CHOICE OF SIZE AND NUMBER OF

GENERATION UNITS IN A THERMAL

POWER PLANT
CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Concept of choosing
3. Conclusion
INTRODUCTION

The study of load curves of a power system reveals that the load on a power station is never constant and that is varies at
different times of the day. The peak load occurs for only a short duration. The capacity of the generator units must be
selected so as to meet this peak load. The minimum number of generating units chosen could be one having a capacity
equal to the maximum demand on the system.
The drawbacks in selecting a single unit to meet maximum
demand
1. As the load on the system is variable and the load factor is less than 100% there is a considerable period during the
day when the load on the station would be much less than the maximum load. During this period the generating set may
be running at half the load or even practically on no load. Hence it is not running at all times under conditions best
suited for its operation to give maximum efficiency. It is also uneconomical to run the set under low load condition as
fuel consumption would be more.

2. Reliability of service is a very important factor. Cheaper power without reliability of supply is a costlier power. If it is
an isolated individual plant and the requirement of reliability and continuity of supply is to be satisfied another set of
equal capacity must be installed for use when the first set is out of order and is under repairs. This results in increased
capital cost. Thus, it is neither practical nor economical to use a single unit to supply the whole of the variable load
where reliability of supply is essential.
The alternative way of deciding the size and number of generator units

The alternative way of deciding the size and number of generator units is to choose the number of sets in such a way
that they fit the load curve as closely as possible. Then each unit can be made to operate in such a manner that it runs
almost at full load or at a load at which it gives maximum efficiency. The reserve required in this case would only be
one unit of largest size chosen and would be much smaller than the maximum reserve capacity required in the first
case. As the reserve capacity required would be lesser it would result in better plant capacity factor and plant use
factor.
This type of selection however involves the following difficulties:

(i) With increased number of sets the floor area required increases and so also the building cost.
(ii) Maintenance cost increases.
(iii) More sets involve more starting, stopping and parallel operation of the equipment. This also results in increased
personnel for handling the equipment thus increasing the cost.
(iv) Capital cost of the larger number of sets of lower sizes is greater than that of the
same capacity of plant in a smaller number of units of larger size.
CONCLUSION

A study of above factors shows that there should neither be one unit nor a large number of smaller units of different sizes.
There has to be a compromise in the selection of units. The aim should be to have a small number of units and to fit them
as properly on the load curve. The choice is also governed by the best compromise between plant capacity factor and
plant use factor.
Thank You.