ELECTRICAL MACHINERY GENERALIZATIONS

Rotating Electrical Machines:

1. 2. 3. 4. Generators Motors Rotary Converters Frequency Converters

Generator is a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Motor is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

Schematic representation of electro-mechanical energy conversion devices

When an electric generator is in operation, it is driven (rotated) by a mechanical machine usually called prime mover. Types of Prime Movers: 1. Internal combustion engines 2. Electric motors 3. Turbines (steam, water, wind) 4. Reciprocating engines 5. Hand crank 6. Compressed air 7. Other sources of mechanical energy

When an electric motor is in operation, it is supplied with electrical energy and develops torque, that is, a tendency to produce rotation. And if the rotating element of the motor is free to turn, it will do so and thereby cause mechanical rotation of itself and its application.

Motor-generator set

Turbo-generator set

Generators and Motors

A simple electric generator

Wind-powered electric generator

Wind-powered electric generator

Solar Thermal Electricity

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The Parabolic Trough

A parabolic through concentrates sunlight onto a black pipe with circulating water. This uses a focusing mechanism like fresnel lenses and fresnel mirrors.

Thermal fluid expansion converts the thermal energy into physical energy to spin an electric generator.

The largest solar photo voltaic cell in the world produces only 12MW but by comparison the largest solar thermal plant in the world generates 354 MW.

There is at least 10 to 100 times more money spent on solar photo voltaic than what is spent on solar thermal which is 10 to 100 times more promising for power plants.

Gas Turbine Generator

Combined Cycle Combustion Turbines

The basic principle of CCCTs is to use two complementary thermodynamic cycles to efficiently generate electricity. Heat generated by the combustion of natural gas in a primary gas turbine is used to create high pressure steam that powers secondary steam turbines.

These systems can have a thermal efficiency of 60%. CCCTs can be 40% more efficient than older technology fossil fuel generation and have 90% less emissions.

A natural gas/air mixture is burned in the combustion gas turbinegenerator compressors creating electricity. The hot combusted gases exit the gas turbine and enter the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG). The hot gases are used to convert water into superheated steam.

High pressure steam generated by HRSG is supplied to the steam turbines generating additional electricity. Low pressure steam exits the steam turbines to a cold water condenser. This condensed steam is used to recharge the HRSG, again cycling to high pressure steam by the hot exhaust of the gas turbine.

Two thermodynamic cycles are employed in combined cycle combustion turbines, the Brayton Cycle (gas turbine) which is combined with the Rankine Cycle (steam turbine)to create a very efficient modern system of energy generation.

Combined Cycle Combustion Turbines

400MW Gas Turbine Generator