MODULE I

1. DIESEL POWER PLANTS

Diesel engine power plants are installed where supply of coal and water is not available in sufficient
quantity. These plants produce power in the range of 2 to 50 MW.It is cheap in cost and can be started quickly and
brought in to the service.

Main components/Layout of Diesel Power Plants

The essential components of diesel power plants are

1. Diesel Engine
2. Engine Starting System
3. Fuel system
4. Air intake system
5. Exhaust system
6. Engine cooling system
a. Air cooling system
b. Water cooling system
i. Thermo siphon system
ii. Pump circulation system
7. Lubrication system
8. Starting system
9. Governing system.

1. Diesel Engine:
It is a compression ignition engine .They are generally two stroke or four stroke cycle engines. Air
is admitted into the cylinder of the engine and is compressed.At the end of compression stroke ,fuel is
injected.The burnt gases ,thus expand and do work on piston.The engine is directly coupled to the
generator.These gases from the cylinder are then exhausted to the atmosphere.
2. Engine starting system:

This system consist of an air compressor and a starting air tank. This system starts the diesel
engine of a diesel power plants “ under cold condition”.

3. Fuel system:

The fuel delivered to the plant is stored in the fuel storage tank.The piping equipment with
necessary heaters ,bypasses,drain lines ,relief valves ,strainers and filters ,flow meter and temperature indicator are
arranged in proper way.The tank should contain a manhole for internal access like repair ,cleaning etc..

A day tank is provides fuel to the engine for daily usage.The day tank is placed high so that fuel flows to
the engine naturally due to gravity.
 4. Air intake system
The main function of air intake system is supplies air into the combustion chamber of the diesel
engine for burning fuel.
Air filter is used to remove dust from the incoming air.Air filters may be dry type,made of
wool or cloth.In wet filter, an oil bath is used to remove the dust particles.Here air is passed over or through
the oil bath so that the dust particles get coated with oil.
Points to be noted;-
✓ Air intake should not located inside the engine room.
✓ Air intake filters should not be located in an inaccessible location
✓ Purpose is to provide clean and silence the incoming air for supercharging.
5. Exhaust system
It is used to discharge the engine exhaust to the atmosphere.The exhaust pipe should be short in
length with minimum number of bends and also should be capable of carries engine vibrations.
6. Engine cooling system
The temperature of the fuel burning in the engine is in the range of 1500-20000C.If the engine is
run with out proper cooling ,chances of distortion of engine parts and burning of lubricating oil occur
due to over heating.
If the temperature is too low , the lubricating oil will not spread properly which causes
wearing of engine parts like piston and cylinder.
Cooling system also maintain sufficient operating temperature for smooth and efficient
operation of the engine.
Engine cooling system classified into three
➢ Air cooling system:
It is generally used for small engines. In this system, fins or extended walls are provided
on the cylindrical walls and cylindrical heads.Heat generated due to combustion is conducted by
the fins and heat will be dissipated when the air flows over it.
➢ Water cooling system: This type of cooling system is provided around the cylinder walls and
head.They are of two types.
a. Thermo siphon system: Circulation of water is due to difference in temperature
of water.Pump is not required in this system.
b. Pump Circulation System: The circulation of water is by means of pump.
➢ Oil cooling system

Lubrication system:

Lubrication is necessary to prevent the wear and tear of engine parts caused by frictional forces due to rubbing of
parts while engine running. Lubricants of solid ,liquid,semi-solid types are available .Liquid oil lubricants are most
commonly used.

Generally forced feed lubrication system is used which consist of pump,oil cleaners ,oil coolers ,storage ,sump
tanks and safety devices.The lubricating oil should be purified before circulating into the system can be done by
various methods like settling ,centrifuging,filtering and chemical reclaiming. Above all methods centrifuging gives
excellent results hence it is widely used.
 8.Starting system

Various methods are used for starting the diesel engine are

➢ Compressed air system

➢ Electric starting
➢ Starting by an auxiliary engine
10. Governing system
The main function of governing system is to maintain constant speed of the diesel engine .This is done by
varying the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine according to the load. Centrifugal type governor is generally
used for this purpose.

` Advantages of Diesel power plants

1. Design layout of diesel power plant is simple & cheap

2. It can be started quickly
3. Maintenance of diesel power plant is easy.
4. Thermal efficiency is higher than steam power plant
5. It can be also designed for portable use
6. Diesel plants can be located very near to the load centres.
7. There is no problem of ash handling
8. Layout is very simple.

Disadvantages of Diesel power plants

1. Diesel fuel is costly

2. Cost of lubrication is very high
3. Limited capacity about 50 MW
4. It will produce noise problems.
5. Not suitable for overhead condition.
6. Diesel power plants are tough to construct for for large scale.
7. Life is less
8. High maintenance and lubrication cost.
9. There is a limitation for size of a diesel engine.

