DOCSLIB.ORG

Design of a 45 Circuit Duct Bank

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Design of a 45 Circuit Duct Bank ReturnClose and to SessionReturn DESIGN OF A 45 CIRCUIT DUCT BANK Mark COATES, ERA Technology Ltd, (UK), [email protected] Liam G O’SULLIVAN, EDF Energy Networks, (UK), liam.o’[email protected] ABSTRACT CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS Bankside power station in London, closed in 1981 but the The duct block was designed to carry the following XLPE substation that is housed in the same building has remained insulated cable circuits without exceeding the operating operational. The remainder of the building has housed the temperature of any cable within the duct block. Tate Modern art gallery since 2000. EDF Energy Networks is now engaged in a project to upgrade and modernise o Four 400/230V circuits with a cyclic loading of 300A. Bankside substation. Part of this work involves the o Twenty 11kV circuits with a cyclic loading of 400A. diversion of about 45 cable circuits into a duct block within o Sixteen 20kV circuits with a cyclic loading of 400A the basement of the substation. The circuits include pilot o Four 66kV circuits with a cyclic loading of 300A circuits, LV circuits and 11 kV, 22 kV, 66kV and 132 kV o Two 132kV circuits with a cyclic loading of 700A circuits. This paper describes the process involved in o Six pilot circuits. designing the duct bank. The cyclic load was taken to be a step wave with 100 % load factor from 08.00hrs to 20.00hrs and 0.8pu from KEYWORDS 20.00hrs to 08.00hrs. Duct bank, Magnetic field, Surface temperature, Cable rating. The cables selected for this installation were of types commonly used by distribution companies in the UK. They were: INTRODUCTION o 400 V, 3 or 4-core XLPE insulated, unarmoured, cables, Bankside power station, on the south bank of the Thames in o 11 kV, Single-core cables laid in triplex formation London, closed in 1981 but the substation that is housed in generally to BS 7870-4.10, the same building has remained operational. In 1995 work o 20 kV, Single-core cables laid in triplex formation was started to transform part of the power station building generally to BS 7870-4.10, into an art gallery, The Tate Modern, which was opened in o 66 kV, Single-core, XLPE insulated cables with copper 2000. EDF Energy Networks is now engaged in a project to wire and aluminium foil screen, upgrade and modernise the Bankside substation. Part of o 132 kV, Single-core, XLPE insulated cables with copper this work involves the diversion of about 45 cable circuits wire and aluminium foil screen. into a duct bank within the basement of the substation. The circuits include pilot circuits, LV circuits, 11 kV, 22 kV, 66kV 150 mm diameter plastic ducts to ENA Technical and 132 kV circuits. Specification 12-24 were selected. The proposed duct bank was to be approximately 100 m The 132 & 66 kV circuits were to be installed in trefoil ducts long over a width of 13 m with a depth of 1.2 m. and the other circuits were to be installed in single ducts. Because of potential future uses for the area above the duct RATINGS CALCULATIONS bank there were a number of factors that had to be taken into account when designing the duct configuration and Nominal Ratings selecting the cable sizes to be used. These included: The first stage in the calculations was to obtain nominal o Maximum cable conductor temperature single circuit, steady state, in duct, ratings for the cable o Floor surface temperature types to be used in the installation. o 50 Hz Magnetic field levels o Cable routing requirements The steady-state current ratings for the LV cables were taken from a base data used to develop ERA Report 69-30 The calculation methods used to design the duct bank were Pt V, [1], those for the 11 kV cables were taken from the a mixture of traditional cable rating calculations, analytical steady state section of Engineering Recommendation P17 calculations for floor surface temperatures and magnetic Part 3, [2]. Nominal steady-state current ratings for the 20 field levels and finite element methods to determine kV, 66 kV and 132 kV cables were calculated, using the shielding requirements. methods set out in IEC 60287, [3], from nominal cable dimensions provided by cable manufacturers. All of the current ratings were adjusted for an ambient temperature of 20°C and a soil thermal resistivity of 1.2 K.m/W. It was ReturnClose and to SessionReturn assumed that the cable screens would be solid bonded in cables selected would run at more than 90°C. This was not all cases. acceptable and showed that the assumption of a grouping factor of 0.7 was overly optimistic. A general cyclic rating factor for the group was calculated using the equation given in Clause 3.2.2 of IEC 60853-1, The calculation method was based on the mutual heating [4]. Although the equations given in IEC 60853-2, [5], were between