Wouda pumping station
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official nameir. D.F. Woudagemaal (D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station)
LocationTacozijl [nl], Lemsterland, De Fryske Marren, Netherlands
CriteriaCultural: (i), (ii), (iv)
Reference867
Inscription1998 (22nd Session)
Area7.32 ha (18.1 acres)
Buffer zone20.68 ha (51.1 acres)
Websitewww.woudagemaal.nl
Coordinates52°50′45″N 5°40′44″E / 52.84583°N 5.67889°E / 52.84583; 5.67889
Wouda pumping station is located in Friesland
Wouda pumping station
Location of Wouda pumping station in Friesland
Wouda pumping station is located in Netherlands
Wouda pumping station
Wouda pumping station (Netherlands)

The ir. D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station (ir. D.F. Woudagemaal) is a pumping station in the Netherlands, and the largest still operational steam-powered pumping station in the world.[1] On October 7, 1920, Queen Wilhelmina opened the pumping station. It was built to pump excess water out of Friesland, a province in the north of the Netherlands. In 1967, the coal furnaces were converted to run on heavy fuel oil.

It has a pumping capacity of 4,000 m3/min (1,100,000 U.S. gal/min). The pumping station is currently used to supplement the existing pumping capacity of the J.L. Hooglandgemaal in Stavoren in case of exceptionally high water levels in Friesland, which usually happens a few times each year. The pumping station has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list since 1998[1]

History

The station was named after ir. D.F. Wouda, the chief engineer of the Provincial Water Authority of Friesland.[2] He designed the building in a traditional style with influences of rationalism. During the construction, a lightning storm struck the newly built (but not yet protected) chimney, necessitating its complete reconstruction.[1]

A special canal, the "Stroomkanaal", was dug to feed the station, designed to handle the large volume of water.[3]

Power and engines

The engines, designed by prof. J.C. Dijxhoorn and built by Machinefabriek Jaffa in Utrecht, consist of four tandem-compound main steam engines of 500 IHP and eight double-sided suction centrifugal pumps. Each main steam engine is connected to two pumps. In 1955, six coal-fired Piedboeuf steam boilers were replaced with four flue-pipe boilers from Werkspoor, which were converted to heavy fuel oil in 1967.[4][5]

The chimney serves not only to expel smoke gases but primarily to induce draft in the boilers, essential for both the combustion air intake and the effective heat exchange in the boilers.[6]

Operation

Until 1966, the station was used to lower the water level of Friesland's polders. It now operates approximately once a year, supplemented by planned operations twice a year to keep the staff skilled. The station operates four tandem compound, reciprocating steam engines, with poppet valves:

The steam engines drive eight horizontal, double suction, centrifugal pumps, each with a pumping capacity of 500 m3 per minute. The pumps have a rotational speed of 95 to 115 rpm and an impeller diameter of 1.70 metres.[1][5]

Heritage and recognition

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, the pumping station is also a Rijksmonument and is on the list of Top 100 Dutch heritage sites created by Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. The station centenary was commemorated with the issuance of a five euro commemorative coin featuring King Willem-Alexander.[7]

The station is open to visitors, with regular tours available.[8]

Gallery

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c d Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Ir.D.F. Woudagemaal (D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Dirk Frederik Wouda - Motto ingenieur: 'Wie slagen wil, die slagen kan'" [Dirk Frederik Wouda - Engineer's Motto: 'He who wants to succeed, can succeed']. Wijd en Zijd (in Dutch). 6 April 2011. p. 13. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Het nieuwe stoomgemaal bij De lemmer" [The new steam pumping station at De Lemmer]. Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant (in Dutch). 8 October 1920. p. 1. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  4. ^ Dijxhoorn, J.C. (1925). "De werktuigen van het provinciaal stoomgemaal voor den boezem van Friesland" [The machinery of the provincial steam pumping station for the water system of Friesland]. De Ingenieur (in Dutch). 40 (50).
  5. ^ a b Kuiper, Y. (2000). Monumenten in Nederland, deel 6 [Monuments in the Netherlands, part 6]. Monumenten in Nederland (in Dutch). Zeist Zwolle: Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg Waanders. ISBN 978-90-400-9476-7.
  6. ^ "Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal // Woudagemaal". web.archive.org. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Willem-Alexander met baard op herdenkingsmunt" [Willem-Alexander with a beard on a commemorative coin]. NOS (in Dutch). 3 September 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Het Woudagemaal een unieke beleving" [The Wouda pumping station, a unique experience]. www.woudagemaal.nl. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
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