Tejo Power Station
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The thermodynamic power plant Central Tejo of the United Gas and Electric Company " Companhias Reunidas de Gás e Electricidade ( CRGE ) " supplied the Portuguese capital of Lisbon and the surrounding area with electricity. Built in the Belém district, it was in operation from 1909 to 1972, from 1951 but only as a backup power unit. Over the years it has been repeatedly rebuilt and expanded by extensions, so you can distinguish different design and production stages.
The original power plant " Central Tejo" produced from 1909 until 1921. From this structure today is nothing more to see. 1914 began the construction of factory buildings for low-pressure steam boiler and engine room, to which several times was cultivated later. In 1941 finally under way for the installation of high-pressure steam boiler with the largest building of its industrial plant and 1951 increased for an additional boiler on.
Although it ran for the last time in 1972, the official closure was only 1975. Example, the city of Lisbon remained an archaeological industrial monument of the utmost importance, in 1986 declared a cultural heritage public interest. Since 1990 you can visit the steam power plant " Central Tejo" in its reinterpretation as Electricity Museum.
Historical development
Built in 1909 investment, of which nothing was left was the original power plant " Central Tejo" in operation until 1921. 's Project engineer Lucien New, was the company Vieillard & Touzet ( Ferdinand Touzet was a student of Gustave Eiffel) executed.
For years, the machinery was adjusted to increase the efficiency of the office. When all the plants were completely in 1912, the power station had fifteen small Belleville boilers and five turbo generator sets with a capacity of 7.75 MW. From 1916 until its closure in 1921, the steam from these new, set up in the low-pressure boilers tract was delivered. After this factory was dismantled and the buildings until 1938 used as warehouses and workshops, as they were then demolished to make the new high-pressure plant in place.
Low-pressure production
The construction started in 1914, the factory buildings for low-pressure steam plant goes through three major phases of construction before it is finished in 1930. The first phase ( 1914-1921 ) includes the construction of two halls for the steam boiler, the machine room for the alternator and the substation. The second stage ( 1924-1928 ) is the first expansion of the boiler room by the addition of a new nave, the acquisition of an additional turbo-generator, the installation of a coal conveyor system and the design of the intake ports on the quay for the cooling water supply. In the third phase ( 1928-1930 ), finally, the boiler hall was replaced by a new, more spacious, and increases the machine room and the sub-station for the last time.
Thus, the boiler room of the power plant in the thirties consisted of eleven low-pressure boilers, ten of Babcock & Wilcox and a von Humboldt. In the machine hall worked for five generator sets of different potency and origin: Escher & Wiss, AEG (two blocks), Asea Stal - and Escher Wiss / Thompson.
High-pressure production
The increase in capacity by 1934 installed new alternators AEG necessitated the purchase of new boiler for operation with high pressure steam. This should be the imponenteste building of the industrial complex. It was built on the site of the former in 1938 demolished power station. There are three large Babcock & Wilcox high pressure steam boilers were installed, the anliefen 1941.
Because of the disruption of the first " Central Tejo" and the establishment of the high-pressure tract was needed room for workshops and storage sheds. Accordingly, the Company " CRGE " bought (United gas and electricity works ) the neighboring site of the old sugar refinery Senna Sugar Estates, Ltd.. , Then in possession of the " Companhia de Açúcar de Moçambique ". Two old boilers were dismantled to set up a space for the water treatment there in the low-pressure Hall to accommodate the water treatment plant.
In 1950, the high-pressure one hall one last time for an additional boiler. This was put into operation the following year.
Connection to the national grid
The decree-law 2002 - regulation of the National Electrification - 1944, gives the hydro-electric power generation absolute priority. The construction of the first major hydroelectric plant at the dam of Castelo de Bode, the power plant " Central Tejo" is losing importance in the electricity production sector. From the start of the Castelo de Bode in 1951 it works only substitute.
Nevertheless, it produces 1951-1968 uninterruptedly, with the exception of 1961. Due to an assassination attempt against the Salazar regimen in 1972, had interrupted the power supply at the fallen power lines between Castelo de Bode and Lisbon, the current Central Central Tejo has been thrown again to return to last time to generate electrical energy in its history. It was officially closed in 1975.
The steam power plant " Central Tejo" as Electricity Museum
Following closure and the nationalization of the electricity company it was decided to bring this old, thermodynamic power plant or is used for cultural purposes to life. In 1986 the first working group for the establishment of the museum was formed, which in 1990 was able to open its doors to the public. Between 2001 and 2005 the museum a profound restructuring went down not only with regard to the renovation of the buildings, but also in its content presentation. In 2006, the museum finally celebrate its reopening with an entirely new museological concept, dynamic, emphasizing pedagogical orientation.