circuits. Because of this the conductor size more appropriate for the higher voltage cables the simpler selected for one circuit will influence the conductor approach of Part 1 was used for the initial calculations. temperature, and hence the selection of sizes, for surrounding circuits. Thus it would have been possible to select different conductor sizes for each circuit to arrive at a Cable selection solution where none of the cables would be operating at For the initial calculations it was assumed that the ducts higher than 90°C. However it was not considered practical would be installed in three tiers with a horizontal spacing of to specify which cable size should be installed in each duct. 600 mm and a vertical spacing of 500 mm. The only To simplify the final installation it was decided that only one limitation on the location of cables within the duct bank was conductor size would be used for each voltage group. that the 132 kV circuits should be near the sides of the duct bank. This limitation was imposed by the route of the After several iterations, with increased conductor sizes, it existing cables. was concluded that an acceptable solution could not be reached with the duct arrangement chosen. The initial selection of cable sizes was achieved by assuming that a grouping factor of 0.7 would be applicable The duct arrangement was then changed so that the ducts to the group. in the top layer were on 400 mm centres and the ducts in the lower 2 layers were staggered with 800 mm between The temperature rise at each cable due to the heat centres. Eight trefoil ducts were arranged on the lower dissipated by all of the other cables was then calculated layers to accommodate the 132 & 66 kV circuits and allow 2 using the method set out in IEC 60287-2-1 Clause 2.2.3.1. spares. The equation used to calculate these temperature rises, ∆θp, was: With the new cable arrangement lower temperatures were achieved but an acceptable solution still could not be found. θ∆+θ∆+θ∆+θ∆=θ∆ p2p1p L kp L qp [1] The initial data was then revisited and it was decided that Where: because the ducts were to be surrounded with concrete it d ′ 1 pk was reasonable to use a lower value of thermal resistivity =θ∆ ρ W ln for the surrounding medium. A value of 1 K.m/W was used kp 2π kT d pk for the next iteration. θ∆ kp = temperature rise at cable p due to heat dissipated An acceptable solution was achieved where none of the by cable k, cables exceeded their maximum operating temperature of 90 °C. However the conductor size required for the 132 kV ρT = thermal resistivity of backfill, Wk = power dissipation from cable k, cables was considered to be excessive and the triplex 22 kV cables had an outside diameter that was close to the duct d’pk = distance from cable p to the reflection of cable k in the ground-air interface, size. In order to reduce the size of the 132 kV cables the effect of single-point bonding was investigated. Also the dpk = distance from cable p to cable k . effect of the cyclic load was considered in greater detail. The temperature rise of each cable due to the load it carried For the next calculations the cyclic rating factor was was calculated on the basis that this temperature rise was calculated for each cable based on the method set out in proportional to the square of the load current. This was Clause 7.3 of IEC 60853-2. added to ∆θp and the ambient temperature to determine the conductor temperature for each cable. The final solution gave the cable conductor temperatures listed in Table 1 with the duct layout shown in Fig. 1. These initial calculations demonstrated that many of the ReturnClose and to SessionReturn Figure 1 Duct layout Table 1 Cable temperatures It is also noted that the solution that has been arrived at is not the only solution for this number of circuits. Increasing Temperature Temperature Circuit Circuit the conductor size in one voltage group could allow the °C °C conductor size to be reduced in another voltage group. 400 V,1 82 20 kV, 1 53 Also moving ducts closer together or further apart will 2 75 2 55 influence the calculated temperatures. However it was considered that adopting a relatively simple duct 3 82 3 82 arrangement with regular spacings would lead to a simpler 4 81 4 76 installation. 11 kV, 1 70 5 55 FLOOR SURFACE TEMPERATURE 2 71 6 53 The calculations described above are based on the method 3 71 7 55 given in IEC 60287.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Design of a 45 Circuit Duct Bank
