Eraring Power Station

Eraring Power Station is one of two coal fired electricity power stations on the shores of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales. Eraring is located on the western shore of the lake, near the township of Dora Creek. It has four steam driven Toshiba turbo-alternators, with a total capacity of 2,640 MW (660MW each).

Contents

Development

The first turbo-alternator was brought online in 1982, with the second and third in 1983, and the fourth in 1984. There are plans to upgrade generating capacity of each of the four turbines.

The process of upgrading the control room to a fully digital system was completed in 2005.

Details

Eraring Power Station uses salt water from Lake Macquarie for cooling. This is supplied through a concrete tunnel which passes under Dora Creek and up to the station via open canal. Reclaimed sewage water from the Dora Creek Waste Water Treatment Works is heavily purified and used to generate steam for the turbines as opposed to the salt water supplies. The salt water helps in the cooling of the superheated steam as well as moderation of the temperature of outlet water to minimise thermal pollution.

The coal for Eraring comes from five mines in the local area, delivered by conveyor, rail and private road. There is significant coal storage capacity on site. Eraring power station employs the Fabric Filter system of dust collection, in which particulate emissions resulting from coal combustion are captured as opposed to being released into the atmosphere. Some of this material is stored in an area nearby while some is taken and used as a component of road base.

Electricity generated at the station is transmitted through high voltage transmission lines. Turbines 1 and 2 are connected to a 330kV transmission line while turbines 3 and 4 are connected to a 500kV transmission line.

Fire

On 28 October, a large fire erupted in one of the power station's generator. The blaze took 4 hours to extinguish and is expected to cost an estimated $20 million to repair. The fire also caused generator coolants to seep resulting in contamination of Whiteheads Lagoon which is located adjacent to the power station.[1]

References

  1. ^ Neil Keene and Andrew Clennell (28 October 2011). "Fears oil could seep into lake after explosion at Eraring power station in southern Lake Macquarie". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/firies-battling-huge-blaze-at-eraring-power-station-in-southern-lake-macquarie/story-e6freuy9-1226179157413. Retrieved 28 October 2011. 

See also

External links

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