Kingston_Power_Station,_London

Kingston Power Station, London

Kingston Power Station, London

Former coal-fired generating station

Kingston Power Station was a coal-fired generating station on the Thames in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (later Greater London). It ceased generating in 1980 and was demolished in 1994.

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History

The first station was built in 1893, with an original capacity of 225 kW. New generating equipment was added as the demand for electricity increased. The generating capacity, maximum load, and electricity generated and sold was as follows:[1]

Kingston A generating capacity, load and electricity produced and sold
Year Generating capacity, MW Maximum load, MW Electricity generated, GWh Electricity sold, GWh
1912/3 0.860 0.670 1.332 1.152
1918/9 2.00 0.95 2.175 1.608
1919/20 2.00 1.25 2.208 1.848
1923/4 4.50 2.00 4.081 2.394
1936/7 11.75 7.293 None (30.711 purchased) 19.140

The A station eventually closed in 1959. A new 'B' station was planned before World War II, opening in 1948. The Thames was used both for coal supply and ash removal, and as a source of cooling water.[2] The new station was the first to be opened following nationalisation of the power industry, with the official opening by King George VI, the first station to receive such an honour since Barking in 1924.[3][4]

Technical specification

In 1923 the plant comprised two 1,250 kW turbo-alternators, these were supplied from the boiler plant which produced a total of 66,000 lb/hr (8.32 kg/s) of steam.[5] Electricity was available at 3-phase AC, 50 Hz at 440, 415 & 240V and single phase AC, 77 Hz at 210 & 105V. In 1923 the station generated  3.448 GWh of electricity, some of this was used in the plant, the total amount sold was 1.888 GWh. The revenue from sales of current was £39,623, this gave a surplus of revenue over expenses of £21,124.[5]

By 1966 Kingston B power station had 4 × 30 MW British Thomson-Houston turbo-alternators, giving a generating capacity of 123 MW.[6][7] The chain grate stoker Stirling boilers had a steam capacity of 1,710,000 lb/hr (215.4 kg/s). The steam conditions at the turbine stop valve were 600 psi (41.4 bar) and 454 °C. The overall thermal efficiency of the station in 1966 was 21.12 per cent.[6]

Electricity output from Kingston power station was as follows.[6][7][8]

Kingston annual electricity output GWh.

Closure

Generation ceased on 27 October 1980 with a generating capacity of 117 megawatts.[9] The station was eventually demolished, despite calls for preservation as a power museum. The two 250-foot chimneys were demolished in 1994.[2]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    London County Council. London Statistics (various dates). London: London County Council.
  2. [2]
    Bob Carr. "Richmond and Kingston". Newsletter December 1994. Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  3. [3]
    Bob Carr. "Richmond and Kingston". Newsletter April 1995. Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  4. [4]
    The King Opens Power Station 1948 (Motion picture, black and white). Pathé newsreels. British Pathé. 1 November 1948. 1440.22.
  5. [5]
    Electricity Commission (1925). Electricity Supply - 1920-1923. London: HMSO. pp. 50–53, 290–95.
  6. [6]
    CEGB Statistical Yearbook (various years). CEGB, London.
  7. [7]
    Garrett, Frederick C., ed. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-68, A-125.
  8. [8]
    GEGB Annual report and accounts, various years
  9. [9]
    Mr. Redmond (16 January 1984). "Coal-fired Power Stations". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 1 September 2009.
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