PHYSICS ASSIGNMENT

Hydrothermal power plant

Takia Mosharref
Dept. CSE
ID:170041008

Submission Date: 18.05.18

There are many ways to produce electricity. Electrons can flow
between certain different materials providing a current, as in a
common battery. To provide the large amounts of steady
power demanded by modern societies, large power plants have
been built. Most power plants make electricity with a machine
called a generator.
Generators have two important parts: the rotor (which rotates)
and the stator (which remains stationary). Generators use the
principle of electro-magnetic induction, which exploits the
relation between magnetism and electricity. In large AC
generators, an outer shell with powerful magnets rotates
around a stationary "armature" which is wound with heavy
wire. As they move, the magnets induce an electric current in
the wire.
 Different generating plants harness different energy sources to
make electric power. Well as in here, I am going to discuss
about the hydrothermal generators.

HISTORY-
Harvesting thermal energy from the ocean traces its roots to
1881 when French physician Jacques-Arsène d'Arsonval first
proposed using a heat engine based on the work of Scottish
engineer William Rankine.
Hydrothermal power generation is also known as ocean
thermal energy conversion.
The concept is mainly to produce electrical energy from the
potential energy of water temperature differences of at least
20 degree Celsius.

The power generation process is illustrated through the

diagram below:

MECHANISM-
The idea is that the pumps pull enough water through two
separate sets of pipes, the warm water evaporates
a heat transfer liquid (such as ammonia or propane) in one part
of the plant; elsewhere, cold water recondenses the gas to
liquid.

But as it blows from the first point of phase change to the

second point of phase change,
the gas stage drives a turbine

,
which is connecting to a generator that in turn produces
electricity.
THE RACE TOWARDS 65% EFFICIENCY-
Well, in modern high level hydro thermal generators, the
mechanism is much more advanced to decrease the waste of
water resource and energy and to increase the efficiency of the
whole system.
Hence, even after water turns into steam, more heat is added.
The steam gets super-heated. Higher the temperature of the
steam, more efficient the cycle, according to Carnot’s theorem.
But the steam turbine material cannot withstand temperature
more than 600 degree Celsius so it has a threshold value.
Moreover, after the first turbine stage, as the steam
temperature decreases as it moves along the blades, reheating
is done by providing heat.
Also, the low-pressure part of the power plant tries to suck the
atmospheric air even after sophisticated sealing arrangements
that damages the boiler material over time. To remove the
dissolved gases, an Open Feed water heater is introduced.
All these techniques in the modern hydrothermal powerplant
makes it work with an efficiency of 40-45%.

ELECTRICITY COST-
The direct cost of electric energy produced by a thermal power
station is the result of capital cost for the plant, operator
labour, maintenance, and such factors as ash handling and
disposal. Indirect, social or environmental costs such as the
economic value of environmental impacts, or environmental
and health effects of the complete fuel cycle and plant
decommissioning, are not usually assigned to generation costs
for thermal stations in utility practice but may form part of an
environmental impact assessment.