Rehabilitation of 350T Powerhouse Bridge Cranes

Advanced Crane Technologies rehabilitated two powerhouse bridge cranes at Priest Rapids Dam, each equipped with four 175-ton main hoists and four 30-ton auxiliary hoists. The project for the Grant County PUD included installation of all new motors, brakes, festoon systems, operator cabs and chairs, wiring, and load cells. State-of-the-art control systems were integrated to allow shared lifting between main hoists, even though the hoist drums had different diameters—an engineering challenge requiring precise synchronization.

With this modernization, a single operator can now control both cranes from one cab, aided by a cab-mounted 15″ color touchscreen displaying real-time hook load, hook height, crane status, alarms, and diagnostics. Additionally, both cranes can be operated via radio control, further enhancing flexibility and safety. These upgrades enable reliable, precise lifting of turbine rotors with a total combined crane capacity of 700 tons, ensuring safe and efficient operations at a critical hydroelectric facility.