Application of Diesel Power plant

1. Diesel power plants are used as central station for small or medium power supplies.
2. They can be used as stand by plants to hydroelectric power plants& steam power plants
3. They can be used as peak load plants in combination with thermal or hydro plants.
4. They are quitesuitable for mobile power generation and are widely used in transportation systems such as
automobiles ,railways and ships.
5. Diesel power plants are used as supply units for cinemas ,hospitals etc.
II. GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS
It is an external combustion engine where high energy is released from the fuel in a constant
pressure cycle.It has a turbine rotated by expanding hot gases .It is also known as combustion turbine.It
operates on the principle of Braytoncycle.The thermal efficiency of the gas turbine is in the range of 20-
30%.
Working :
The gas turbine power plant is initially started by the starting motor ,then air from the atmosphere
is passed by low pressure compressor( LPC).LPC compresses the air and sent to high pressure compressor
( HPC) through intercooler.The compressed air coming out from theLPC will be hot .So it is cooled in the
intercooler.
The air from the intercooler is further compressed to a highpressure compressor (HPC).Compressed
air from the HPC is allowed to enter into the heat exchanger where it picks the heat from the exhaust gases
leaving the turbine.
The hot air from the regenerator enters the combustion chamber (CC).The mixture of hot air and
fuel are burnt in the combustion chamber.Then the burnt gases from the CC is allowed to run the high
pressure turbine.(HPT).After rotating HPT the burnt gases are allowed to flow through another combustion
chamber where the unburnt fuel are fully burnt.At last burnt gases from the combustion chamber rotates
the low pressure turbine (LPT)which is coupled to the generator for producing electricity.

LAYOUT /COMPONENTS OF GAS TURBINE POWER PLANT

The main components of gas turbine power plants are

1. Gas turbine
2. Air compressor
3. Combustion chamber
4. Intercoolers
5. Regenerator /heat exchanger.
 1. Gas turbine
There are two basic types of gas turbines depending on the direction of flow of working fluid
through the turbine with respect to the rotation of the turbine.
a. Radial flow turbine : similar to centrifugal compressor gas flow is radially inward.widely
used in small sizes .These turbines are not used for high temperature applications and are
not efficient in axial flow turbines.
b. Axial flow turbine:The gas flow along the axis of rotation of the turbine .they are large
capacity turbines .
2. Air compressor
There are mainly two types of air compressor
a. Centrifugal compressor
b. Axial flow compressor

a.Centrifugal Compressor

In a centrifugal compressor , an impeller with blades ,rotates in the stationery member called casing

When the impeller rotates ,air enters axially into the casing and leaves the casing radially after compressed by
the rotating impeller.

Disadvantages :

✓ Efficiency of centrifugal compreesor is less.

✓ Diameter is greater
✓ It will not used for multistage operation.

b. Axial flow compressor

• Used for higher pressure ratios.

It consist of arotor which is mounted on the shaft carries rotating blades ,while the stationery blades are
fixed on the casing.
Advantages :
✓ Small diameter
✓ High flow rate
✓ High efficiency
✓ Used for multistage operation.
3.Combustion chamber

The main aim of designing acombustion chamber is to secure a steady flame inside the combustion chamber.

Requirements of a good combustion chamber:

✓ High combustion efficiency

✓ Low pressure loss
✓ Low weight ang frontal area
✓ Low carbon deposits in combustion chamber,turbine& regenerator

Example: Can –type combustor

Components :-
✓ 2 cylindrical tubes
✓ Combustion chamber liner
✓ Outer combustion chamber

Working:

➔ The space between the outer liner wall and the combustion chamber housing permit the flow of air from
the compressor.
➔ Its air fuel ratio can be of 100:1.About 20% of total air from the compressor is directly transported to the
combustor called primary air which provide a air-fuel rich mixture in the primary zone. Which
continuously burns and producing high temperature gases.
➔ The liner holes in the liner admitssecondary air.
➔ About 30% of total air is supplied through liner holes.The function of secondary air is to complete the
combustion process and also it helps to cool the flame.
➔ Remaining 50% of air called tertiary air which is mixed with burnt gases in tertiary zone and itcool the
gases below the temperature which is suited for the working of turbine blades.
4. Inter coolers

The cooling of compressed air is generally done with the use of cooling water.
Inter coolers are used when
• Pressure ratio is high
• Compression completed with two or more stages.

Example :Cross flow type inter coolers.

5. Regenerators /heat exchangers

The compressed air from the high pressure compressor is sent to the combustion chamber through the
heat exchanger.The air entering the combustion chamber should be hot .So the hot exhaust gas from the turbine
heats up the compressed air from high pressure compressor at heat exchanger.
 Closed and open cycle plants

The gas turbine power plants which are used in electric power industry are classified into two groups as per the
cycle of operation.

1. Open cycle gas turbine plant.

2. Closed gas turbine plant.

HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS

Hydro power is a cheap source of energy.The basic principles of hydro electric power is that
when water is flowing from a higher level to lower level the resulting water pressure is used to do
work.If the water pressure is allowed to move a mechanical component then that movement involves
the conversion of potential energy water into KE. Hydro turbines converts water power into
mechanical shaft power which can be used to drive an electric generator.
LAYOUT OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT
Essential components :

1. RESERVOIR
The main purpose of areservoir is to store the water during rainy season and supply the same
during the dry season.Resevoir is the basic componenet of a hydel power plant.It may be of two
types
• Artificial –by constructing a dam across the river
• Natural – lake,river etc.
❖ Water surface in the storage reservoir is called head race.
2. DAM

3. TRASH RACK
 4. SURGE TANK
When the admitting water to the turbines are suddenly closed due to the action of governor ,there is a
sudden increase of pressure in the penstock due to to the sudden decrese of flow of water in turbine.This
sudden rise of pressure in the penstock is called water hammer.
SPILL WAY & POWER HOUSE
PENSTOCK
DRAFT TUBE
 GLOBALENERGY SOURCES

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STEAM POWER PLANT