CONTENTS

1 Generating Stations
2 Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
3 Schematic Arrangement of Steam Power Station
4 Choice of Site for Steam Power Stations
5 Efficiency of Steam Power Station
6 Equipment of Steam Power Station
7 Hydro-electric Power Station
8 Schematic Arrangement of Hydroelectric Power Station
9 Choice of Site for Hydro-electric Power Stations

10 Constituents of Hydro-electric Plant

11 Diesel Power Station
12 Schematic Arrangement of Diesel Power Station
13 Nuclear Power Station
14 Schematic Arrangement of Nuclear Power Station
15 Selection of Site for Nuclear Power Station
16 Gas Turbine Power Plant
17 Schematic Arrangement of Gas Turbine Power Plant
18 Comparison of the Various Power Plants

1. Selection and placing of power-generating equipment

It should be such that t o get maximum return from a
minimum of expenditure over the working life of the
plant.
2.Operation of the plant
It Should be such so as to provide cheap, reliable and
continuous service.

Generating Stations
Main parts of the generating stations are:
1. Prime mover
2. Alternator
Depending upon the form of energy converted into electrical
energy, the generating stations are classified as under :
1. Steam power stations
2. Hydroelectric power stations
3. Diesel power stations
4. Nuclear power stations

Intentionally Left Blank

The electric generator

Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)

Converts heat energy of coal combustion into electrical energy.
Working principle based on the Rankine cycle.
http://energy.sdsu.edu/testhome/vtAnimations/animations/chapter09/A-steamPower/basicRankineCycle.html

Steam is produced in the boiler by coal combustion.

Steam is then expanded in the prime mover / steam turbine.
Steam is condensed in a condenser to be fed into the boiler
again
This type of power station is suitable where coal and water are
available in abundance.

Advantages
1. The fuel (i.e., coal) used is quite cheap.
2.Less initial cost as compared to other generating stations.
3.It can be installed at any place. The coal can be transported to
the site of the plant by rail or road.
4. It requires less space as compared to the hydroelectric power
station.
5. The cost of generation is lesser than that of the diesel power
station.

Disadvantages
1. It pollutes the atmosphere from smoke and fumes.
2. It is costlier in running cost as compared to hydroelectric plant

Schematic Arrangement of Steam Power Station

The whole arrangement can be divided into the following stages :
1. Coal and ash handling arrangement
2. Steam generating plant
3. Steam turbine
4. Alternator
5. Feed water
6. Cooling arrangement

Choice of Site for Steam Power Stations

following points should be considered while selecting a site
for a steam power station :
1. Supply of fuel
2. Availability of water
3.Transportation facilities
4.Cost and type of land
5.Nearness to load centres
6.Distance from populated area.

Efficiency of Steam Power Station

The overall efficiency of a steam power station is quite low (about
29%) due mainly to two reasons.
1. Huge amount of heat is lost in the condenser
(50% of total heat of combustion is lost in the condenser)

2. heat losses occur at various stages of the plant

Thermal efficiency:
thermal =

Heat equivalent of mech. energy

transmitted to turbine shaft
Heat of coal combustion

Overall efficiency:

overall =

Heat equivalent of electrical output

Heat of coal combustion

It may be seen that overall efficiency is less than the thermal

efficiency. This is expected since some losses (about 1%) occur in
the alternator.

( Equipment of Steam Power Station , Book Principles of power system , page #14)

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Hydro-electric Power Station

Utilizes the potential energy of water at a high level for the
generation of electrical energy.
Generally located in hilly areas
Water head is created by constructing a dam
water is led to a water turbine which drives the alternator and
converts mechanical energy into electrical energy
Hydro-electric power stations are becoming very popular because the reserves of fuels (i.e.,
coal and oil) are depleting day by day.
They have the added importance for flood control, storage of water for irrigation and
water for drinking purposes.

Advantages
1. Requires no fuel
2. Neat and clean
3. Very small running charges
4. Less starting time
5. Robust and has a longer life
6. Multi purposes, irrigation and controlling floods
7. Less experienced persons may do the job well

Disadvantages
1. High capital cost due to construction of dam
2. Availability of water depends on weather conditions.
3. Skilled and experienced hands are required to build the plant.
4. High cost of transmission lines as the plant is located in hilly areas

Schematic Arrangement of Hydro-electric Power Station

Catchment area collects at the back of the dam to form a

reservoir
Pressure tunnel is taken off from the reservoir and water
brought to the valve house at the start of the penstock
The valve house contains main sluice valves and automatic
isolating valves.
The main sluice valves controls the water flow to the
power house
The automatic isolating valves cuts off supply of water
when the penstock bursts
A huge steel pipe known as penstock takes the water from
valve house to turbine.

A surge tank (open from top) is built just before the valve house
and protects the penstock from bursting in case the turbine gates
suddenly close due to electrical load being thrown off.
Sudden stopping of water at the lower end of
the penstock causes it to burst like a paper log
The surge tank absorbs this pressure swing by
increase in its level of water

Choice of Site for Hydro-electric Power Stations

1.Availability of water

Plants should be built at a place where

adequate water is available at a good
head.

2.Storage of water.

The storage helps in equalising the flow of

water

3.Cost and type of land. The land available at a reasonable price.

Bearing capacity of the ground to withstand
the weight of heavy equipment

4. Transportation facilities. Should be accessible by rail and road

Constituents of Hydro-electric Plant

The constituents of a hydro-electric plant are:
1. Hydraulic structures
2. Water turbines
3. Electrical equipment
Hydraulic structures in a hydro-electric power station include:
1. Dam
2. Spillways
3. Headworks
4. Surge tank
5. Penstock
6. Accessory works

Water turbines consist of following principal types.

