I spent 6 weeks at Pyestock in 1969 on a University placement. At that time the Concorde engines and RB211 engines were under test. The test cells were huge full size wind tunnels, and the Concorde cell was of course super-sonic. The air house had 8 compressors each driven by 33000HP 9or was it kW???) motors, with 8000hp steam turbines to get them started. Two large venturi ejectors provided additional airflow. your filter rooms would probably have been the air intakes. The power house was built with boilers and turbines from a Battle class destroyer, hence called the 'Battle house'. Large amounts of power were also imported from the grid. Tests would run for 3 hours at a time.
Other test cells included a sea level cell for marine gas turbines, and ram jet test cells. I found the whole place fascinating.
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Posted 1 January 2008, 19:20 From Tom White
I spent 6 weeks at Pyestock in 1969 on a University placement. At that time the Concorde engines and RB211 engines were under test. The test cells were huge full size wind tunnels, and the Concorde cell was of course super-sonic. The air house had 8 compressors each driven by 33000HP 9or was it kW???) motors, with 8000hp steam turbines to get them started. Two large venturi ejectors provided additional airflow. your filter rooms would probably have been the air intakes. The power house was built with boilers and turbines from a Battle class destroyer, hence called the 'Battle house'. Large amounts of power were also imported from the grid. Tests would run for 3 hours at a time.
Other test cells included a sea level cell for marine gas turbines, and ram jet test cells. I found the whole place fascinating.
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