The building
After much renovation and expansion work time of its existence, the building is " Central Tejo", a grandiose industrial monument of the first half of the 20th century in pristine condition. From the aesthetics forth the entire complex looks very balanced thanks to the integrated iron structure, which is covered by brick brick in all parts of the building. Nevertheless, it recognizes different stylistic tendencies between the factory buildings of low pressure production and those of the high-pressure steam boiler.
Functional description of the steam power plant
The principle of operation of a thermodynamic power station based on the combustion of a fuel to produce steam, which activates an alternator. In theory this seems quite simple, but requires a complex system of machinery, piping systems and logistic devices.
In steam power plant " Central Tejo" came mainly coal used, which antransportiert by sea, was unloaded on the stockpile and then transported through the coal mill in the blending silos. From the conveyor belt above it then falls to the traveling grate in the combustion chamber, where it burns at a temperature of about 1200 ˚ C. The heat thus generated converts the water circulating in the tubes in the interior of the combustion chamber into steam, which is then fed to the turbo-generators. Only chemically treated pure water may be used in the closed water circuit. To prevent damage to the equipment the power center, it is pre-treated, purified and filtered.
Under high pressure (38 kg / cm ² ) is reached, the hot vapor, the turbo-generator sets. Whereas, the turbine converts the thermal energy of the steam into kinetic energy, transmits the alternator this. Into electrical energy, and generates three-phase AC current having 10500 & nbspVolt and a frequency of 50 Hz that was distributed from the substation to the consumer
After the superheated steam delivered its motion energy to the turbine, it passes into the condensers where it liquefies, so as to be re-used as feed water in the steam boilers. The condensation is effected by contact of the exhaust steam with the cold surface of the water -filled flow tube in the interior of the capacitor. Thus, the cooling water never comes in contact with the process used in the production equipment, the processed clean water. From the condenser, the water is pumped back to the boilers and the cycle closed.
Working conditions in the power station
Without the people who worked there for generations, the steam power plant could not function. In addition, the continuous running of the power station required a rigorous work schedule and employment shifts. The nearly five hundred employees who had alternately day and night shifts were worked on more than forty-five task areas. These ranged from Kohleabladen to work in the boiler room, from the craftsman in the carpentry and Schiedewerkstätten up to the trained professionals and engineers.
Most people had the plague, who were responsible for the coal fired steam boiler, but also in the ash bunker only the most extreme heat were exposed, but also the coal dust and consistently deafening noise. Nevertheless, most workers were employed in the boiler room, where they carried out a variety of activities. Here, the technical chief engineer, the technical personnel, the Capo Heizmeister, deputy heater, the heater, the slider and the " liming " met (responsible for the emptying of the ash and slag) and all worked together in the toughest conditions, particularly the latter.
Patrimonialwert
As already mentioned, the power plant " Central Tejo" a relevant patrimoniellen value represents, not only from an architectural or archaeological point of view, but also in terms of its historical, social, anthropological and economic importance. The heritage left behind decades of operation is undisputed. It was the great power station and Lisbon of Portugal until the mid 20th century. His supply radius was enough for the entire city and the Tagus valley upwards, for street lighting, private consumption and energy supply to the factories. Without its existence, the development of Lisbon would have been certainly different. It was behind the growth and expansion of the city in the 20th century, supported the industrialization of the region and the construction of the first electric railway line in the country (Lisbon - Cascais ).
At the same time the steam power plant " Central Tejo" was crucial for the modernization of the city. Several generations worked on under the harshest conditions and under the boilers, so that others had light in their houses at night could go on lighted streets or can be conveniently prepared high tram ride up the steep hills of Lisbon. The building complex of the current headquarters houses a valuable cultural heritage, which, if it is cared for and preserved, contributes to that this old power plant of the de-industrialization of the district of Belém escape and continue to exist as a unique industrial monument of Portugal, perhaps even in Europe.
- Real estate: the factory system " Central Tejo" ( cultural monument public interest since 1986), with buildings of low pressure production and pressroom ( 1914-1930 ), high-pressure production and water treatment tract ( 1938-1951 ), and the various workshops of the plant, the number of buildings (formerly from the former sugar factory from the late 19th century principles of the 20th century), now the Centre for Documentation and reserves Museum.
- Mobile Inventory: currently in the Museum: four high-pressure steam boiler manufacturer Babcock & Wilcox in 1941 and 1951; . two turbo sets of the brand AEG from 1942 condensers, cooling and isolating switch in the machine room, as well as water treatment plants, filters, pumps and Distillers of the forties in the water house, coal bucket wheels, wagons, silos, carpenter and blacksmith tools, etc; in reserve storage and front yard: turbo-generators of other power plants, speed controllers, valves, parts of the public street lighting Lisbon, household electrical appliances of different eras, styles and classes, etc.