Steam Power Plant

Introduction
 Steam power is used to rotate the prime mover of
electric generator and it is known as steam power
plant.
 In this process heat energy is converted into
mechanical energy and then to electrical energy
through turbine generator system heat energy may be
obtained by proper combustion of commercial fuel
such as coal ,gas ,oil etc..
 steam power plants are also called thermal power
plants. Prime movers of steam plant may be operated
either in non-condensing or condensing mode
 In non-condensing operation the steam is exhausted
from the prime movers and is discharged at
atmospheric pressure or greater than that
 Whereas in condensing the steam is exhausted into a
condenser in which pressure is less and steam is
converted to water
Thermodynamic Cycle of Steam Flow
 From laws of thermodynamics when heat is transferred
to water its enthalpy and physical state change as heating
takes place its temperature rises and density decreases
the vapour formed in this process is called steam which
is gaseous state but does not entirely follow the laws of
perfect gas
 The Carnot cycle cannot be applied to steam turbine as
compression phase does not exist hence a steam power
plant works on rankine cycle
 Rankine Cycle
 The impracticalities associated with Carnot cycle can be
eliminated by superheating the steam in the boiler and
condensing it completely in the condenser. This cycle results
as the Rankine cycle, which is the ideal cycle for vapour
power plants
The Rankine cycle consists of the following four processes:
• 1-2 : Isentropic compression in pump (compressors)
• 2-3 : Constant pressure heat addition in boiler
• 3-4 : Isentropic expansion in turbine
• 4-1 : Constant pressure heat rejection in a condenser
Reheat Rankine Cycle
 The efficiency of the Rankine cycle can increase by expanding
the steam in the turbine in two stages, and reheating it in
between.
 Reheating is a practical solution to the excessive moisture
problem in turbines, and it is commonly used in modern steam
power plants.
 The ideal reheat Rankine cycle differs from the simple ideal
Rankine cycle in that the expansion process take place in two
stages.
 In first stage (the high-pressure turbine), steam is expanded
isentropically to an intermediate pressure and sent back to the
boiler where it is reheated at constant pressure, usually to the inlet
temperature of the first turbine stage.
 Steam then expands isentropically in the second stage (low-
pressure turbine) to the condenser pressure.
Layout of Steam Power Plant
 The different types of systems and components used in steam
power plant are as follows:
1. Coal handling system
2. High pressure boiler
3. Air preheater, economizer, super heater ,feed heaters.
4. Pumping system
5. Feed water purification plant
6. Condensers and cooling towers
7. Draught system
8. Prime mover
9. Alternator
10. Ash and dust handling system
 The flow circuit of a thermal power plant consists of
the following four main circuits:
a) Feed water and steam flow circuit.
b) Coal and ash circuit.
c) Air and gas circuit.
d) Cooling water circuit.
(Demineralized Water)
Air and gas circuit
Cooling water circuit
Major Components and their Functions
Boiler
 Boiler has the function to convert water into steam.
 The process of change of water to vapour done by
heating the water in the pipes with heat from
burning fuel.
 Combustion processes carried out continuously in
the combustion chamber with fuel and air flow
from the outside
 Steam production quantities dependent on the
surface area of heat transfer, flow rate, and the heat
of combustion is given. Boiler construction
consisting of water-filled pipes called a water tube
boiler
Boiler at Kota Thermal Power Station
Coal Mills
 In modern power plant pulverized coal is used. Once pulverized,
coal mills are employed for crushing the coal into a powder form.
This increases the efficiency of boiler hence the plant.

