Nuclear Fission Reaction Power Plants

 A reaction in which an atomic nucleus of a radioactive

element splits by bombardment from an external
source, with simultaneous release of large amounts of
energy, used for electric power generation.
 Heavy uranium isotopes U235, U238 etc are used as
primary fuel.
 Fission Chain Reaction is a self sustained, continuing
sequence of nuclear fission in a controlled manner.
 Nuclear Reactor is a plant which initiates, sustains,
controls, maintains, nuclear chain reaction and
provides shielding against the radio active radiation.
 Fissile materials are materials which can give nuclear
fission. E.g. U235
 Fertile materials are those which by certain processes
get converted into fissile material. E.g. U238 gets
converted to U235
 Nuclear Power Plant has a nuclear reactor, heat
exchanger and steam turbine generators along with
other auxiliaries
There are several types of nuclear power plants with
names based on
1) Fuel 2) Moderators
3) Method of Heat removal
4) Patented Process
 India’s nuclear uranium fuel resources are located in
West Bengal.

 Nuclear power generation is being pursued rigorously

in India with self dependence in engineering and
technology
 As of 2013, India has 21 nuclear reactors in operation
in 7 Nuclear Power Plants, having an installed
capacity of 5308 MW and producing a total of
30,292.91 GWh of electricity.
 Seven other reactors are under construction and are
expected to generate an additional 6,100 MW.
 India has been making advances in the field of
thorium-based fuels, working to design and develop
a prototype for an atomic reactor using thorium and
low-enriched uranium
Gas-Turbine Power Plants
 Gas turbine power plants are preferred in
geographical locations where natural gas (from
petroleum wells) is available.
 Natural petroleum gas is transported through pipe
lines up to the gas power plants.
 The pipe-lines may have range of several hundred or
thousand kilometers
 Fuels used are 1) Natural gas 2) Petroleum oils 3)
Gases of various grades 4) Gases from blast furnace
5) Synthetic gases 6) gasified coal etc are used as
primary fuel for both I) Gas power plant and II)
Combined Cycle Power Plant
 Gas turbine generator units are produced in standard
sizes in the range of 10MW to 250 MW.
 In simple open cycle gas-turbine power plant, the
exhaust is let into atmosphere.
 Therefore heat in exhaust is wasted and thermal
efficiency is very poor (20%)
 Advantages of Gas Turbine Power plants
1) Low capital cost
2) Quick to start
3) Quick to load
4) Quick to stop

 They are ideally suited for

I. Peaking power plants
II. Emergency power plants
III. Standby power plants
IV. Supply of auxiliary power during peak loads
 Due to increase in fuel costs and importance of
energy conservation simple power plants are not
favoured.
 The combined cycle power plants are preferred

Combined Cycle Power Plants

 Combined cycle plant has a combination of

1) Gas turbine generators and
2) Steam turbine generator
 The main equipment includes
1) Gas Turbine Unit
2) Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG)
3) Steam Turbine Generator Unit
 The flue gases from HRSG have low heat and low
emission products
Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle Power Plant
(ICGCC)
 Coal gasification is the process of producing syngas–a
mixture consisting primarily of methane (CH4) carbon
monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and
water vapor (H2O)–from coal and water, air and/or oxygen
 Coal is gasified in Coal gasifier.
 Gasified Coal is used as the primary fuel for a gas turbine
combined cycle power .
 The main purpose is reduction of emission products like
fly ash, SOx, NOx from combustion of the gasified coal as
compared with burning of pulverized coal.
 The ICGCC technology is clean and cost effective method
of generating electrical energy from coal.
 ICGCC technology has enormous market potential in
India.
 A coal gasifier converts coal to gas and supplies it to
the combustor of gas turbine plant of the combined
cycle power plant.
 The ICGCC comprises of:
1) Coal Gasifier
2) Gas Turbine Generator unit
3) Heat Recovery Steam Generator
4) Steam Generator unit
 Coal gasification is done by supplying air, oxygen
and steam in addition to pulverized (Powdered) Coal.
 The coal gets gasified at temperatures 1200 – 15000C
and pressures 30 to 80 bar.
 The resultant gas is called Synthetic Gas (Syn Gas)
which has a composition 45 to 50% CO and
Hydrogen mixture.
 The Syngas is sent through cooler and desulpherizing
unit and then to the combustor of the Gas Turbine
Unit.
 The gas turbine drives its generator
 The HRSG recovers heat from exhaust gases of gas
turbine and produces steam.
 Steam turbine drives its generator
 Power is produced by gas turbine generator and steam
turbine generator
Diesel Electric Power Plant

 The diesel is the primary fuel.

 Its energy is converted into mechanical energy in a diesel
engine generator units.
 The rating range between a few kW to a few MW
 Diesel engine plants can be started quickly and are preferred
for
1. Peaking power plants
2. Remote, stand alone power plants of smaller ratings where
steam power plants and gas power plants are not economical
3. Hybrid of solar battery diesel
4. Hybrid of wind battery diesel
5. Captive power plants for continuous process industry with
uninterrupted power supplier