1.Impulse turbines
2. Reaction turbines
a) Francis turbines
b) Kaplan turbines
The electrical equipment of a hydro-electric power station
includes:
1. Alternators
2. Transformers
3. Circuit breakers
4. Switching and protective devices

= m/sec2 x m3 kg / m3 x m x overall
= m/sec2 x kg x m
=Force x distance = joule
=(joule/ sec) x Sec
=Watt . sec

(mul and div by sec)

Or
= m/sec2 x m3/sec kg / m3 x m x overall
= (m/sec2 x kg x m)/sec
=(Force x distance) /sec
=(joule/ sec)
=Watt
Example # 2.6 , 7, 8,9

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Diesel Power Station

Diesel engine is used as the prime mover for the generation of
electrical energy
Generation cost is considerable due to high price of diesel
Therefore, such power stations are only used to
produce small power.
Favorable at places where demand of power is less
used as standby sets for continuity of supply to important points
such as:
1. Hospitals
2. Radio stations
3. Cinema houses
4. Telephone exchanges

Advantages
1. The design and layout of the plant are quite simple.
2. Occupies less space
3. Can be located at any place.
4. Started quickly and can pick up load in a short time.
5. No standby losses.
6. Requires less quantity of water for cooling.
7. Cost is much less than that of steam power station.
8. The thermal efficiency is higher than steam power station.
9. Requires less operating staff.

Disadvantages
1. High running charges as the fuel used is costly.
2. Work unsatisfactorily under overload conditions .
3. Can only generate small power.
4. The cost of lubrication is generally high.
5. The maintenance charges are generally high

Schematic Arrangement of Diesel Power Station

1. Fuel supply system
2. Air intake system
3. Exhaust system
4. Cooling system
5. Lubricating system
6. Engine starting system

Intentionally Left Blank

Nuclear Power Station

Generating station in which nuclear energy is converted into
electrical energy
Uranium (U235) or Thorium (Th232) are subjected to nuclear
fission in a special apparatus known as a reactor.
Heat energy thus released is utilised in raising steam at high
temperature and pressure
1 kg of Uranium (U235) can produce same energy as by the
burning of 4,500 tons of high grade coal.
Fission:
The breaking up of nuclei of heavy atoms into two nearly equal parts with
release of huge amount of energy is known as nuclear fission

Advantages
1.The amount of fuel required is quite small.
2. Requires less space .
3. Low running charges .
4. Very economical for producing bulk electric power.
5. Can be located near the load centres
6. There are large deposits of nuclear fuels available all over
the world. Therefore, such plants can ensure continued
supply of electrical energy for thousands of years.
7. Ensures reliability of operation.

Disadvantages
1. The fuel used is expensive and is difficult to recover.
2.The capital cost on a nuclear plant is very high.
3. Commissioning of plant requires greater technical know-how.
4. By-products are generally radioactive and may cause a
radioactive pollution.
5. Maintenance charges are high due to lack of standardisation.
6. Not well suited for varying loads .
7. The disposal of the by-products, which are radioactive, is a big
problem.

Schematic Arrangement of Nuclear Power Station

Arrangement can be divided into the following main
stages :
1. Nuclear reactor
2. Heat exchanger
3. Steam turbine
4. Alternator

http://www.animatedsoftware.com/environm/nukequiz/nukequiz_one/nuke_parts/reactor_parts.swf

1. Nuclear reactor:
Controls the chain reaction that starts once the fission is done.
Explosion can occur if chain reaction is not controlled.
A nuclear reactor is a cylindrical stout pressure vessel and houses:
1. Fuel rods of Uranium
2. Moderator
3. Control rods
Fuel rods of Uranium
Contains fission material and release huge amount of energy when
bombarded with slow moving neutrons.
Moderator
Graphite rods which enclose the fuel rods.
Slows down the neutrons before they bombard the fuel rods.

Control rods
Cadmium rods are inserted into the reactor.
Cadmium is strong neutron absorber and thus regulates the supply
of neutrons for fission.

2. Heat exchanger
The coolant gives up heat to the heat exchanger which is
utilized in raising the steam.
After giving up heat, the coolant is again fed to the reactor.

3. Steam turbine.
The steam produced in the heat exchanger is led to the
steam turbine through a valve.

4. Alternator.
The steam turbine drives the alternator which converts
mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Selection of Site for Nuclear Power Station

The following points should be kept in view while selecting
the site for a nuclear power station :
1. Availability of water
2. Disposal of waste
3. Distance from populated areas
4. Transportation facilities

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Gas Turbine Power Plant

Generating station which employs gas turbine as the prime mover
for the generation of electrical energy.
The hot and high pressure air from the combustion chamber
is then passed to the gas turbine where it expands and does the
mechanical work.
Compressor, gas turbine and the alternator are mounted on
the same shaft.
so that a part of mechanical power of the turbine can be
utilized for the operation of the compressor.
Used as standby plants for hydro-electric stations for driving
auxiliaries.

Advantages
1. Simple in design, no boilers and their auxiliaries
2. smaller in size
3. Lower initial and operating costs
4.Requires less water as no condenser is used.
5. Maintenance charges are quite small
6. Turbines are much simpler in construction and operation
7. Started quickly form cold conditions
8. No standby losses

Disadvantages
1. Before starting the turbine, the compressor has to be operated
for which power is required from some external source.
2. Net output is low as power developed by the turbine is used in
driving the compressor.
3. Overall efficiency of such plants is low (about 20%)
4. Less life of combustion chamber

Schematic Arrangement of Gas Turbine Power Plant

The main components of the plant are :
1. Compressor
2. Regenerator
3. Combustion chamber
4. Gas turbine
5.Alternator
6. Starting motor

(Comparison of the Various Power Plants, Book Principles of power system , page #37)

Thank You