Full steam ahead for Power Museum’s only Marhsall engine 25 May 2012

The highlight of the Museum of Power, near Maldon, Essex – a Marshall 300hp vertical, triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine, manufactured by the Lilleshall Company – is now back on steam after nearly 50 years, thanks to design advice and the supply of hotwell equipment and steam traps from TLV Euro Engineering.

The steam engine dates back to the 1930s, when it was used to pump water from the local reservoir to the water treatment works. Once treated, the water was then pumped to Southend via a 24 inch water main at a capacity of between 4 and 4.4 million gallons per day.

The Marshall is the sole-survivor of three engines and pumps originally housed at the station. The other two were removed for scrap when they were turned off in 1963 and the site was eventually decommissioned by Southend Waterworks in 1965.

Today, the engine still powers the high- and low-pressure pumps, but does not actively pump water.

Having secured a deal with Essex & Suffolk Water, The Museum of Power took ownership of the premises and the Marshall in 1996, and completely refurbished the steam engine.

As the charity had limited funding, the engine was only re-commissioned to run on compressed air. However, following years of fund raising, and with grants from the local council and Essex & Suffolk Water, the museum raised enough money to re-engineer the engine to work on both steam and compressed air.

John Stopps, site engineer, explains that the museum secured a 30-year old steam boiler from Felixstowe Docks, which was refurbished and installed in a new plant room with help from TLV Euro Engineering.

"The museum is lucky enough to have volunteers that have worked as ships engineers, so, with help from TLV, we were able to design the pipework ourselves," ays Stopps.

"Not only was TLV kind enough to offer their help free of charge, they even supplied the required hotwell equipment and steam traps at cost, which saved the museum a significant amount of money."

The equipment supplied by TLV Euro Engineering includes its cast stainless steel J3S-X free-float steam traps, which can be installed on various types of equipment that use steam as a heat source; and provides continuous, smooth, low-velocity condensate discharge as loads vary.

The patented design also only features a single moving part – the free float – which prevents concentrated wear and provides a long, maintenance-free life. In addition to its compact size and large condensate discharge capacities, the J3S-X steam traps are also equipped with an X-element air-vent to provide a powerful, automatic air vent function.

Also supplied were TLV's patented, brass-bodied LV13N balanced pressure thermostatic steam traps, which feature a 'fail-open' design, are operated by the temperature difference between the steam and condensate and incorporate a multi-diaphragm construction for long service life.

Brian Tinham

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