Power Plant Engineering

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Contents
Introduction
Classificationof power plants
Layout of thermal power plant
Components of thermal power plant
Layout of nuclear power plant
Components of nuclear power plant
Layout of diesel power plant
Components of diesel power plants

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Introduction
In India, the present petroleum may not last
long. Alternative sources of energy must
therefore be found out. So far the known sources
of unconventional energy are nuclear fusion,
solar energy, geothermal energy, wind power,
tidal energy and bio-gas technical.

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Classification of power plants
1. On the basis of FUEL USED:
1. Steam power plants
1. Condensing type 2. Non-condensing type

2. Diesel power plants

3. Nuclear power plant

4. Hydro electric power plant

5. Gas turbine power plant

2. On the basis of LOCATION:

1. Central power station

2. Isolated power station

3. On the basis of NATURE of LOAD:

1. Base load power plant

2. Peak load power plant

4. On the basis of SERVICE RENDERED:

1. Stationary

2. Locomotive

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Layout of Thermal power plant

Source: http://www2.imm.dtu.dk (Technical University of

Denmark) 5
 Components of thermal power plant
1. A furnace to burn the fuel.

2. Steam generator or Boiler containing water. Heat

generated in the furnace is utilised to obtain steam
from water in the boiler.

3. Main power unit such as engine or turbine to use the

heat energy of steam and perform work.

4. Piping system to the above to convey steam and water.

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Layout of nuclear power plant

Source: http://www2.imm.dtu.dk
(Technical University of Denmark) 7
Nuclear reactor

Source:
http://www.arthursclipart.org/machines/machines/page_02.h 8
tm
 Components of nuclear power plant
1. Reactor: The reactor of a nuclear power plant consists of following parts:
i. Fuel: The commonly Used fuel in this reactor is natural uranium containing 0.7 % U135. The fuel used

in the form of rods or plates and moderator surrounds the fuel element.

ii. Moderator: The function of the moderator is to reduce the energy of neutrons evolved during fission

from 2 me V to 0.25 e V in order to maintain the fission chain reaction.

iii. Reflector: The neutrons which may escape from the surface of the core without taking part in fission

can be reflected back into the core.

iv. Coolant: The purpose of the coolant is to transfer the heat generated in the reactor core and use it for

the steam generation.

v. Control Rods: The purpose of control rods is to maintain the value of the multiplication factor as one.

vi. Shielding: The reactor is a source of intense radioactivity and these radiations are very harmful to

human life. Therefore it is necessary to prevent the escape of these radiations to the atmosphere.

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2. Steam generator: It is a vessel in which the steam is generated

from water at an desired pressure and temperature.

3. Turbine: The superheated steam is allowed to enter the steam

turbine where it is expanded and work is done.

4. Condenser: The steam after leaving the turbine enters the condenser

where it is condensed by exchanging the heat to cooling water.

5. Feed pump: Feed pump is used to pump the condensate back to the

boiler for further generation of steam.

6. Generator: It is a device which converts the mechanical energy of

the turbine into electrical energy.

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Diesel engine

Source: Hassan Dairy 11

Components of diesel power plant
1. Diesel engine: The diesel engine may be of two
stroke or four strike. Two stroke engine is preferable
than four stroke because the power generated with
two stroke engine is almost double than that of four
stroke.
2. Cooling unit: In a diesel plant, cooling of the engine
in necessary to prevent the over heating of the
engine parts.
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Courtesy
1) Google
2) Thermal Engineering by Amruth Habib
and N Murlidhar
3) Hassan Dairy
4) http://www.arthursclipart.org/machines/
machines/page_02.htm
5) http://www2.imm.dtu.dk (Technical
University of Denmark)
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