A marvel of water power: the waterlift of Trilbardou

The waterlift of Trilbardou, built in 1865, was part of a plan to improve navigation on the canal. Alphonse Sagebien, a genius in practical solutions, designed the hydraulic motor that powered the system. The motor, efficient with up to 90 percent power conversion, was the key part of the scheme. Transferring power from the river to the waterlift was no small task. The waterlift, heavy and slow, could deliver only 150 kW, enough to power the four pumps that together could discharge about 320 liters per second into the canal. The waterlift at Trilbardou stands as a monument to the power of water and a testament to human ingenuity.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikimedia Commons