Introduction of Generation of Electric

Power:
Energy exists in various forms like mechanical energy, electrical energy, thermal energy
and so on. One form of energy can be converted into another form by suitable
arrangements. Out of these forms, electrical energy is preferred due to the following
reasons.

(i) It can be easily transported from one form to another,

(ii) Losses in energy transportation are minimum,
(iii) It can be easily controlled and regulated to suit requirements,
(iv) It can be easily converted into other forms of energy particularly mechanical and
thermal,

(v) It can be easily sub-divided.

SOURCES OF ENERGY:
Some of the sources of energy are

1. Fuels:
(a) Solid fuels. wood, charcoal, peat, coke, pulverized coal, pulverized coal.
(b) Liquid fuels petroleum based like petrol, diesel, etc. Non-petroleum fuels like ethyl
alcohol, methyl alcohol, benzene etc.

(c) Gaseous fuels producer gas, blast furnace gas, coke oven gas, water gas.

2. Energy of water as used in hydroelectric plants where potential

energy of water is converted into electrical energy
3. Nuclear energy.
4. Solar energy.
5. Wind power.
6. Wave power.
7. Tidal power.
8. Geothermal energy.
9. Fuel cells.
10. Thermo electric power.
11. Thermionic converter.
12. Magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) generator.
In all power stations, electric energy is generated from other forms of energy e.g.,

(i) Chemical energy of fuel (thermal energy),

(ii) Energy of falling water (hydraulic energy),
(iii) Atomic energy (nuclear energy).
Accordingly power stations are classified as :

Thermal power stations:

Those power stations which convert chemical energy of fuel (coal, diesel etc.) into electrical
energy are called thermal power stations. The fuel used in thermal power stations may be
solid fuel (coal) or liquid fuel (diesel).
The chemical energy of fuel is used to run the prime mover to which is coupled the
alternator (A.C. generator). Thus electrical energy is obtained from the alternator.

According to the prime-mover employed for driving the alternate, thermal power stations
may be broadly divided into the following two important types :

(a) Steam power stations:

Steam power stations employing steam engine or turbine as the prime-mover. Coal is used
fuel.

(b) Diesel power stations:

Diesel power stations employing diesel engine as the prime-mover.

Electric Power Generation: Steam Power

Station:
Here steam turbine or engine is used as a prime-mover.
Fuels used in Steam Power Station:
Fuels for thermal power plants should have sufficient calorific value, easy availability in
large quantities, ease of handling, storing and transporting. Common fuel for most of the
plants is coal. Several varieties of coal are available - charcoal, lignite, peat, coke,
briquetted coal, bituminous coal etc. A coal may have :

Fixed carbon 35 to 45 percent

Volatile matter 25 to 35 percent

Ash 8 to 22 percent

Moisture 10 to 18 percent

Heating value 5000 to 6500 kcal/kg.

There are several considerations in the selection of coal for a power plant. However, ash
content is a major problem which needs careful consideration.
Coal is classified by:

1. Rank degree of metamorphism :

Rank degree of metamorphism or progressive alteration, in the natural series from fignite
(inferior quality) to anthracites (superior quality).

2. Grade quality :
Grade quality determined by designation, calorific value, ash content, ash softening
temperature and sulphur.

3. Type of coal :
Coal based on original plant ingredients and subsequent alterations e.g. boghead coal,
cannel coal, split coal, common bonded coal, etc.

The pulverization of coal is done in coal crushers and ball mills. Pulverized coal is
transferred to bankers and then to burners where coal dust along with air is fed to the boiler
through burners.

Stokers in steam power station :

Stokers In this coal is fired as received from the mines, without any major preparation. A
stoker continuously feeds fuel to the boiler furnace. In over feed stokers, coal is supplied on
the top of the gate. As the coal burns, ash and clinkers are formed which collect at the
bottom. Primary air is supplied under pressure from the bottom of the gate which gets
heated up while passing through the layer of ash. Secondary air is supplied from the sides.
However in case of underfeed stokers primary as well as secondary air is supplied through
grate.

(Traveling Grate Stoker)

Pulverized coal system in Steam Power

Station :
The firing of coal in pulverized form involves primarily the function of breaking coal into line
panicles, mixing of coal with air, delivery of coal air mixture to the burners and combustion.
(Pulverized Coal System)

The coil is crushed in a bowl mill or ball mill (using impact of steel balls). A classifier is used
to regulate the fineness of particles.

Water treatment in steam power station:

Water is one of the most important raw materials for steam power plants. However
impurities from water must be removed before feeding to the boiler. The impurities may be
in the form of:

(i) Visible impurities : like algae, bacterial slimes, turbidity etc.