    ReturnClose and to SessionReturn DESIGN OF A 45 CIRCUIT DUCT BANK Mark COATES, ERA Technology Ltd, (UK), [email protected] Liam G O’SULLIVAN, EDF Energy Networks, (UK), liam.o’[email protected] ABSTRACT CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS Bankside power station in London, closed in 1981 but the The duct block was designed to carry the following XLPE substation that is housed in the same building has remained insulated cable circuits without exceeding the operating operational. The remainder of the building has housed the temperature of any cable within the duct block. Tate Modern art gallery since 2000. EDF Energy Networks is now engaged in a project to upgrade and modernise o Four 400/230V circuits with a cyclic loading of 300A. Bankside substation. Part of this work involves the o Twenty 11kV circuits with a cyclic loading of 400A. diversion of about 45 cable circuits into a duct block within o Sixteen 20kV circuits with a cyclic loading of 400A the basement of the substation. The circuits include pilot o Four 66kV circuits with a cyclic loading of 300A circuits, LV circuits and 11 kV, 22 kV, 66kV and 132 kV o Two 132kV circuits with a cyclic loading of 700A circuits. This paper describes the process involved in o Six pilot circuits. designing the duct bank. The cyclic load was taken to be a step wave with 100 % load factor from 08.00hrs to 20.00hrs and 0.8pu from KEYWORDS 20.00hrs to 08.00hrs. Duct bank, Magnetic field, Surface temperature, Cable rating. The cables selected for this installation were of types commonly used by distribution companies in the UK.
    [Show full text]
  • Bankside Power Station’S Former Design Effect the Restoration and What Effect Did the Changes Have?
    INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE EXTENDED ESSAY An Exploration into how Herzog & de Meuron designed the Tate Modern by considering the industrial attributes that affect the function of the museum. How did the Bankside Power Station’s former design effect the restoration and what effect did the changes have? Name: Maxim Goldau Student Number: Subject: Visual Arts King William’s College Centre Number: 26th September 2014 Word Count: 3791 1 Abstract: This essay explores the approach Herzog & de Meuron took to restore and design the Tate Modern. The building being restored was the Bankside Power Station, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott in 1947. The Power Station was designed with an industrial purpose at its heart. I wanted to discover what procedure was necessary to adapt a former industrial building to serve a very opposing purpose, which led me to my research question: “How did the Bankside Power Station’s former design effected the restoration and what effect did the changes have?” I proceeded by analysing the original structure of the Bankside Power Station and in which ways Herzog & de Meuron changed elements of the building; especially the reasons for changing sections of the building. I analysed the single parts of the former Power Station were investigated to gather information about the approach, ideas and intended effects. To investigate the structure of the Tate Modern, I was analysed various layouts and images. My main sources were online articles, essays and the homepages of the artists, the Tate and Herzog & de Meuron. Most articles were just documenting and informing the readers with the very basic information, but I found the website of Herzog& de Meuron reflected their thinking process.
    [Show full text]
  • Bankside Power Station: Planning, Politics and Pollution
    BANKSIDE POWER STATION: PLANNING, POLITICS AND POLLUTION Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Leicester by Stephen Andrew Murray Centre for Urban History University of Leicester 2014 Bankside Power Station ii Bankside Power Station: Planning, Politics and Pollution Stephen Andrew Murray Abstract Electricity has been a feature of the British urban landscape since the 1890s. Yet there are few accounts of urban electricity undertakings or their generating stations. This history of Bankside power station uses government and company records to analyse the supply, development and use of electricity in the City of London, and the political, economic and social contexts in which the power station was planned, designed and operated. The close-focus adopted reveals issues that are not identified in, or are qualifying or counter-examples to, the existing macro-scale accounts of the wider electricity industry. Contrary to the perceived backwardness of the industry in the inter-war period this study demonstrates that Bankside was part of an efficient and profitable private company which was increasingly subject to bureaucratic centralised control. Significant decision-making processes are examined including post-war urban planning by local and central government and technological decision-making in the electricity industry. The study contributes to the history of technology and the environment through an analysis of the technologies that were proposed or deployed at the post-war power station, including those intended to mitigate its impact, together with an examination of their long-term effectiveness. Bankside made a valuable contribution to electricity supplies in London until the 1973 Middle East oil crisis compromised its economic viability.
