Ince Power Station

Last updated

Ince Power Station
Ince A power station general view.jpg
Ince A power station, 1957
Ince Power Station
Country England
Location Cheshire, North West England
Coordinates 53°16′42″N2°48′30″W / 53.278234°N 2.808304°W / 53.278234; -2.808304 Coordinates: 53°16′42″N2°48′30″W / 53.278234°N 2.808304°W / 53.278234; -2.808304
Commission date 1957
Decommission date1997
Operator(s) Central Electricity Authority
(1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1957–1990)
Powergen
(1990–1997)
Thermal power station
Primary fuel Coal
Tertiary fuelOil-fired
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 1000 MW
External links
Commons Related media on Commons
[ edit on Wikidata]

grid reference SJ462760

Ince Power Station refers to two demolished power stations near Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, North West England.

Contents

Ince A

When the uranium enrichment plant at Capenhurst opened in 1949, it was realised that its power demand would require the construction of a new power station nearby. Rendel, Palmer & Tritton were appointed as the construction's civil engineering consultants, while the Central Electricity Authority engineered the station's electrical and mechanical plant.

The station was built on an 83-acre (340,000 m2) plot of land acquired as a result of tidal borings. The main buildings were constructed where the load-bearing sandstone was at its highest level. After the removal of 14 ft (4.3 m) of topsoil it was possible to construct the buildings directly upon hard bearing sand, removing the necessity of piled foundations. However, the cooling towers and north chimney did require piled foundations as the sandstone foundation sloped away from the power station site.

The station's main buildings were of steel-framed construction. The boiler house was clad using cellactite sheet cladding, and was of a semi-outdoor construction due to the speed of construction required. The turbine hall was a brick building with prefabricated stone used on window and door surrounds. The building's roof was made from asbestos cement. The floors in the station were made of quarry tile and terrazzo. The station's coal bunkers were steel plate and girder constructions. The entire building measured 350 ft (110 m) long by 232 ft (71 m) wide, containing approximately 3,800 tonnes of steel. The station also had two 300 ft (91 m) chimneys, made from brick with internal diameters of 16 ft (4.9 m). They were supported upon 61 ft (19 m) concrete plinths. The administration and amenity block was built next to the station, and connected to the turbine hall by an overhead access bridge. The block contained the station's control room, along with laboratories, administration offices, a canteen, lockers and showers. It was heated by excess steam bled from the turbines.

Ince A Power Station was opened on 9 October 1957 by Lord Citrine, the chairman of the Central Electricity Authority. The station used four GEC 60-megawatt (MW) turbo alternators, giving the station a total generation capacity of 240 MW. The first set was commissioned in November 1954 followed by the other sets in March 1955, December 1955, and finally September 1956. [1] Each turbine was supplied with steam from an International Combustion Limited coal-fired boiler at a rate of 550,000 lb (250,000 kg) per hour, and at a temperature of 480 °C. Each boiler and turbine set operated as an independent generating unit, with no interconnection of boilers. It was also realised midway through the station's construction that the station should be capable of duel firing heavy fuel oil. Electricity was generated at 12.8 kilovolts (kV). It was then passed through a transformer which increased the voltage to 132 kV, before passing into the national grid.

The generating capacity, electricity output and thermal efficiency were as shown in the table. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Ince A electricity output
YearNet capability, MWElectricity supplied, GWhThermal efficiency, %
1956168733.2129.03
19572241158.9329.02
19582241348.6029.06
19612521566.75226.18
19622521672.57329.50
19632521636.36429.56
19672401579.21729.5
19722401182.5628.31
1979240225.7624.60

Coal was delivered to the station's coal storage area by rail from the East Midlands coalfields.

Water for the station's systems was taken from the River Dee at Chester, and taken to the station by a pipeline built by the West Cheshire Water Board to serve the power station and the uranium enrichment plant. The water was cooled using four hyperboloid natural draft cooling towers. Each tower was 250 ft (76 m) tall and had a 205 ft (62 m) base diameter, with a cooling capacity of 2.75 million gallons per hour. [6]

Ince B

Ince B Power Station built as part of the Dash for Oil in the UK during the 1960s, schemed as being a base load operating power station. The choice of the Ince site for a large new oil-fired station was politically influenced as the government wanted a station in the North West of England, which led to a rumour that the power station was built with the only purpose of creating jobs.

The station's construction suffered lengthy delays. Its transmission system was inadequate to handle the large flow of electricity from the nuclear power stations to the north. There were also faults with the station's rotors, which required them returning to the manufacturer's works. The station eventually used two notional spares. Low productivity among construction staff was also a problem, almost leading to the abandonment of the project. The station had eventually begun operating by March 1984, when it achieved the second-highest thermal efficiency in the country for a plant of its size, after Pembroke Power Station in Wales. [7]

