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Report - - West Burton A Power Station, Nottinghamshire - April 2023 | UK Power Stations | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - West Burton A Power Station, Nottinghamshire - April 2023

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Exploring with Andy

Behind Closed Doors
Staff member
Moderator
Opening in 1966, West Burton A was a 2000MW coal-fired power station and operated until 2023

Construction began in 1961 by the Northern Project Group, a department within the CEGB. In a bid to combine efforts at the design and construction stages the Boiler and Turbo-generator plant were replicated at Fiddlers Ferry power station located in Cheshire, in North West England.

The station was the first 2000 MW power station to be constructed in the United Kingdom and provided electricity for around two million people. The four 500 MW single shaft turbo-generator units manufactured by English Electric are arranged lengthwise along the turbine hall.

In June 2000, work began on the fitting of flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) equipment at the station. The work was completed in October 2003, and had a total cost of £100 million. As part of the new FGD retrofit two new chimneys 200 m (660 ft) high were constructed 194 m (636 ft) to the north of the existing chimneys.

In March 2021, EDF confirmed that West Burton A would cease generation on 30 September 2022. However in June 2022, EDF agreed to defer closure of two units at West Burton A power station by a further six months with the closure date revised to 31 March 2023. The station closed as planned on 31 March 2023.


Turbine Hall

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Unit 4 viewed from the gantry

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Units 3, 2 and 1

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View from one of the two gantry cranes

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Side view of unit 1

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General view of the turbine hall

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Unit 4 generator and LP turbines

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Unit 4 HP end

Looking a bit further around the turbine hall, we find the HP heaters, boiler feed pumps, etc...

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Unit 4 HP Heaters

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Unit 1 Starting & Standby Boiler Feed Pumps

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Unit 1 main BFPs

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Unit 4 Oil Coolers


Boilers and Mills

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General view in the boiler house

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International Combustion Maker's Plate

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Unit 1 ID Fans

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Coal Feeders

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Overview of the PF Mills

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Mills

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Mills

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Unit 1 Deaerator

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Ash Hoppers

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Coal Delivery

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Paddle Feeders below the Rail Unloader

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Rail Unloader Conveyors

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Bunker House

Gas Turbines
The gas turbine house was in complete darkness with the exception of a single bulkhead light next to an entry door. Thankfully this provided just enough light to grab a couple of long exposure shots. The GT house has plenty of windows - I didn't fancy trying to locate the switches in fear of the lights being spotted from outside, however they will look nice in natural light at some point in the future when a daytime visit is feasible. It was at least nice to confirm all four generators are still in situ, despite two units being decommissioned some time ago, and their Rolls Royce gas generators removed.

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So there we have it, so far. Despite the duplication of design between this and Fiddler's, I found West Burton to be generally a bit more interesting and the cleanliness and lighting of the station really helped it to be, in my opinion, the more photogenic of the two. Sadly the nice original control room has been replaced with the most bland of any of the ex-CEGB stations, so we don't have that to look forward to, however there's still plenty more to be seen around the site and I'm sure coverage will be added to by others and myself over the coming months.

Visited with @albino-jay and Howlin.
 
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Speed

Got Epic Slow?
Regular User
Yeh I knew there was a reason I didn't bother with too many photos.. these make mine look embarrassing! I found it all a bit meh to be honest (apart from the enamel signs and makers plates) but I guess thats just powerstation fatigue after trapsing round so many now.. Was cool to see you guys none the less!
 

mookster

I am friends with the smooth Mars Bar man
Regular User
That International Combustion sign is my favourite feature in there, that's awesome.
 

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KPUrban_

Surprisingly Unsurprising
Regular User
That makers plate, as Mookster said, is a bit nice. So much to see here, as much as it is a recreation of Fiddlers.

On another note, this view is ace.

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Overview of the PF Mills

So much to like here with too much to see.
 
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albino-jay

g00n Buster
Staff member
Moderator
Great shots dude, it was a mega night. I don't know how I missed them huuuuuge IC plates though. what a knob. GT house looks awesome, deffo need to pop back here when it eases up for some daytime shots. Fiddlers looked great under natural light.

Hopefully someone will crack the chims soon too
 

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Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Massive hell yes. Banging images. The view from the crane is picture perfect :<3
 

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