    [Show full text]
  • THE VIEW from MY WINDOW by GLYN ENGLAND
    SUPPLEMENT TO THE HISTELEC NEWS AUGUST 2004 THE VIEW FROM MY WINDOW An historical perspective of the Electricity Supply Industry. by Glyn England JP, BSc(Eng), Hon.DSc(Bath), FEng,FIEE,CBIM Extracted from a Presidential Address given by Glyn England, then Chairman of the CEGB, on 2nd April 1982 to the Metals and Materials Association meeting at Bath University. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTRODUCTION I propose to interpret this title metaphorically as well as literally, using a few landmarks, past and present, as pegs for : - reflections on some aspects of the history of electricity supply in this country; considering some lessons that can be learnt from that past experience; and a few personal thoughts about the future, together with a mention of some of the CEGB's present preoccupations. In other words, I intend to think aloud about how things seem to me, from where I sit in my office on the fifteenth floor of the CEGB's headquarters building, Sudbury House, in one of the most historic parts of the City of London. Indeed, the industry as we know it today was really started by a big step forward in high-temperature materials technology which took place about 100 years ago. It was the development, by Swan and Edison, of a filament of carbon, which could be heated in a vacuum to incandescent temperatures that resulted in the production of the first practical incandescent lamp. We all know what a great impetus that gave to electrical technology. SPATE OF CENTENARIES I have mentioned one centenary. In fact, we in electricity supply are having quite a spate of centenaries about this time.
    [Show full text]
  • England's Atomic Age. Securing Its Architectural and Technological Legacy
    77 England’s Atomic Age. Securing its Architectural and Technological Legacy Wayne D. Cocroft Introduction Wales where a pilot uranium isotope separation plant was constructed.3 The building has been listed by Cadw. This paper presents a brief overview of places in England For many reasons, including cost, the threat from aerial that have been associated with atomic research, including the bombing and concerns that vital resources would be drawn early nuclear weapons programme, and especially those plac- away from more pressing tasks British knowledge and sci- es that have been afforded statutory protection. It describes entists were transferred to the US atomic bomb project – the the infrastructure of the civil nuclear power industry and how Manhattan Project. But, after the passing of the McMahon this legacy is being remediated to release land for new us- Act in 1946 the UK was denied access to US atomic work es. It concludes with a discussion of how Historic England‘s and embarked on its own nuclear weapons programme. Dur- strategy for the documentation of post-war coal and oil-fired ing this period the weapons and civil research programmes power stations that might be applied to the nuclear sector. often worked closely together drawing on a relatively small pool of scientific experts. Early history The development of the British atomic bomb From the late 19th century scientists in the United King- dom were part of an international community of pioneers The early research facilities allocated to the project were working to understand the structure of the atom. Important modest and included a small section of the Royal Arsenal, centres included the physics building at the University of Woolwich, and a redundant 19th century fortification, Fort Manchester, built in1900, where Ernest Rutherford, a New Halstead, Kent.
    [Show full text]
  • (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Cabinet, 15/09/2015 16:00
    Open Agenda Cabinet Tuesday 15 September 2015 4.00 pm Ground Floor Meeting Room GO2A, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH Membership Portfolio Councillor Peter John Leader of the Council Councillor Ian Wingfield Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, Employment and Culture Councillor Fiona Colley Finance, Modernisation and Performance Councillor Stephanie Cryan Adult Care and Financial Inclusion Councillor Barrie Hargrove Public Health, Parks and Leisure Councillor Richard Livingstone Housing Councillor Darren Merrill Environment and the Public Realm Councillor Victoria Mills Children and Schools Councillor Michael Situ Communities and Safety Councillor Mark Williams Regeneration and New Homes INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC Access to information You have the right to request to inspect copies of minutes and reports on this agenda as well as the background documents used in the preparation of these reports. Babysitting/Carers allowances If you are a resident of the borough and have paid someone to look after your children, an elderly dependant or a dependant with disabilities so that you could attend this meeting, you may claim an allowance from the council. Please collect a claim form at the meeting. Access The council is committed to making its meetings accessible. Further details on building access, translation, provision of signers etc for this meeting are on the council’s web site: www.southwark.gov.uk or please contact the person below. Contact Virginia Wynn-Jones 020 7525 7055 or Paula Thornton 020 7525 4395 Or email: [email protected] ; [email protected] Members of the committee are summoned to attend this meeting Councillor Peter John Leader of the Council Date: 7 September 2015 Cabinet Tuesday 15 September 2015 4.00 pm Ground Floor Meeting Room GO2A, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH Order of Business Item No.
