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This is our Spring Number for even at the Power Station signs of Spring are
abundant. The daffodils of which there was a good show on the east side of the
Station have already faded, and the tulips are now out in full bloom. The gardens
and lawns after recent rain are looking at their best, and outsiders have commented on
their pleasant appearance.
STATION RESULTS.
During April 9,715,290 (8,585,420) units were generated, sending out
9,180,246 (8,071,824) units, with a thermal efficiency of 21.4 (20.5).
The fuel consumed was 6,328 tons costing £17,713, and the fuel cost in pence
per unit sent out was .4631 (.4598).
Again we can claim to be amongst the select few for in the last three monthly
return, St. Swithin's is 49th.
TURBINE ROOM.
The first swallow may be a sign of Spring and when one stator rewound at
British Electrical Repairs, London, arrived during the month, better times appeared to
be ahead. Even if it had been away nearly a year, and one stator and two rotors yet
to come, it gave us a feeling that at last our luck was turning. Our hopes have now
been dashed by the news from the Brush Co. that their programme has received a setback,
resulting in a further delay to the completion of the rotors. Although the winding
is almost finished, balancing, which is the final operation is proving a bottleneck
and hence the delay.
Our programme of shutting down 'B' Station in May and June has had to be
cancelled almost at the last minute, and other arrangements substituted. A shutdown
of three weeks duration beginning early in June has been arranged to enable the
rewound stator now in the fitting shop to be refitted to No. 1 Machine where it really
belongs. The other stator and both rotors of this machine will not be rewound until
the summer of 1953 and we shall have to go on nursing it until then. In the meantime
No. 2 Machine should be in commission by the end of this summer - if there are no delays.
BOILER HOUSE.
When the Boiler Inspector was present on the 28th at the floating of the
safety valves on No. 5 Boiler, it was the culmination of a busy five weeks. The
"Annual" was over, and completed in record time. This is a real feat considering
the age (32 years) of the boiler, and the numbers of tubes, headers etc. requiring
attention.
HISTORY OF ST. SWITHIN'S (Continued).
No. 6 Set (5,000 K.W.) and Boilers 5 & 6 were commissioned during 1921 and
No. 7 Set and Boilers 7 & 8 were commissioned early 1922. By the end of March 1923
the Maximum Demand had reached 4,760 K.W. with units generated for the year
14,548,000. Coal consumption was reduced from 3.14 to 2.32 lbs. per unit generated
and the total works costs fell from 1.150 to 0.434 pence per unit generated. This
improved performance continued, for by March 1928, coal consumption had fallen to
2.132 lbs. per unit and works costs had fallen to 0.344 pence per unit generated.
By March 1929 the Maximum Demand had reached 8,200 K.W., but works costs had
fallen to 0.288 pence per unit generated mainly due to using slack coal at 7/5d per
ton delivered (compare this with the present price of 54/-) instead of Singles at
16/2d per ton delivered.
The next milestone was reached on 1st March 1932 when the Grid supply came
into being, and St. Swithin's became a "Selected" Station.
(To be continued...)
EAST MIDLANDS SMOKE ABATEMENT SOCIETY.
A Meeting of the Society was held at Lincoln on Thursday 17th, and a large
gathering of members from all over the Midlands was received in the afternoon by the
Mayor at the Guildhall.
In the morning the party had climbed the Central Tower of the Cathedral,
and, having surveyed our fair city from this lofty perch, publicly testified to the
purity of the atmosphere. With the stacks of St. Swithin's in full view, and both
A & B Stations running, we consider this a testimonial to the stokers on shift that
morning, and accordingly award them the months mention.
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