Ardeer Power Station, ICI Nobel, Scotland 2017
Introduction:
You might remember, if you read my last report, me mentioning that there are nicer power stations to be seen in Scotland? Well, here's one of them in my humble opinion, Ardeer, and ain't she just a beauty?
Yeah sure she's had a fairly rough time since the initial explorers made the break back in 09/10 but she's still up there as one of the better stations in my opinion. Brick built, chain grate boilers, Peebles Turbines, it doesn't get much better in Britain these days in honesty.
Visited with: @AndyK
History:
I'll give a brief history on the ICI Nobel Explosive Works as part of this report, however we're focusing on the power plant itself in this report, we did explore parts of the explosives works and test site but that's another report for another day...
So the ICI Nobel site was initially formed in 1876 as the Nobel's Explosives Company, innovating and manufacturing dynamite products for military and civil use. In 1926 the company became a part of the ICI Imperial Chemical Industries Group been renamed as ICI Nobel, after founder Alfred Nobel also famous for the introduction of the Nobel Prize.
Now, the Power Station itself... There's not too much information of the plant but from what I can find and deduce from my visit the station was probably built post war probably between the years of 1952 - 1958. She's equipt with three International Combustion chain grate boilers, originally running on coal but at some point being converted to oil. The Power Station had a nameplate capacity of 16MW provided by two Bruce Peebles and Co Steam Turbines.
We believe the station ceased generating around 2002ish
Pictures:
Brick built beauty, if a stations made of red brick, it's usually a pretty solid indicator of inner epic!
There's a lot to take in here, two chimneys... The original for closest to the power station building and a second off to the left for oil burning operation.
Between the two towers the modern power plant in operation providing power to the live parts of the site.
Notice also the cut away coal conveyor, demolished after conversion to oil firing.
Straight away upon entry to the station, your slapped in the face by the main attraction, those three International Combustion Boilers. Just what the Doctor ordered!
Complete with the explorers favourite, an intact Hopkinson gauge.
Yeah it's a bit messy in there, a little derpy, but the goodness is still well and truly there, especially if you know where to look!
Richardson Westgarth and Sons, Hartlepool.
All names the industrialist should be aware of...
Not many of these old chain grates left anymore, something from a bygone era...
Unfortunately the turbine hall these days isn't quite as inspiring as it ought to be, sadly and for some unknown reason both the Peebles units have been sadly ripped up, the governors and generator of unit one still remain though however and make for a worthy photograph.
Unit one turbine, governor valves.
Unit 1 control panel and synchromesh
The turbine hall is constructed of a brick design with concrete roof sporting a lovely little 30 ton Morris crane, lush.
Talking of the Morris, it appears it's last job was an act of self harm! Lifting the larger of the two units, unit 2 up off of her plinth and dumping her over the edge!
Moving deeper into the station now, passing through the maze of pipes and valves to explore the boiler house further...
Coal feeders.
Moving up through the boilers
Until we reach the coal bunkers, here they would have been a conveyor belt but this has been replaced by pipes during the conversion to oil firing.
And finally one from the dilapidated admin area, what I guess was the locker room...
There was a lab down here too with a few interesting items in but I skipped it photo wise not having a torch.
And that's all, hopefully you enjoyed the report, certainly a location I'm fond of and definitely worth putting on your industry list, just for those boilers if nothing else!
One I'd have loved to have seen with the lights on one cold winters night for sure!
Cheers for reading,
TAW
You might remember, if you read my last report, me mentioning that there are nicer power stations to be seen in Scotland? Well, here's one of them in my humble opinion, Ardeer, and ain't she just a beauty?
Yeah sure she's had a fairly rough time since the initial explorers made the break back in 09/10 but she's still up there as one of the better stations in my opinion. Brick built, chain grate boilers, Peebles Turbines, it doesn't get much better in Britain these days in honesty.
Visited with: @AndyK
History:
I'll give a brief history on the ICI Nobel Explosive Works as part of this report, however we're focusing on the power plant itself in this report, we did explore parts of the explosives works and test site but that's another report for another day...
So the ICI Nobel site was initially formed in 1876 as the Nobel's Explosives Company, innovating and manufacturing dynamite products for military and civil use. In 1926 the company became a part of the ICI Imperial Chemical Industries Group been renamed as ICI Nobel, after founder Alfred Nobel also famous for the introduction of the Nobel Prize.
Now, the Power Station itself... There's not too much information of the plant but from what I can find and deduce from my visit the station was probably built post war probably between the years of 1952 - 1958. She's equipt with three International Combustion chain grate boilers, originally running on coal but at some point being converted to oil. The Power Station had a nameplate capacity of 16MW provided by two Bruce Peebles and Co Steam Turbines.
We believe the station ceased generating around 2002ish
Pictures:
Brick built beauty, if a stations made of red brick, it's usually a pretty solid indicator of inner epic!
There's a lot to take in here, two chimneys... The original for closest to the power station building and a second off to the left for oil burning operation.
Between the two towers the modern power plant in operation providing power to the live parts of the site.
Notice also the cut away coal conveyor, demolished after conversion to oil firing.
Straight away upon entry to the station, your slapped in the face by the main attraction, those three International Combustion Boilers. Just what the Doctor ordered!
Complete with the explorers favourite, an intact Hopkinson gauge.
Yeah it's a bit messy in there, a little derpy, but the goodness is still well and truly there, especially if you know where to look!
Richardson Westgarth and Sons, Hartlepool.
All names the industrialist should be aware of...
Not many of these old chain grates left anymore, something from a bygone era...
Unfortunately the turbine hall these days isn't quite as inspiring as it ought to be, sadly and for some unknown reason both the Peebles units have been sadly ripped up, the governors and generator of unit one still remain though however and make for a worthy photograph.
Unit one turbine, governor valves.
Unit 1 control panel and synchromesh
The turbine hall is constructed of a brick design with concrete roof sporting a lovely little 30 ton Morris crane, lush.
Talking of the Morris, it appears it's last job was an act of self harm! Lifting the larger of the two units, unit 2 up off of her plinth and dumping her over the edge!
Moving deeper into the station now, passing through the maze of pipes and valves to explore the boiler house further...
Coal feeders.
Moving up through the boilers
Until we reach the coal bunkers, here they would have been a conveyor belt but this has been replaced by pipes during the conversion to oil firing.
And finally one from the dilapidated admin area, what I guess was the locker room...
There was a lab down here too with a few interesting items in but I skipped it photo wise not having a torch.
And that's all, hopefully you enjoyed the report, certainly a location I'm fond of and definitely worth putting on your industry list, just for those boilers if nothing else!
One I'd have loved to have seen with the lights on one cold winters night for sure!
Cheers for reading,
TAW
