Tunbridge Wells power station

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Tunbridge Wells power station
Tunbridge Wells power station
CountryEngland
LocationTunbridge Wells
Coordinates 51°08′24″N00°16′09″E / 51.14000°N 0.26917°E / 51.14000; 0.26917
StatusDecommissioned and demolished
Construction began1893
Commission date 7 August 1895
Decommission date1968
Owner(s)Tunbridge Wells Corporation (1891–1948), British Electricity Authority (1948–55), Central Electricity Authority (1955–57), Central Electricity Generating Board (1958–68)
Operator(s)Tunbridge Wells Corporation (1891–1948), British Electricity Authority (1948–55), Central Electricity Authority (1955–57), Central Electricity Generating Board (1958–68)
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Turbine technologyReciprocating engines and steam turbines
Cooling towers3
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 11.25 MW
Annual net output 7,502 MWh (1946)
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Tunbridge Wells power station supplied electricity to the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area from 1895 to 1968. The power station was built by the Tunbridge Wells Corporation which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

Contents

History

The Corporation applied in 1891 for a Provisional Order under the Electric Lighting Acts   to generate and supply electricity to the town of Tunbridge Wells. An Order was granted by the Board of Trade and was confirmed by Parliament through the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No. 5) Act 1891 (54 & 55 Vict. c. lxi). [1]

The power station in Quarry Road/ Medway Road was commissioned on 7 August 1895. The site was adjacent to the railway for delivery of coal. The Company charged 6d. and 3d./kWh and sold 258,641 kWh in 1898. [2]

Further plant was added to meet growing demand for electricity. Over the period 1924–1928 the plant was renewed, giving a total generating capacity of 11.25 MW. [3]

The Central Electricity Board built the first stages of the National Grid between 1927 and 1933. Tunbridge Wells power station were connected to the 132 kV electricity grid. [4]

The British electricity supply industry was nationalised in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6 c. 54). [5] Tunbridge Wells electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of Tunbridge Wells power station were vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). [6] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Tunbridge Wells electricity undertaking were transferred to the South Eastern Electricity Board (SEEBOARD).

Following nationalisation Tunbridge Wells power station became part of the Tunbridge Wells electricity supply district. [3]

Tunbridge Wells power station was closed in 1968. [7]

Equipment specification

Plant in 1898

The electricity plant in 1898 comprised Willans and Ferranti engines coupled directly to Goolden and Ferranti dynamos, with a total capacity of 304 kW.

Plant in 1923

By 1923 the plant at Tunbridge Wells comprised boilers delivering a total of 43,000 lb/h (5.42 kg/s) of steam to: [8]

The total generating capacity was 2,200 kW.

The following electricity supplies were available to consumers:

Plant in 1954

By 1954 the plant (originally installed in 1924–28) comprised: [3]

The total evaporative capacity was 120,300 lb/h (15.16 kg/s), steam conditions were 250 psi and 666 & 680 °F (17.2 bar and 352/360 °C), steam was supplied to:

The total installed generating capacity was 11.25 MW.

Condenser water was cooled in three wooden cooling towers of capacity 0.62 million gallons per hour (0.783 m3/s). [3]

Operations

Operating data 1921–23

The electricity supply data for the period 1921–23 was: [8]

Tunbridge Wells power stations supply data 1921–23
Electricity UseUnitsYear
192119221923
Lighting and domesticMWh943.11,079.11,409.7
Public lightingMWh119.6127.7235.6
TractionMWh000
PowerMWh198.0245.6257.8
Bulk supplyMWh000
Total supplyMWh1,260.71,452.41,903.1

Electricity Loads on the system were:

Year192119221923
Maximum loadkW1,0251,0861,275
Total connectionskW5,6906,2526,972
Load factorPer cent20.420.621.7

Revenue from the sale of current (in 1923) was £34,334; the surplus of revenue over expenses was £18,139. [8]

Operating data 1946

In 1946 Tunbridge Wells power station supplied 7,502 MWh of electricity; the maximum output load was 9,100 kW. [9]

Operating data 1954–68

Operating data for the period 1954–68 was: [3] [10] [11]

Tunbridge Wells power station operating data, 1954–68
YearRunning hours, or (load as % of max capacity)Max output capacity MWElectricity supplied MWh Thermal efficiency per cent
195461791,8339.27
1955126296,10812.26
195668793,37611.67
195749092,13410.42
195836691,5649.81
1961(1.7%)91,3358.89
1962(4.3 %)93,41710.31
1963(6.93 %)95,46111.26
1965/6(5.0 %)93,93110.51
1966/7(1.1 %)77687.67
1967/8(1.7 %)71,0428.47

Tunbridge Wells Electricity District

Following nationalisation in 1948 Tunbridge Wells power station became part of the Tunbridge Wells electricity supply district, covering 202 square miles (523 km2). The number of consumers and electricity sold in the Tunbridge Wells district was: [3]

Year195619571958
Number of consumers43,53244,93246,191
Electricity sold MWh120,701132,911141,164

In 1958 the number of units sold to categories of consumers was: [3]

Type of consumerNo. of consumersElectricity sold MWh
Domestic41,30089,587
Commercial3,71725,855
Industrial53318,613
Farms6256,049
Traction00
Public lighting161,060
Total46,191141,164

Redevelopment

The power station in Stanley Road (51°08’24”N 0°16’09”E) was demolished, to the east of the site a 132 kV electricity sub-station is still operational. [4]

In Commercial Road the boiler house, coaling facilities and sidings have been cleared but the engine house remains. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "Local Acts 1891". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  2. ↑ Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 327–29.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Garrett, Frederick C., ed. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-102, A-136, B-246.
  4. 1 2 "Open Infrastructure Map". Open Infrastructure Map. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Electricity Act 1947". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 60–61. ISBN   085188105X.
  7. ↑ Tunbridge Wells power station is listed in the CEGB Yearbook 1968, which covers the year 1967/8, but is not listed in the 1969 Yearbook.
  8. 1 2 3 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 162–65, 390–93.
  9. ↑ Electricity Commissioners Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946 HMSO 1947 p.14
  10. ↑ CEGB Annual Report 1961, 1962, 1963
  11. ↑ CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1966, 1967, 1968
  12. ↑ "Exploring Kent's Past". webapps.kent.gov.uk. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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