    [Show full text]
  • Tate Modern in the London Borough of Southwark Planning Application No
    planning report PDU/1464a/01 4 March 2009 Tate Modern in the London Borough of Southwark planning application no. 09-AP-0039 Strategic planning application stage 1 referral (new powers) Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended); Greater London Authority Acts 1999 and 2007; Town & Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008 The proposal Construction of an 11-storey building for use as an extension to the existing Tate Modern. The applicant The applicant is The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery, and the architect is Herzog & De Meuron. Strategic issues The extension to the Tate is supported by London Plan policies relating to London’s world city status; cultural and tourism facilities. The design is welcomed with the use of brick providing a different but successful approach to the ‘glass boxes’ of the 2008 approval. However, the matter of ‘active’ frontages on the southern elevation needs further examination as well as detailing relating to the junction between the existing and new buildings. There are outstanding concern relating to access/equal opportunities. Further discussions are required to ensure that the building fully meets the principles of inclusive design. The application meets London Plan policies for transport and climate change. Recommendation That Southwark Council be advised that the application does not comply with the London Plan, for the reasons set out in paragraph 87 of this report; but that the possible remedies set out in paragraph 89 of this report could address these deficiencies. Context 1 On 26 January 2009 the Mayor of London received documents from Southwark Council notifying him of a planning application of potential strategic importance to develop the above site for the above uses.
    [Show full text]
  • Signature Redacted- Certified By
    POWER AT BATTERSEA Understanding Post-Industrial Britain through an Art Deco Monolith by Brandon Sanchez Submitted to the Department of Architecture in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Architecture Studies at the MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY June 2018 C 2018 Brandon Sanchez All Rights Reserved The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly, paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part in any medium now known or hereafter created. Signature redacted Author............................................................. ............. Brandon A. Sanchez Department of Architecture May 24, 2018 Signature redacted- Certified by......................................... .a eb t / 4asser 0. Rabbat, PhD Professor of the History of Architecture Director of the MIT Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture Thesis Advisor Accepted by..............................................Signature redacted MASSACHUSEMTS INSTITUTE Leslie I. Norford, PhD OF TECHNOLOGY Professor of Building Technology Undergraduate Officer JUN 2 2 2018 Department of Architecture LIBRARIES ARCHIVES POWER AT BATTERSEA Understanding Post-Industrial Britain through an Art Deco Monolith by Brandon Sanchez Submitted to the Department of Architecture on May 24, 2018, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Architecture Abstract In the modern age, a building serves a purpose beyond that of its intended architectural function. This is especially true of famous buildings, which become important as icons independent of their physical presence. When a building reaches a certain level of fame, its symbolic significance shifts not only as a result of its programming, but as a result of its political, social, and cultural context.
    [Show full text]
  • Iaea Nuclear Energy Series Publications
    P1432_cover.indd 1 2011-07-08 13:13:09 IAEA NUCLEAR ENERGY SERIES PUBLICATIONS STRUCTURE OF THE IAEA NUCLEAR ENERGY SERIES Under the terms of Articles III.A and VIII.C of its Statute, the IAEA is authorized to foster the exchange of scientific and technical information on the peaceful uses of atomic energy. The publications in the IAEA Nuclear Energy Series provide information in the areas of nuclear power, nuclear fuel cycle, radioactive waste management and decommissioning, and on general issues that are relevant to all of the above mentioned areas. The structure of the IAEA Nuclear Energy Series comprises three levels: 1 — Basic Principles and Objectives; 2 — Guides; and 3 — Technical Reports. The Nuclear Energy Basic Principles publication describes the rationale and vision for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Nuclear Energy Series Objectives publications explain the expectations to be met in various areas at different stages of implementation. Nuclear Energy Series Guides provide high level guidance on how to achieve the objectives related to the various topics and areas involving the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Nuclear Energy Series Technical Reports provide additional, more detailed, information on activities related to the various areas dealt with in the IAEA Nuclear Energy Series. The IAEA Nuclear Energy Series publications are coded as follows: NG — general; NP — nuclear power; NF — nuclear fuel; NW — radioactive waste management and decommissioning. In addition, the publications are available in English on the IAEA’s Internet site: http://www.iaea.org/Publications/index.html For further information, please contact the IAEA at PO Box 100, Vienna International Centre, 1400 Vienna, Austria.
