Synthetic Fuel Supply at Westinghouse Electric's Gas Turbine Laboratory, 1971

WE00122.jpg

Dublin Core

Title

Synthetic Fuel Supply at Westinghouse Electric's Gas Turbine Laboratory, 1971

Alternative Title

Synfuel Supply at Westinghouse's Gas Turbine Lab

Subject

Energy--United States

Description

The synthetic fuel supply at Westinghouse Electric's gas turbine laboratory in Lester, Pennsylvania, in 1971. In 1970, Westinghouse obtained a contract under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and, later, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to develop a gas turbine capable of burning low-BTU gas, as could be produced by gasification of coal. This was the beginning of the DOE's "clean coal technology" program that continues today. This photograph shows the line-up of compressed gas tank trucks that delivered compressed low-BTU gas for use in conducting combustion testing of gases with approximately 150 BTU/scf, only 15 percent of the heating value of natural gas, the usual fuel for gas turbines.

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, 1971: Private Collection of Harry L. Jaeger.

Date Created

1971

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

83.7 KB

Medium

1 color photograph

Type

Still Image

Coverage

South Philadelphia Works, Lester, Pennsylvania

Accrual Method

Donation

Mediator

History Teacher

Rights Holder

Copyright to this resource is held by Siemens and 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.

Citation

“Synthetic Fuel Supply at Westinghouse Electric's Gas Turbine Laboratory, 1971,” RICHES, accessed April 25, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/7765.

Locations

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