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home | the buildings | number 10 exhauster (638)
 

Number 10 Exhauster (638)

Built: 1969
Decommissioned: 2002?

Number 10 Exhauster was the last heavy plant installed at Pyestock to power the air supply network. It was built when Cell 3 West was constructed and placed in the northwest corner of the site (a location where the turbine could be easily connected to the existing suction mains).

This Parsons exhauster was installed for three reasons. Firstly it extended the range of the full scale free jet nozzle expansion tests; secondly it provided even more exhausting capability to the suction mains; and thirdly it provided backup when Number 9 Exhauster was being serviced.

Although it had a lower pressure ratio than Number 9 machine, it was similarly limited to Cell 3, Cell 3 West and Cell 4 as it was connected to the same suction mains.




South eastern side of Number 10 Exhauster.
31|03|07 © Simon Cornwell 2007


Unlike Number 9 Exhauster, the new Parsons generator was housed in its own building, and not as an extension to Cell 4. The building comprised of a steel framed shed with a tall steel exhaust tower to the south (mounted on a massive concrete plinth) and two brick blockhouses to the north (which housed the switchgear and control rooms).

The building was bisected by a layer of glass windowing positioned within the upper third of the structure. This architectural flourish gave the building its unique appearance within Pyestock and flooded the interior with light (in direct comparison to the dark Number 9 Exhauster).

Elevated view across the turbine hall.
31|03|07 © Simon Cornwell 2007


Inside, the Parsons exhauster was mounted within a single storey concrete plinth aligned east-west, with a large loading bay with access doors to the west of the building. A metal staircase led to the first floor (where the top of the Parsons exhauster could be accessed). It continued higher to give access to the loading crane and finally exited onto a metal catwalk which stretched across the entire southern side of the building.



South western view across the control room.
31|03|07 © Simon Cornwell 2007


Number 10 Exhauster was probably decommissioned when Cell 3 closed in 2002.



Number 10 Exhauster Walkthrough...

Northern side of Number 10 Exhauster South eastern side of Number 10 Exhauster Southern side of Number 10 Exhauster taken from the top of the ammonia tanks Southern side of Number 10 Exhauster as seen from Cell 3 West The suction mains connecting Number 10 Exhauster to the air network. South east side of the building The concrete exhaust of Number 10 Exhauster Looking south in the loading bay Looking east along the northern wall of Number 10 Exhauster Moving eastwards along the northern side of Number 10 Exhauster Moving eastwards by the northern wall of Number 10 Exhauster
Looking eastwards at the stairs to the higher levels Looking west in the switchgear room Looking north at the eastern end of Number 10 Exhauster Elevated north western view of the suction mains from the eastern end of the building View westwards along the southern wall of Number 10 Exhauster View westwards from the stairs across the turbine Detail of section of the turbine. Looking south Detail of a section of the turbine. Looking south west Detail of another section of the turbine. Looking south Standing on the turbine looking west
Eastern view of the suction mains disappearing out of the eastern wall of the building Elevated view south east of the gantry and crane Looking south up the steps alongside the east wall South western view across the control room Southern view of the control panel North eastern view across the control room Elevated view across the turbine hall Elevated view south of the crane Western view along the elevated catwalk Elevated view across the turbine
Looking north east across the turbine hall from the elevated catwalk View west along the elevated catwalk Looking north west into the crane Detail of two of the crane's control panels Crawl westwards across the crane gantry On top of the crane gantry looking north west The drop to the floor below Elevated view of the Parsons generator


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