The station occupied a 125-acre (0.51 km2) site. Its boiler house measured 102.5 m (336 ft) by 49.5 m (162 ft) and was 61 m (200 ft) tall. The turbine hall was 123 m (404 ft) by 60 m (200 ft) and 32 m (105 ft) tall. There were two boilers rated at 447 kg/s, steam conditions were 158.58 bar at 538 °C with reheat to 538 °C. [8] There were two 500-MW Parsons generators, along with two 25-MW Avon gas turbines. [9] In 1993, one of the station's two units, Unit 5, was converted to burn orimulsion, [10] its boilers being provided by Clarke Chapman Ltd. The station B had a single 152.5 m (500 ft) chimney, with a diameter of 12.5 m (41 ft) which tapered to 7.6 m (25 ft). The station used a single hyperboloid induced draft cooling tower, which stood 116.7 m (383 ft) tall. [9]

Fuel oil was supplied directly to the station by a pipeline, directly from Shell's Stanlow Oil Refinery. Oil was also brought to the station by ship, via a berth on the Manchester Ship Canal. [11]

The station was controlled by two GEC 2050 computers. [9]

The generating capacity, electricity output and thermal efficiency were as shown in the table. [12]

Ince B electricity output
YearNet capability, MWElectricity supplied, GWhLoad as percent of capability, %Thermal efficiency, %
1984480157.8944.036.84
19854806,007.14100.038.00
198648090.322.226.62
1987480226.765.430.49

The intensive use in the year ending 31 March 1985 was associated with the 1984/5 miners strike when the availability of coal for coal-fired power stations was severely limited.

Closure and demolition

The A Station was closed and demolished in the mid-1980s, though its single remaining cooling tower was left standing until 1999. [13] The B Station ceased generating electricity in March 1997 and demolition of the structures commenced a couple of years later. [14] [15] The station's chimney was demolished on 28 April 1999. The station's cooling tower was demolished on 5 December 1999 along with the A Station's remaining cooling tower. [14]

Related Research Articles

Bankside Power Station Former power station in Southwark, London

Bankside Power Station is a decommissioned electricity generating station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in the Bankside area of the Borough of Southwark, London. It generated electricity from 1891 to 1981. It was also used as a training base for electrical and mechanical student apprenticeships from all over the country. Since 2000 the building has been used to house the Tate Modern art museum and gallery.

Drakelow Power Station Series of three now demolished coal-fired power stations

Drakelow Power Station refers to a series of three now decommissioned and demolished coal-fired power stations located 2.4 mi (3.9 km) south of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire in the West Midlands of England, on the River Trent. However, the station was actually located in the county of Derbyshire, in the East Midlands. The power station was a distinguishable landmark of Burton, which is most famous for its breweries.

Kearsley Power Station Former coal-fired power station

Kearsley Power Station was a coal-fired power station in Stoneclough, near Kearsley, Bolton, England. It was designed in 1927 by Dr H.F. Parshall for the Lancashire Electric Power Company. The original installation was known as Kearsley 'A', comprising two British Thomson-Houston (B.T.H.) turbo-alternators rated at 32.25 megawatts each. Further extensions became Kearsley 'B' (1936/38), with two more B.T.H. turbo-alternators each capable of producing 51.6 megawatts. Finally Kearsley 'C' (1949) was completed with two more B.T.H. machines rated at 52 megawatts each. The station closed in 1980 when only 'B' station remained operational. The 5 cooling towers were demolished during the week of 14 May 1985.

Brunswick Wharf Power Station Former coal and oil-fired power station

Brunswick Wharf Power Station was a coal- and oil-fired power station on the River Thames at Blackwall in London. The station was planned from 1939 by Poplar Borough Council but construction only started in 1947 after the Second World War. It was decommissioned in 1984, and the site was redeveloped.

Littlebrook Power Station Series of four oil and coal-fired power stations in Dartford, Kent

The Littlebrook Power Station were a series of four oil and coal-fired power stations situated on the south bank of the River Thames, next to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Bridge and the Dartford Tunnel in Dartford, Kent. The final power station, Littlebrook D, ceased operating in March 2015, and has now been demolished.

Little Barford Power Station

Little Barford Power Station is a gas-fired power station just north of the village of Little Barford in Bedfordshire, England. It lies just south of the A428 St Neots bypass and east of the Wyboston Leisure Park. The River Great Ouse runs alongside. It was formerly the site of two coal-fired power stations, now demolished.

Staythorpe Power Station

Staythorpe C Power Station is a 1,735 MWe gas-fired power station at Staythorpe between Southwell and Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, England, between the River Trent and Nottingham to Lincoln railway line. The station was handed over to the owner RWE npower from Alstom Power with full commercial operation being achieved in December 2010. The official opening ceremony attended by Charles Hendry, Minister of State took place on 9 May 2011.

The Rugeley power stations were a series of two coal-fired power stations located on the River Trent at Rugeley in Staffordshire. The first power station on the site, Rugeley A power station was opened in 1961, but has since been closed and demolished. Rugeley B power station was commissioned in 1970, and closed on 8 June 2016. The cooling towers of which were demolished on 6 June 2021. It had an output of 1,000 megawatts (MW) and had a 400 kilovolt (kV) connection to the national grid. The B station provided enough electricity to power roughly half a million homes.

