Diesel Power Plant Working and Applications, Advantages,

Disadvantages

Working of the Diesel power plant:

In the diesel engine power plant the fuel mixture and air is used as a
working medium. During the time of the suction stroke atmospheric air
enters the combustion chamber. With the help of the injection pump fuel
is injected in to the chamber. Inside the engine the air and the fuel is mixed
and the charge must be ignited because of the compression present inside
the cylinder. The main principle observed in the diesel engine is the
thermal energy it must be converted in to the mechanical energy and
further the mechanical energy must be converted in to the electrical
energy. The main purpose is to develop electricity with the help of the
alternator or generator.

Applications of the diesel engine power plant:

Peak load:

We can notice the combination of the hydro plant and thermal plant in
the diesel engine as a peak load unit. To meet the peak demand they
stopped and started the engine easily.

Mobile plant:

Diesel plants fixed on trailers can be pre owned for emergency or

temporary purposes like providing power to huge civil engineering
workings.

Standby unit:

If it cannot handle up with the demand or main unit fails then the diesel
plant can supply the required power source.
Emergency plant:

During the time of power disruption in an energetic unit like industrial

plant or a hospital, a diesel electric plant can be used to generate the
power.

Nursery station:

In the absence of the key grid for power supply a diesel plant is installed
in the town. When the power is required in the other stations in that case
they transport the power from one place to the other. It means they transfer
to the small plants. So this is known as nursery station.

Starting stations:

The main purpose of the diesel station is used to run the induced draft
fans, forced draft fans. Boiler feed is required for the larger steam power
plants.

Advantages of diesel power plant:

 Capital cost is low

 The design of the plant is easy and installation process is also easy.
 In standard capacities it is easily available.
 Without facing any difficulties they respond to the changed load.
 There are smaller amount replacement losses.
 It occupies less space
 They can be opened and stopped very quickly.
 Requirement of cooling water is less.
 Operating must be less
 For super vising staff is required
 At the time of conservation they convert the fuel into power.
 Part loads efficiency are higher
 Less members of engineers are required
 Near the load center plants are located
  We cannot absorb the ash handling problems
 Lubrication system must be easy

Disadvantages of Diesel power plant:

 Operating cost must be high

 Lubrication cost and maintenance cost is also high
 Capacity is restricted
 Big size is not available
 Sound pollution is noticed
 Overload is not possible
 Released unwanted emissions
 The life time is 7 to 10 years
 Life span must be 25 to 45 years
 For every 10 years the life is decreased by 10 %

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