    [Show full text]
  • Tate Modern: the First Five Years
    Tate Modern: The First Five Years Modern: The First Five Years Tate Tate Modern: The First Five Years Tate Modern: Since it opened in May 2000, Tate Modern has attracted more than twenty million visitors. In only five years, it has drawn attention to a previously undeveloped area of London and has The First Five Years created 1,000 new jobs, generating £26 million per annum for London as a whole. It has become a new landmark for the capital, and its programme and architecture have won With essays by Martin Gayford, John Holden, international acclaim. Rowan Moore, the Rt Hon Chris Smith, Tate Modern: The First Five Years is a specially commissioned collection of essays examining various aspects of the impact of Jon Snow and Tony Travers Tate Modern. With an introduction by Tate Director Nicholas Serota, the contributors are Martin Gayford, John Holden, Rowan Moore, the Rt Hon Chris Smith, Jon Snow and Tony Travers, each of whom analyses Tate Modern’s distinctive contributions to the nation’s cultural life. In association with Demos and the London School of Economics Tate Cover image: Tate Modern Turbine Hall © Herzog & de Meuron Published by order of the Tate Trustees 2005 by Tate, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG © Tate 2005. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or Tate Modern: other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher.
    [Show full text]
  • Establishing Tate Modern: Vision and Patronage
    Establishing Tate Modern: Vision and Patronage The London School of Economics and Political Science Establishing Tate Modern: Vision and Patronage Caroline Donnellan A thesis submitted to the Department of Sociology at the London School of Economics for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, London, July 2013 1 Establishing Tate Modern: Vision and Patronage Declaration I certify that the thesis I have presented for examination for the Ph.D. degree of the London School of Economics and Political Science is solely my own work, other than where I have clearly indicated that it is the work of others, in which case the extent of any work carried out jointly by me and any other person is clearly identified in it. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. Quotation from it is permitted, provided that full acknowledgement is made. This thesis may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of the author. I warrant that this authorisation does not, to the best of my belief, infringe the rights of any third party. 2 Establishing Tate Modern: Vision and Patronage Abstract Tate Modern has attracted significant academic interest aimed at analysing its cultural and urban regeneration impact. Yet there exists no research which provides an in-depth and contextual framework examining how Tate Modern was established, nor is there a study which assesses critically the development of Tate’s collection of international modern and contemporary art. Why is this important? It is relevant because a historic conflict of interests developed within the Tate’s founding organisation which was reluctant to host it.
    [Show full text]
  • Education Teacher’S Kit
    Industrial Heritage - Utilities - Gas Education Teacher’s Kit A History of the Gas Industry Lighting up the Nation The development of gas lighting in the nineteenth century had a dramatic impact on the domestic and working lives of the people of Britain. Gas lighting was a far more efficient and economic form of lighting than oil lighting that preceded it. Subsequently gas was used for other purposes such as cooking and heating. The ability to derive gas by the heating of coal was discovered in the seventeenth century. The Scottish engineer, William Murdoch, was the first person to demonstrate the practical application of this discovery when, in 1792, he lit his house in Redruth, Cornwall, using gas produced in an iron retort. The first buildings to be lit by gas were a number of textile mills in northern England, around 1806. Early gas works were small, private concerns built at factories, mines, railway stations, and country houses. The world’s first public gas works opened in Great Peter Street, London in 1813. By 1826 almost every city and large town in Britain had a gas works, primarily for lighting the streets. In these towns, public buildings, shops and larger houses generally had gas lighting but it was not until the last quarter of the nineteenth century that most working people could afford to light their homes with gas. The gas industry in Britain was nationalised in 1948 and then privatised in 1986. Natural gas replaced coal gas in the 1960s and 70s. Gas has become a major world-wide industry and now provides over 40% of the United Kingdom’s energy.
    [Show full text]