1889, he renamed his business The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. Westinghouse's primary products include turbines, generators, motors and switchgear related to the generation, transmission, and use of electricity. The company changed its name to Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1945. In 1981, the company began to relocate its division headquarters for the Steam-Turbine Generator Divisions from Pennsylvania (turbines from Lester and generators from Pittsburgh) to Orlando, Florida. The Power Generation Business Unit (PGBU) building was located in The Quadrangle, at 4400 Alafaya Trail. Originally, Westinghouse had purchased a large plot of land for future development that extended westward from Alafaya Trail to Rouse Road. The original headquarters was located on several acres of that land parcel close to Alafaya Trail.
As the PGBU grew in size, other buildings were rented and then, after PGBU was sold to Siemens Corporation, additional buildings were added to the complex. In 1994, after a major corporate management shuffling and commitment to change from an industrial manufacturing company to primarily a broadcasting/communications company, Westinghouse bought the CBS Network and changed its name to the CBS Corporation. As the PGBU grew in size, other buildings were rented and then, after PGBU was sold to Siemens Corporation in 1998, additional buildings were added to the Quadrangle.
Originally called the Westinghouse Electric Company, George Westinghouse (1846-1914) founded his manufacturing company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 8, 1886. In 1889, he renamed his business The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. Westinghouse's primary products include turbines, generators, motors and switchgear related to the generation, transmission, and use of electricity. The company changed its name to Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1945. In 1981, the company began to relocate its division headquarters for the Steam-Turbine Generator Divisions from Pennsylvania (turbines from Lester and generators from Pittsburgh) to Orlando, Florida. The Power Generation Business Unit (PGBU) building was located in The Quadrangle, at 4400 Alafaya Trail. Originally, Westinghouse had purchased a large plot of land for future development that extended westward from Alafaya Trail to Rouse Road. The original headquarters was located on several acres of that land parcel close to Alafaya Trail.
As the PGBU grew in size, other buildings were rented and then, after PGBU was sold to Siemens Corporation, additional buildings were added to the complex. In 1994, after a major corporate management shuffling and commitment to change from an industrial manufacturing company to primarily a broadcasting/communications company, Westinghouse bought the CBS Network and changed its name to the CBS Corporation. As the PGBU grew in size, other buildings were rented and then, after PGBU was sold to Siemens Corporation in 1998, additional buildings were added to the Quadrangle.
Source
Original color photograph: Private Collection of Harry L. Jaeger.
Date Created
ca. 1972
Contributor
Jaeger, Harry L.
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original color photograph.
Is Part Of
Westinghouse Electric Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
74.2 KB
Medium
1 color photograph
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Waltz Mill, Madison, Pennsylvania
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Rights Holder
There is no known copyright for this resource, which is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Curator
Jaeger, Harry L.
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
External Reference
"History." Westinghouse Nuclear. http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/About/History.
"Westinghouse Power Generation Booklet." RICHES of Central Florida. https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/items/show/6422.
Collection
Citation
“Westinghouse Synthetic Gas Process Development Unit,” RICHES, accessed June 3, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/7768.