A history of the development of the steam boiler, with particular reference to its use in the electricity supply industry

This thesis traces the development of coal fired boiler plant from the experimental installations of the early 18th century to the 1965 design at Drax power station, this being the largest coal fired boiler at present installed in Britain. From 1875 the main line of boiler development has been for use on power stations, so from this period I have confined my studies to boiler development and its relationships within the Electricity Supply Industry. The study is not intended to be an economic history although economic factors have been considered at various stages, rather it is a history of developments in boiler technology. The main question under examination is, "What factors affected these developments?" and the answers to this question have provided the underlying structure of this thesis. The thesis shows how the electrical needs of the economy, widespread developments in technology, and financial considerations have enabled the coal fired boiler to remain the most important way of generating power [... continues].