Boiler Feed Pump

 function is to feed the water to be steamed in the boiler of thermal
power plant.
 Condensate water to be coming out from condenser and make up
water coming from water treatment plant ad together forming total
feed water.
 Economizer
 The economizer is a feed water heater, deriving heat
from the flue gases.
 The justifiable cost of the economizer depends on the
total gain in efficiency. In turn this depends on the flue
gas temperature leaving the boiler and the feed water
inlet temperature.
Steam Turbine
 Steam turbine working to change the heat energy contained in the
steam into rotary motion.
 Steam with high pressure and temperature were directed to push
turbine blades mounted on the shaft, so the shaft rotates.
 Due to perform work on the turbine, the pressure and temperature
of steam coming into the turbine down to saturated vapour. This
steam then flows to the condenser, while the rotary power is used
to turn a generator.
 Today almost all of the steam turbine is a type of condensing
turbine
Turbine
 Air Pre-heater
 The flue gases coming out of the economizer is used to
preheat the air before supplying it to the combustion
chamber.
 An increase in air temperature of 20 degrees can be
achieved by this method.
 The pre heated air is used for combustion and also to
dry the crushed coal before pulverizing.
 Soot Blowers
 The fuel used in thermal power plants causes soot and this is
deposited on the boiler tubes, economizer tubes, air pre
heaters, etc. This drastically reduces the amount of heat
transfer of the heat exchangers.
 Soot blowers control the formation of soot and reduce its
corrosive effects.
 The types of soot blowers are fixed type, which may be further
classified into lane type and mass type depending upon the
type of spray and nozzle used.
 The other type of soot blower is the retractable soot blower.
Condenser
 The use of a condenser in a power plant is to improve the
efficiency of the power plant by decreasing the exhaust pressure
of the steam below atmosphere.
 Another advantage of the condenser is that the steam condensed
may be recovered to provide a source of good pure feed water to
the boiler and reduce the water softening capacity to a
considerable extent.
 A condenser is one of the essential components of a power plant.
 Cooling Tower
 The importance of the cooling tower is felt when the cooling
water from the condenser has to be cooled.
 The cooling water after condensing the steam becomes hot and
it has to be cooled as it belongs to a closed system.
 The Cooling towers do the job of decreasing the temperature
of the cooling water after condensing the steam in the
condenser.
 The type of cooling tower used in the Columbia Power Plant
was an Inline Induced Draft Cross Flow Tower.
 This tower provides a horizontal air flow as the water falls down
the tower in the form of small droplets.
 The fan centered at the top of units draws air through two cells
that are paired to a suction chamber partitioned beneath the fan.
 The outstanding feature of this tower is lower air static pressure
loss as there is less resistance to air flow.
 The evaporation and effective cooling of air is greater when the
air outside is warmer and dryer than when it is cold and already
saturated.
Superheater
 The superheater consists of a superheater header and superheater
elements.
 Steam from the main steam pipe arrives at the saturated steam
chamber of the superheater header and is fed into the superheater
elements.
 Superheated steam arrives back at the superheated steam
chamber of the superheater header and is fed into the steam pipe
to the cylinders.
 Superheated steam is more expansive.
Reheater
 The reheater functions similar to the superheater in that it
serves to elevate the steam temperature.
 Primary steam is supplied to the high pressure turbine. After
passing through the high pressure turbine, the steam is
returned to the steam generator for reheating (in a reheater)
after which it is sent to the low pressure turbine. A second
reheat cycle may also be provided.
Draught system
 to overcome the resistance offered by the pipelines, air ducts,
fuel beds, dampers, chimney, etc. for the flow of air, flue
gases draught system is required in thermal power plant.
 Normally FD (forced draft) fan, ID (induced draft) fan and
chimney facilitate this function.
 FD fan provides air from atmosphere to the boiler with the
positive pressure, where as ID fan along with chimney sucks
an air and waste gas from boiler to the atmosphere.
Turbo-Alternator:
 In thermal power plant, turbo alternator is usually coupled
unit of steam turbine and electrical generator.
 Steam turbine rotates with the help of superheated steam
expanded from high pressure and high temperature.
 As the turbine rotates, alternator also rotates gives rise to
generation of electricity. unit of any power plant.
 In this unit the generation of electricity is done. It is mechanically
coupled with the turbine, so that when turbine rotates, it also rotates.
Alternator cooling system:
 In thermal power plant, large amount of heat is generated in the
windings due to copper and Eddy current losses.
 This heat should be removed continuously so as to keep the
insulating material from damaging.
 There are two methods of cooling systems, open-circuit and
closed-circuit method.
 For low capacity generators open-circuit cooling system is
employed in which atmospheric air is passed through one side
and sucks out from the another side
 For medium capacity generators closed circuit cooling
system is employed in which same air passed again and
again after cooling it.
 In case of high capacity generators same closed circuit
cooling system is employed only with difference of air
is replaced with oxygen.
Finally the overall efficiency of the thermal power plant
is given by,
Thank You