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Power Plants

Introduction to Power Plants

A power plant is an industrial facility used to generate electric power with the
help of one or more generators which converts different ​energy sources into
electric power.
Electricity is a secondary energy source, which means that ​electricity is
obtained from the conversion of other primary sources of ​energy​, such as
coal​, ​natural gas​, ​nuclear​, ​solar​, or ​wind energy. The ​energy sources used to
make ​electricity can be ​renewable or ​non-renewable​, but ​electricity itself is
neither renewable or non-renewable. The power plant is the location in
which the ​energy​ conversions take place.

Classification of Power Plants

In general, power plants can be divided into two categories - conventional
and non-conventional power plants.

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Conventional power plants are:

1. Fossil fuel power plants: Generates electric power by burning
fossil fuels​ like ​coal​, ​natural gas​ or ​diesel​.

A. Thermal Power Plant​(If Coal is used to make high pressure

steams)

★ It works on Rankine Cycle

1. First the pulverized coal is burnt into the ​furnace of steam boiler​.
2. High pressure steam is produced in the boiler.
3. This steam is then passed through the super heater, where it further
heated up.
4. This superheated steam is then entered into a turbine at high speed.
5. In turbine this steam force rotates the turbine blades that means
here in the turbine the stored potential energy of the high pressured
steam is converted into mechanical energy.

B. Gas Power Plant​( If Natural Gas is used to rotate the turbine)

★ It Works on Brayton Cycle

1. Fuel is burned on the starting stage of gas turbine.
2. Fuel is compressed and combustion takes place in the combustion
chamber.

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3. These combustion product which is a very high temperature gas

mixture goes through the blades of the gas turbine. The gas turbine
blades move and produces work by running the generator. The portion
of the energy from the combustion products is converted to electrical
energy.
4. The waste heat or the exhaust gas is used to run the steam turbine.
The waste heat is recovered by the heat recovery steam generator
(HRSG) or boiler. These HRSG produces steam and this steam is
directed towards the steam turbine blades. As a result the steam
turbine moves and produces some more electricity.

C. IC Engine Power Plant (If Diesel or Petrol are used to rotate the
crankshaft which is finally connected to the Generator to produce
electricity)

● These type of Power plant are same as as IC Engine (Diesel and

Petrol Engine)

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1. Air from atmosphere is drawn into the compressor and is compressed.

2. The compressed air is sent to diesel engine through filter.
3. In the filter, dust, dirt from air are filtered and only clean air is sent to
diesel engine.
4. Fuel oil from tank is passed through filter where it gets filtered and
clean oil is injected into the diesel engine through fuel pump and fuel
injector.
5. Mixture of compressed air and spray of fuel oil are ignited into the
engine and combustion takes place.
6. The heat energy is utilized for driving the generator, which produces
power.

2. Nuclear power plants: Controlled ​nuclear reaction is maintained

to generate ​electricity​.

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A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the primary

source of energy generation is a nuclear reactor. A nuclear reactor is a
machine used to inculcate a nuclear chain reaction. As it is a thermal
power station, heat (generated from a nuclear reactor) produces steam
which drives a steam turbine connected to an electric generator which
produces electricity.

A steam turbine is used to convert the heat contained in steam into

mechanical energy. The generator in a nuclear power plant converts
kinetic energy supplied by the turbine into electrical energy. The
cooling system removes heat from the reactor core and transports it to
another

area of the station, where the thermal energy can be harnessed to

produce electricity or to do other useful work. 

3. Hydroelectric power plants: ​Electricity is produced by building

dams on suitable rivers.

By-Suraj Gupta
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A generating station which utilizes the potential energy of water at a

high level for the generation of electrical energy is known as
hydroelectric power station.

As we know that the power plant is defined as the place where power
is generated from a given source, so here the source is hydro that‟s
why we called it “hydro power plant”

Non-conventional power plants are:

1. Wind power plants: The kinetic energy of ​wind is used to create

power.

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2. Solar​ power plants: Generates power by collecting ​solar​ radiation.

3. Geothermal power plants: Uses the natural heat found in the deep
levels of the earth to generate ​electricity​.

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4. Biomass power plants: Natural organic matter is burnt to produce

electricity​.

Differences between Gas, Thermal and IC Engine Power

Plants

S.no. Gas Power Thermal Power IC Engine

Plant Plant Power Plant
Working Cycle Brayton Cycle Rankine Cycle Diesel and Otto
Cycles
Fuel Natural Gases Coal Diesel or Petrol
Maximum 1300° 620° 2500° to 5000°
Temperature
Pressure Ratio 10 to 12 180 to 300 15 to 25
Thermal 20% to 25% 33% to 37% 27% to 32%
Efficiency
Pollution Lowest Highest Medium

By-Suraj Gupta