Power Stations - An Introduction

Power Stations

    An Electric power station is a factory in which energy is converted from one form of energy into electrical energy.

Steam Plant :

    The generating plants, which use coal, are called thermal power plants. The coal is burnt by combustion in the boiler furnace and heat is liberated which converts water into steam. The energy in the steam is converted to the mechanical energy of a rotating shaft by some form of steam engine, either reciprocating or turbine and this energy is converted into electrical energy by means of a generator. Normally, the efficiency of this unit is very low and it will take longer time for starting the generating unit.

Hydro Power Plant :

    Water is a great potential source of energy. The generating plants that obtain energy from water are called hydroelectric power plants. Potential energy of water is converted into mechanical energy in a water turbine, which drives the electrical generator.

The advantages are : 

                        1) No fuel required

                        2) Low maintenance costs

                        3) Quick start-up

Nuclear or Atomic Station :

    The power obtained from nuclear fission is called nuclear power or atomic power. Power plants using this energy are called as Nuclear power plants or Atomic power plants.

    The energy from the splitting of the atomic fuel is released in the form of heat in the reactor. The materials that undergo nuclear fission are Uranium (U235), Thorium (Th232) and Plutonium (Pu239). When 1kg of U235 fissioned, 25x10e9 KWhr of energy of energy can be produced. The heat obtained from the reaction is used to convert water into steam. It may be said that, basically a nuclear power plant is a thermal plant in which nuclear reactor replaces the steam boilers.

Diesel Power Plant :

    Diesel engine is a prime mover that obtains its energy from a liquid fuel generally known as diesel oil and converts energy into mechanical energy. An alternator mechanically  coupled to it converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. They can be started and stopped quickly. Diesel power plants and gas turbine units are otherwise called as "spinning reserves" because they can be started instantly when other generating unit fails.

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