Stepney Power Station

History

Stepney Borough Council began construction of the station at Blyth Wharf in 1907.It initially contained a single Willans & Robinson 2,000 kW 6,000-volt 50-cycle three-phase turbo-alternator This plant was supplemented by a further two Willans turbo alternators a Parsons DC set with total capacity of this plant being some 6,500 Kw. In 1915 the station was extended to allow two 5,000-Kw. Escher Wyss turbines connected to Brown Boveri alternators. A coaling jetty was built in 1923. The station supplied the boroughs of Stepney and Bethnal Green.

New generating equipment was added as the demand for electricity increased. The generating capacity, maximum load, and electricity generated and sold was as follows:

In 1923 the plant comprised one 1,500 kW, one 2,000 kW, two 5,000 kW, and one 10,000 kW turbo alternators, totalling 23,500 kW. The surplus of revenue over expenses in 1923 was £129,659.

Following pollution problems from the original chimneys a single tall brick chimney was constructed in 1937, dominating the area. In 1956 it was reported that the first Brown-Riley coal pulveriser had been installed at Stepney power station and having been in operation for some time was working with satisfactory results. At this time the equipment comprised: 1 × 34 MW Fraser & Chalmers-GEC; 1 × 19 MW Escher-Wyss-Oerlikon; 1 × 6.25 MW Escher-Wyss-Brown-Bovery; and 2 × 12.5 MW Metro-Vickers turbo-alternators.

During its final decade of operation the station comprised a single 34 MW generator. This was supplied with steam at a range of pressures and temperatures: 180/350 psi (12.4/24.1 bar) at 299/399/460 °C. The steam capacity of the boilers was 753,000 lb/hr (94.9 kg/s). The boilers comprised 3 × Stirling; 3 × Spearling; and 2 × Babcock & Wilcox. Electricity output from Stepney power station was as follows.

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References

References

1. (1908-01-10). "The Electrical Review 1908-01-10: Vol 62 Iss 1572". St. John Patrick Publishers.
2. (1915-10-29). "The Electrical Review 1915-10-29: Vol 77 Iss 1979". St. John Patrick Publishers.
3. Ellmers, Chris. (2000). "London's Riverscape Lost and Found: Panorama of the River from 1937 and today". The London's Riverscape Lost and Found Partnership.
4. "London Electricity Board (LEB)Pre-Vesting Undertakings (1882 - 1948) LMA/4278/01 1883 - 2003". National Archives.
5. London County Council. "London Statistics (various volumes)". London County Council.
6. Electricity Commission, ''Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31st December 1946''. London: HMSO, 1947.
7. Electricity Commissioners. (1925). "Electricity Supply - 1920-1923". HMSO.
8. "Pastscapes: Stepney Power Station".
9. (1 October 1956). "John Brown and Company Limited". The Times (page 15).
10. (1959). "Garke's Manual of Electricity Supply". Electrical Press.
11. ''CEGB Statistical Yearbook'' (various dates). CEGB, London.
12. "British Power Stations operating at 31 December 1961". Electrical Review.
13. CEGB ''Annual Report and Accounts'', various years