High Marnham Power Station Former coal-fired power station in England

High Marnham Power Station was a coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire, to the west of the River Trent, approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north of the village of Marnham. Construction began in 1954, power generation commenced in 1959, and the station became fully operational in 1962. The plant operated until 2003 when it was decommissioned, though the cooling towers weren't demolished until 2012.

Hams Hall power stations Series of now demolished coal-fired power stations

Hams Hall Power Station refers to a series of three, now demolished coal-fired power stations, situated in Warwickshire in the West Midlands of England, 9 miles (14 km) from Birmingham.

Richborough Power Station Former power station in Kent, England

Richborough power station was a 336 MW power station close to the mouth of the River Stour near Sandwich, on the east coast of Kent. It was built on land within the Port of Richborough but being on the northern edge its site lies mostly within the neighbouring parish of Minster, Kent. It operated from 1962 to 1996; the towers were demolished on 11 March 2012. BFL Management Ltd, the current owners of the site plan to bring it back into use as the £750 million Richborough Energy Park.

Darlington Power Station British coal-fired power station

Darlington power station refers to a series of two coal-fired power stations situated in Darlington in County Durham, North East England.

Meaford Power Station was a coal-fired power station situated on the River Trent at Meaford near Stone in Staffordshire.

Kirkstall Power Station Former coal-fired power station in Leeds, England

Kirkstall power station was a coal-fired unit opened in 1930, serving the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

Poole Power Station Former power station in England

Poole Power Station was a coal-fired power station located in Hamworthy, Poole, in Dorset. Its 325 ft tall twin chimneys were prominent landmarks and it was the tallest building in Dorset until its partial demolition in 1993.

Ribble Power Station was a coal-fired electricity generating station on the River Ribble in Penwortham near Preston, Lancashire. The station was built by the Corporation of Preston to replace a small privately-run generating station in the town. It supplied electricity to Preston and the surrounding area from 1923 until 1976. The station was expanded with new equipment in 1943–47 which remained in operation until the power station was closed in 1976 and was subsequently demolished.

Huncoat Power Station Former electricity generating station

Huncoat Power Station was located in Huncoat near Accrington, Lancashire. It was a 150 MW, coal-fired, electricity generating station in operation from 1952 to 1984. It has since been demolished. Huncoat power station replaced the earlier Accrington power station that had supplied electricity to the town since 1900.

Blackburn power stations are a series of electricity generating stations that have provided electric power to the town of Blackburn and the wider area from 1895 to the present. The first station in Jubilee Street, Blackburn began operating in 1895. A new larger station known as Blackburn East or Whitebirk power station was commissioned in 1921 and was rebuilt in stages over the period 1942 to 1955. Whitebirk station closed in 1976. The 60 MW Blackburn Mill Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station has generated electricity since 2002. The Blackburn energy from waste (EfW) plant is currently (2020) being planned.

Leicester power station

Leicester power stations are a series of electricity generating stations that have provided electric power to the City of Leicester and the wider area from 1894. The first station, located within Aylestone gas works, supplied electricity for street lighting. The city’s new electric tram system was supplied from 1904 by a station at Lero which operated until 1930. A large coal-fired power station was constructed at Freemans Meadow in 1922 and was operational until 1976. Finally a gas turbine power plant was commissioned in 1976.

Bromborough power stations are three electricity generating stations that supplied power to industrial and domestic users in Bromborough, Port Sunlight and the wider Wirral area from 1918 until 1998. Bromborough power station provided public electricity supplies from 1951 to 1980. Central power station Bromborough (1918–1998) was originally owned by Lever Brothers and supplied electricity to domestic users in Port Sunlight as well as electricity and steam to industrial users. Merseyside power station Bromborough (1958–1998) was also owned by Unilever and provided electricity and steam at a range of pressures to industrial users in the locality. All three power stations at Bromborough have been demolished.

References

  1. ↑ Garrett, Frederick C., ed. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-65, A-124.
  2. ↑ Garrett, Frederick C., ed. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-124.
  3. ↑ CEGB (1972). CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1972. London: CEGB. p. 17.
  4. ↑ CEGB (1979). CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1978-79. London: CEGB. p. 8. ISBN   0902543598.
  5. ↑ CEGB Annual report and Accounts, 1961, 1962 & 1963
  6. ↑ Central Electricity Authority (9 October 1957). "Ince Power Station". incebps.org.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  7. ↑ Gair (2004). "INCE 'B' – THE BEGINNING". incebps.org.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  8. ↑ Handbook of Electricity Supply Statistics 1989. London: The Electricity Council. 1990. p. 4. ISBN   085188122X.
  9. 1 2 3 "TECHNICAL DATA". incebps.org.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  10. ↑ "Air Preheater Enhancement – Ince Power Station, UK". howden.com. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  11. ↑ "THE JETTY". incebps.org.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  12. ↑ CEGB Statistical Yearbooks, various dates, CEGB, London.
  13. ↑ "THE COOLING TOWER". incebps.org.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  14. 1 2 "DEMOLITION". incebps.org.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  15. ↑ "PowerGen". ukbusinesspark.co.uk. 26 September 1996. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2008. PowerGen is to stop using the controversial Orimulsion fuel with the closure of its 500-MW Ince power station at Elton near Chester next March.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.