Machynlleth power stations

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Machynlleth power stations were two small electricity generating stations in Machynlleth Powys. They provided electricity to the town and the surrounding rural district from 1938 until the 1970s. The A station was a combined diesel & hydro-electric plant and the B station was a diesel engine plant.

Contents

History

Machynlleth Electric Supply Company Limited (founded in 1932) proposed an electricity supply scheme for Machynlleth in 1938. [1] [2] The company constructed a combined diesel engine and water-turbine electricity generating plant, later known as Machynlleth A. Upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948 the Electric Supply Company was abolished and Machynlleth power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority (BEA). [3] In 1956 the BEA’s successor the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) constructed the diesel-fired Machynlleth B, which was commissioned in September 1956. [4] One of the diesel engines of the A station was transferred to the B station in 1956. [4] The A power station was decommissioned in the 1960s, and the B station by 1978. [5]

Plant and equipment

A station plant

The plant at Machynlleth A power station comprised: [4]

The turbines and engines drove a range of alternators:

The total generating capacity was 250 kW, 3-phase, 400 V AC. [4]

B station plant

The plant at Machynlleth B power station comprised: [4]

The total installed generating capacity of the B station was 4.258 MW.

Cooling water for the engines was drawn from the Afon Dulas. [4]

Operations

The operating conditions and electricity output of Machynlleth A power station were: [4] [6] [7]

Machynlleth A power station operating parameters 1946–63
YearRunning hoursPlant capacity kWElectricity sent out MWhLoad factor per centThermal efficiency per cent
1946––52234.2–
195475005181,23231.7–
195556805181,40647.8–
195654805181,21942.9–
1957595951856018.1–
1958411950024811.6–
1961–25025611.727.9
1962–250894.126.73
1963–2501935.4326.24

The electricity 'sent out' data is the total output from both the hydro-electric and diesel plants. The proportions of diesel to hydro-electric generation was typically:

YearHydro-electric kWhDiesel kWh
1946256,440270,512
196374,000119,000

The operating conditions and electricity output of Machynlleth B power station were: [4] [6] [8]

Machynlleth B power station operating parameters 1957–72
YearRunning hoursPlant capacity kWElectricity sent out MWhLoad factor per centThermal efficiency per cent
1957184399020027.2–
1958103639902,14649.0–
1961–42586,31016.933.79
1962–425810,38627.835.33
1963–425813,71236.8334.9
1967–399014,84341.535.03
1972–39904,07711.631.18

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Powys County Council records" (PDF). powys.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  2. ↑ Electricity CommissionerS (1938). Electricity Commissioners Eighteenth Annual Report 1 April 1937– 31 March 1938. London: HMSO. p. 106.
  3. ↑ Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 60, 69, 76. ISBN   085188105X.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Garrett, Frederick C. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-74, A-143.
  5. ↑ Neither station is in the CEGB Statistical Yearbook for 1978
  6. 1 2 CEGB Annual report and Accounts, 1961, 1962 & 1963
  7. ↑ Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 11.
  8. ↑ CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1972 CEGB p. 16-17
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