Item 1975_001_A_001 - Triple Expansion Steam Engine

1

Authentic to site.

Originally commissioned by the Mayor of Hereford on behalf of its citizens and installed at the Lower Pumping Station, Broomy Hill, Hereford in 1895.
It forms part of the industrial artefacts contained in the Victorian Waterworks Building when the Waterworks Museum was first established.

2019: New pump rod fitted to condenser air pump. Old rod removed to Archive Store.

• English

Triple Expansion, Inverted, Vertical, Condensing Steam Engine.
Three Cylinder Engine with cylinders of increasing bore.
Steam heated cylinder jackets are on the high pressure and intermediate pressure cylinders. The low pressure cylinder does not have a heated cylinder jacket.
Original steam pressure - Engine rated at 120 hp indicated, at 160 psi steam pressure.
Desired current steam pressure: 50 psi (3.3 atmospheres)
Original speed of rotation: 26 rpm
Low Lift Pumps deliver 1,000,000 gallons (4.5 Mlitres) per 12 hours.
High Lift Pumps deliver 150,000 gallons per 12 hours.
The 3 steam cylinders are double acting and the 3 low lift water pumps are single acting.

Bay 06

In 1906, the Triple Expansion Steam Engine high lift pumps were supported by the installation of a Twin Steam Engine (also known as a Duplex Steam Engine) manufactured by Worth MacKenzie Company. Reference code: 1975_001_A_002.

As far as we know this is the oldest in situ working Triple Expansion, inverted, vertical, double acting, condensing Steam Engine in the UK. Originally, provided with steam by a Lancashire Boiler which remains in-situ in Bay 04, although inoperable. The pump was installed to draw raw water from the River Wye and deliver it to the treatment works on Broomy Hill and to other direct pipes which were in place to deliver water to key establishments such as Bulmers. Clean water gravitated from the treatment works to high pressure pumps below the intermediate cylinder for return to the water tower tank.

• English