COAL-FIRED

POWER
PLANT
P R E S E N T E D BY :
S H A K I R B A B D YA Z I B
MUHAMAD BUKHARI B ABD BASIR

INTRODUCTION

Coal Mining
Surface
Mining
Strip
Mining

Underground Mining

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Coal Power Plant Operation

OVERVIEW

POWER PLANT

PROS OF COAL POWER

Cheap

I.Cheaper per unit energy than oil or natural gas

II.Will continue to be an important global
resource

Abundance
Coal is the worlds most abundant fossil fuel
Sufficient reserves for the next 250 years

Efficiency
Larger power plants are more efficient
38% of the chemical energy is converted to energy

CONS OF COAL FIRED POWER

PLANT

On the other hand, there are also some significant

disadvantages of coal fired plants including Greenhouse
Gas (GHG) Emissions, mining destruction, generation of
millions of tons of waste, and emission of harmful
substances.

Greenhouse gas emissions.

It cannot be denied that coal leaves behind harmful

byproducts upon combustion. These byproducts cause a
lot of pollution and contribute to global warming. The
increased carbon emissions brought about by coal fired
plants has led to further global warming which results in
climate changes.

Mining destruction.

Mining of coal not only results in the destruction of

habitat and scenery, but it also displaces humans as
well. In many countries where coal is actively mined,
many people are displaced in huge numbers due to the
pitting of the earth brought about by underground
mining. Places near coal mines are unsafe for human
habitation as the land could cave in at anytime.

Generation of millions of tons of waste.

Millions of tons of waste products which can no longer be

reused are generated from coal fired plants. Aside from
the fact that these waste products contribute to waste
disposal problems, these also contain harmful
substances.

Emission of harmful substances.

Thermal plants like coal fired plants emit harmful

substances to the environment. These include mercury,
sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, mercury, selenium, and
arsenic. These harmful substances not only cause acid
rain but also are very harmful to humans as well.

THE PROCESS

In a coal-fired steam stationmuch like a nuclear station

water is turned into steam, which in turn drives turbine
generators to produce electricity. Heres how the process
works.

1. HEAT IS CREATED

Before the coal is burned, it is pulverized to the fineness of

talcum powder. It is then mixed with hot air and blown into
the firebox of the boiler. Burning in suspension, the coal/air
mixture provides the most complete combustion and
maximum heat possible.

2. WATER TURNS TO STEAM

Highly purified water, pumped through pipes inside the

boiler, is turned into steam by the heat. The steam reaches
temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and
pressures up to 3,500 pounds per square inch, and is piped to
the turbine.

3. STEAM TURNS THE TURBINE

The enormous pressure of the steam pushing against a series

of giant turbine blades turns the turbine shaft. The turbine
shaft is connected to the shaft of the generator, where
magnets spin within wire coils to produce electricity.

4. STEAM TURNS BACK INTO WATER

After doing its work in the turbine, the steam is drawn into a
condenser, a large chamber in the basement of the power
plant. In this important step, millions of gallons of cool water
from a nearby source (such as a river or lake) are pumped
through a network of tubes running through the condenser.
The cool water in the tubes converts the steam back into
water that can be used over and over again in the plant.

The cooling water is returned to its source without any

contamination, and the steam water is returned to the boiler
to repeat the cycle.