Inside Aberthaw Power Station 1-10

I would really appreciate from anyone an explanation of the functional aspect of picture number 5.
That aside thank you Gareth for posting these, I can't wait for more.

Thought so, but never thought of a gas turbine, impressive. Reminds me of an engine block in a way, those huge cylindrical, bolt like uprights threw me somewhat.
Thanks again.

Gas turbine? If the place is full of boilers then is it not a steam turbine? Fantastic PoV nevertheless.

Fascinating set of pictures (and your other Aberthaw sets, too). No.5 is my favourite 'techy' photo. However, it's no. 8 that really grabs my attention. It seems to convey a feeling of sadness - like someone saying a silent goodbye to an old friend who is fading away.


A power station needs an independent source of power to keep its necessary functions running if/when the main generators are not working - that includes being able to start up it's main turbine/generator(s)! Perhaps it's for that.

Steve

Its a steam turbine.

https://www.mcraeeng.com/product/multi-stage-steam-turbine

Great set Gareth and well photographed.

Best regards

Aberthaw B station is an old coal fired power station, a big one at 1500MW. The coal would have been pulverised to dust and burned, the heat produced in the boilers creates steam, which under extreme pressure is used to turn, in this station's case, three 500MW steam turbines . Coal fired power stations are usually around 37% efficient. Gas fired power stations are significantly better, because the gas can be used to turn one turbine and the heat produced can then be used in the same way as a coal fired power station and as a result these CCGT (Combined Cycle Gas Turbine) are considerable more efficient, usually around 56-60% efficient. If successive governments had insisted on CHP (combined heating and power) as is the case in most Scandinavian countries then the efficiency jumps into the 90s%. The steam has to be condensed back to water because steam cant be pumped, so huge cooling towers and systems have to be constructed to cool the steam back to water and the resultant heat released to the atmosphere. Other countries heat schools, hospitals, municipal buildings and care homes etc. This not only increases the efficiency of the power stations but also keeps their bills down. Sadly, because there's no profit in CHP, it has never been introduced in Britain.
I do like the grungy effect you've applied to these, it certainly fits the subject perfectly. Great images bud

This is industrial history being captured. I hope that somehow the images are shared with a wider audience. Well deserved positive comments, Gareth.

A steam powered Avro Vulcan??? That would be a sight to behold!!

Steve

For goodness sake don't tell them at @RAF_Luton or we'll never hear the last of it. (It's an outrageous parody account on Twitter, or 'X')

The father of a friend worked in the power station, so I showed him the pics.. Here is his response (included with permission) which I thought would be of interest to forum members:-

"These photos are interesting. I did actually work in the labs there from after A levels until going to Uni..

The first set look like the A station. As I recall it houses 6 x 100 Mw turbines. 2 Oil fired and 4 coal. Even then 1979, the two oil fired ones were never really used because the coal was so much cheaper. It was an impressive place though. A lot of it was painted by colour code e.g. steam pipes red, feed water blue etc. which was really useful when I was sent out to get water samples etc. at least stopping me from burning myself!

The second set look more like what was then the newer B station. This had 3 500Mw turbines. The danger sign does ring a bell with me as I spent a couple of weeks working in the lab below one of the boilers there. This was ‘bomb’ proofed with walls of concrete a couple of feet thick because one of the boilers did blow up a couple of years before I was there! The lab was only used if there was an issue in the B station.
Also, I did a few days working on the ammonia tank using some sort of radar type ‘gun’ to check the thickness of the inside walls of the tank. There was a bit more scaffolding around it then.

Very interesting. It brought back memories of a great little job I had there. Very varied. "

Fascinating stuff Gareth