Electricity

Electrical energy is the most popular form of energy, used in day to day life for Heating, Mechanical , Lighting and Transportation
purposes.

Following are the main reasons for its popularity.

1. Cleaner environments for user
2. Higher efficiency
3. Better controllability
4. Easier bulk-power, long-distance transportation of power using overhead transmission / underground cables
5. Most versatile devices of energy conversions from Electrical to other forms such as thermal, illumination,
mechanical, sound, chemical, videos etc.

Sources for Generation of Electricity

The different sources of electrical energy are as follows:

Conventional methods Non conventional methods

a) Thermal power stations a) Solar power plants
b) Neuclear Power stations b) Wind power plants
c) Hydal power stations c) Tidal power plants
d) Biomass power plants

Conventional methods
Thermal Power Stations (Coal-fired)
India has rich stocks of coal as a natural
resource. Chemical energy stored within the
coal is converted into Electrical energy in these
power plants. Heat released by the combustion
of coal produces steam in a boiler. It is then
passed through steam turbines, which drive the
alternator. The alternator delivers electrical
energy, at its rated voltage (which may be between
11kv to 30 kV).
And this voltage is stepped up to 220kv or
400kv by the power transformers and
transmitted over long distances.
Figure shows a simple diagram of a modern
coal-fired thermal station.
RTPS : Raichur Thermal Power Plant.

Nuclear Power Stations

Nuclear energy is available as a result of fission
reaction. In a typical system, Uranium 235 is
bombarded with neutrons and Heat energy is
released. This Heat released produces steam in a
boiler. It is then passed through steam turbines,
which drive the alternator. The alternator delivers
electrical energy, at its rated voltage (which may be
between 11 to 30 kV).
And this voltage is stepped up to 220kv or 400kv
by the power transformers and transmitted over
long distances.
Fig. shows a basic diagram of a Nuclear power-
station.
Hydroelectric Power Stations

In this method of generation, water from higher height

is passed through penstock and into the water turbine.
Thus, potential energy of water stored at higher
altitudes is first converted into Kinetic energy. As
the water reaches the turbine, it gains speed after
losing the Potential energy. Kinetic energy of this
speedy water drives the water turbine, which
coupled to a generator, which gives Electrical energy
output.
A schematic diagram of such a system is shown in
fig.

Non-Conventional Energy Sources

Solar power plant (P.V. Cells or SOLAR Cells)

The solar power plant is also known as the

Photovoltaic (PV) power plant. It is a large-scale PV
plant designed to produce bulk electrical power from
solar radiation. The solar power plant uses solar energy
to produce electrical power.
Hence, to produce electrical power on a large scale,
solar PV panels are used. Below is the layout plan of
photovoltaic power plant.
Individual stations using solar cells are in operation
with ratings of the order of 250-1000 kW.

Wind Power
A wind power plant is also known as a wind farm or
wind turbine. A wind power plant is a renewable source
of electrical energy. The wind turbine is designed to use
the speed and power of wind and convert it into electrical
energy.
The wind turbine can be operating between a wind speed
of 14 km/hr to 90 km/hr.
The electric power generated from the wind power plant
varies with variations in wind velocity. But the advantage
of a wind power plant is that the operating cost of this
plant is less and it is a non-polluting source of electrical
energy.
One single wind turbine is not sufficient to produce
electrical energy in bulk amounts. Therefore, more than
one wind turbine is placed at the location at which the
wind is continually available. And that place is known as
a wind farm. Generally, wind farms are located near the
sea/hilly areas.

Tidal Power plant:

 Tide or wave is periodic rise and fall of water level of the
sea. Tides occur due to the attraction of sea water by the
moon. Tides contain large amount of potential energy
which is used for power generation. When the water is
above the mean sea level, it is called flood tide. When the
water level is below the mean level it is called ebb tide.

Biomass power plant

A biomass power plant produces electricity from the steam that is released during the combustion of plant or animal
matter in a combustion chamber. This process is done in several steps:
1. Combustion: The biomass is burned in a
combustion chamber.
2. Steam production: The biomass releases
heat that heats water in a boiler. The water is
transformed into steam, which is sent under
pressure to turbines.
3. Electricity production: The steam turns a
turbine which in turn drives an alternator.
Thanks to the energy supplied by the
turbine, the alternator produces an
alternating electric current. A transformer
raises the voltage of the electric current
produced by the alternator so that it can be
more easily transported in medium and high
voltage lines.
4. Recycling: At the exit of the turbine, part of the steam is recovered to be used for heating. This is called cogeneration.