(ii) Dissolved gases : like carbon dioxide oxygen, nitrogen,
methane, hydrogen, sulphide, etc.

(iii) Minerals and salts : of iron, manganese, sodium,

potassium, etc.
Summary of Water Treatment Processes in
steam power station:
Impurity Trouble Limit of tolerance in feed water Kind of treatment
30 cc per kilo
chemical de-oxidation
Oxygen Corrosion
liter thermal deaeration
3 parts per million,
thermal dearation
Carbon dioxide, Corrosion 20 ppm for low pressure boilers ;2
Calcium, Magnesium ppm for high pressure boilers, as external softening
Scale CaCO3
salts internal softening

SiO2
40 ppm for low pressure and 5
Carry over, scale deionization
ppm for High pressure boilers
Embrittlement, 5 ppm as CaCO3 for HP boilers.
Na alkalinity acid neutralizer
Foaming Variable for LP boilers
Total dissolved
Priming foaming as specified de-concentration
solids
coagulation
Turbidity Sludge sediments 5 ppm or less
sedimentation filtration
coagulation, filtration
Oil Foaming 5 ppm or less
surface blow off

Condenser in steam power station :

Thermal efficiency of a steam power plant can be improved by reducing the turbine exhaust
pressure. Low pressure at the exhaust can be maintained, by condensing material
discharged from the turbine. In a way condenser is a heat exchanger in which heat from the
exhaust steam is transferred to circulating boiler. There are two types of condensers - jet
and surface type. Surface condensers are commonly used in power plants. A condenser
needs huge quantity of cooling water. For this purpose cooling towers are used so that
water can be re-circulated through the condenser.

Ash Handling in steam power station:

Usually 10 to 20 percent of the coal field in station is released in the form of ash thus a plant
burning 50 tonnes of coal per hour will have 5 to 10 tonnes of ash produced which must be
are moved immediately for the continuous operation of the plant.
The problems in ash handling are due to high temperature of ash and its contents which
range from fine particles of fly as to large clinkers.

Most of the plants have arrangements for quenching ash with water and then carrying it
through pipe lines to distant places used as pumps. Motive power may be provided by
steam or pumps. For arresting fly ash, electrostatic precipitators are used, before flue gases
are laid to chimney.

Power land cycle of steam power

generation :
The idealized cycle for a steam power plant is the Rankin cycle. As the aim is always to
achieve higher efficiency, following feature exist in modem power plants :

1. Re-heating of steam after partial expansion in high pressure turbine.

2. Regeneration - bleeding part of the steam to heat the cold condensate from
condenser.

3. Use of steam at high-pressures for improvement of thermal efficiency most of the

power plants use high pressures usually more than l00 kg/cm3, 500 MW units being
fabricated at M/s. BHEL will use steam at 170 atm.
Steam power Station > Boilers:
High steaming rates at higher pressures steam call for careful designing of boilers. A power
station has to operate continuously for longer periods of time, hence boiler must be
available for longer period-without need for shut downs on account of breakdowns or
repairs.

On one hand a boiler furnace must have high temperature to heat the water, at the same
time the gases discharged through chimney must have low temperature (to minimize
losses) and least pollution producing gases. This calls for incorporating rapid heat transfer
devices. The boilers in modern power plants are water tube boilers, with water walls. In
addition to this super-heaters, re-heaters and economizer are installed to utilize maximum
possible heat available inside the furnace. Furthermore, higher steaming rates require high
flow velocities of water, steam, flue gases etc., with adequate controls and safety devices.

(Heaters in Boilers)
( Steam Turbine Arrangements )

Steam power Station > Turbines :

In order to obtain full benefit from high steam conditions, it is necessary to use large
turbines. On large turbines of 100 MW and over, the cycle efficiency can be improved,by
using external re-heating and expanding steam in turbine in two or three stages usually
designated as high pressure, intermediate pressure and low pressure stages.

Axial flow turbines are commonly used in power plants. Maximum permissible speed for
alternator being 3000 rpm, reduction gear boxes are used wherever turbine rotor speed is
higher.

(B) Diesel Power Stations :

(Diesel Power Plant)

Here diesel is used as a prime-mover.

Advantages of diesel power Station:

1. Occupies less space.
2. Design and installation simple.
3. Less quantity of water required for cooling purposes.
4. Overall capital cost is less than steam plants.
5. Can be started quickly.
6. More efficient than steam plant.
7. Less supervising staff than steam plant.
8. Can be used in emergency e.g. hospitals, cinema houses.
Disadvantages of diesel power station:

1. Diesel is costly, therefore, high running cost.

2. Smaller capacity. Suitable for generation of small power.
3. High maintenance cost.