Neptune Bank Power Station
1901 The Newcastle-upon-Tyne Electric Supply Co opened the Neptune Bank Power Station, the first power station in the UK to generate three-phase electricity, and the first to supply electricity for industrial purposes rather than just lighting. The station was designed by Charles Merz of Merz and McLellan. The initial output was at 6600 V, 40 Hz.
The first three generating units were driven by triple-expansion, four-cylinder reciprocating engines of the marine type. The working steam pressure was 200 psi, the superheated steam temperature 480 deg.F., and the condenser vacuum 25" to 26" Hg. The engines ran at 100 rpm, and each unit developed 800 kilowatts at full load. Additional plant soon became necessary, and 1500 kW turbine-alternator was ordered from C. A. Parsons and Co, to run at 1200 rpm, and it was put into service early in 1902. The turbine-generators were described in some detail in 'The Engineer' in 1934 [1]
The first large reciprocating engine was made by the Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Co, and indicated 1400 HP. The other three were made by Wigham Richardson and Co. Smaller engines were supplied by Belliss and Morcom.[2].