Thermal Power Plant

Unit 1: Introduction and Thermal Power Plant Syllabus contents

B) Thermal Power Plant: General layout of modern thermal power plant with different circuits, site selection criteria, classification of coal, coal blending, coal beneficiation, selection of coal for thermal power plant, slurry type fuels, pulverized fuel handling systems, fuel burning methods, FBC systems, high pressure boilers, ash handling system, Rankine cycle with reheat and regeneration (Numerical Treatment), steam power plants with process heating (Numerical Treatment)

As per above contents we are going to study various factors related to Thermal Power plant and also we will solve some numericals also.

A thermal power station is a power plant in which the prime mover is steam driven. Water is heated, turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator. After it passes through the tur bine, the steam is condensed in a condenser and recycled to where it was heated; this is known as a Rankine cycle. The greatest variation in the design of thermal power stations is due to the different fuel sources. Some prefer to use the term energy centre because such facilities convert forms of heat energy into electricity. Some thermal power plants also deliver heat energy for industrial purposes, for district heating, or for desalination of water as well as delivering electrical power. A large proportion of CO2 is produced by the worlds fossil fired thermal power plants; efforts to reduce these outputs are various and widespread.

As we have learnt the importance of Energy sources like coal which is used in thermal power plant to generate electricity. About 60 to 65 % of electricity is generated from coal as primary energy as its stock is plenty and cost is cheaper compared to other conventional primary energy sources. There rare number of thermal power plants running and also many  power plants under construction ranging from 30 MW to 800 MW  in India. Therefore it is essential to study the aspects regarding thermal power plant. Myself worked in Thermal power plant for 31 years and hence wish to put forward my knowledge to the needy ones . I hope you will definitely gain knowledge and confidence as  I have tried to explain in simpler way.