Forth Banks Power Station

Infobox UK power station
static_

static_image_caption=
os_grid_reference= NZ245635
latitude=54.965894
longitude=-1.616505
country=England
region=North East England
shire_county=Tyne and Wear
operator=Newcastle and District Electric Lighting Company
fuel=Coal-fired
fuel_capacity=300 kW
opened=1890
closed=

Forth Banks Power Station was a coal-fired power station situated in the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, on Forth Banks, a street near to Newcastle Central Station. The station is notable as the first power station in the world to use steam turbines.

History

In 1888 Charles Parsons installed four of his 75 kilowatt (kW) steam turbines and accompanying electric generators at the power station. [cite web
title = Chemistry, society and environment
work = Colin Archibald Russell
publisher = Royal Society of Chemistry
url = http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=WMWEYFfLBlMC&pg=PA310&lpg=PA310&dq=%22forth+banks+power+station%22&source=web&ots=EatOtWRkyT&sig=TNKV71v38Ipp-Far_TDxa8Bsuic&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result
accessdate = 2008-08-13] The station's turbo alternators operated at 4800 revolutions per minute. This was the earliest use of steam turbines in any public power station, as well as making it the first turbo generating station in the world. [cite web
title = Charles Parsons
work = Sunday Sun
publisher =
url = http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/tm_headline=&method=full&objectid=18543149&siteid=50081-name_page.html
accessdate = 2008-08-13]

The station opened in January 1890 [cite web
title = ELECTRIC LIGHT YEARS 1878AD - 1899AD
work = The North East England History Pages
publisher =
url = http://www.northeastengland.talktalk.net/page82.htm
accessdate = 2008-08-13] and owned by the Newcastle and District Electric Lighting Company.

External Links

* [http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?
]

References