Week 2 Power Plants

WEEK-2, LEC-3 & 4 Electrical Power Systems M.Sc.
Electrical Engineering
Construction, Working & Design Aspects of

Steam & Hydro Electric Power Plants.
STEAM (COAL) POWER
PLANT
- Any electric power plant
produces bulk electric
power.
- Incoming fuel (steam,
wind, water, tides) rotates
prime mover (steam turbine, wind turbine, hydro-turbine), which in turn
spins alternator to produce electric power.
- Steam power plant converts heat energy of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
into mechanical/electrical energy. This is achieved by raising the steam
in the boilers, expanding it through the turbines and coupling the
turbines to the generators which convert mechanical energy to electrical
energy.
- Steam power plant works on Rankine cycle.
Dr. Riaz Ahmad Rana _ Electrical Engineering Department, FOE, UCP Lahore Page 1
WEEK-2, LEC-3 & 4 Electrical Power Systems M.Sc. Electrical Engineering
Rankine Cycle:
(i) Steam of high temperature
& pressure is produced in
Boiler using fossil fuels
and then expanded in
Turbine to spin it, which in
turn spins Generator to
produce electricity.
(ii) Rejected steam of low temperature & pressure is condensed using
Condenser.
(iii) Condensed steam of low pressure & temperature is fed to a Feed
Pump.
(iv) Feed Pump increases pressure of condensed steam and feeds to
Boiler.
Advantages of Steam P/P: (i) Cheap fossil fuel, (ii) Low initial cost, (iii)
Can be installed anywhere, (iv) Requires less space compared to hydel P/P,
(v) Less generation cost compared to diesel P/P.
Disadvantages: (i) Smoke & fumes pollute atmosphere, (ii) High running
cost compared to hydel P/P.
Schematic Diagram of Steam Power Plant

Coal & ash handling plant
- Storage of coal is done against coal strikes, failure of transportation
system, and general coal shortages.
- In coal handling plant, coal is pulverized (i.e., crushed into small pieces)
to increase its surface exposure for rapid combustion.
- Coal is burnt in boiler, and ash produced is removed to ash handling
plant. Removal of ash from boiler furnace is necessary for proper
burning of coal.
Boiler
- Heat of combustion of coal in boiler is utilized to convert water into
steam at high temperature & pressure.
- The flue gases from boiler pass through super-heater, economizer, air
pre-heater, and finally exhausted to atmosphere through chimney.
Super-heater
- Wet steam of boiler is dried and superheated in super-heater.
- Super-heating of wet steam increases overall efficiency and avoids
corrosion of turbine blades.
Economizer
- Economizer extracts some heat from flue gases and increases
temperature of water coming from feed water heater before supplying
to boiler.
Air Pre-heater
- It increases temperature of air supplied to boiler for coal burning by
deriving heat from flue gases.
- Air is drawn from atmosphere using forced draught fan.
- Air pre-heater increases overall thermal efficiency and steam capacity.
Steam Turbine
- Dry and super-heated steam from super-heater expands on turbine
blades to spin them.
- After giving heat energy to turbine blades, steam is exhausted to
condenser which condenses this steam to water by means of cold-water
circulation.
Alternator
- Alternator, coupled to turbine, converts mechanical energy of turbine to
electrical energy.
Feed Water
- The condensate from condenser is used as feed water to boiler.
- Feed water is heated by feed water heater and economizer before
feeding to boiler.
- This increases thermal efficiency of steam power plant.
Cooling Arrangement
- Water is drawn from natural sources (river, canal, lake) and fed to
condenser to condensate turbine steam.
Choice of Site for Steam P/P
Efficiency of Steam Power Plant
Units of Energy
Energy Units Conversions
Calorific Values of Fuels
Lignite Coal:
- Brown, soft & combustible.

- Carbon content around 25–35%
- Lowest rank of coal due to low
heat content
- When removed from ground, it contains a very high amount
of moisture which partially explains its low carbon content.
- Lignite is mined all around World and is used as a fuel for
steam-electric power generation.
- Produces less heat compared to carbon dioxide, most
harmful human health, & contain toxic metals like
radioactive materials.
Bituminous Coal:
- black coal, hard, & ranked

higher than lignite but lesser
than anthracite.
- Most abundant rank of coal,
with deposits found around
the world.
Anthracite Coal:
- Hard, black, highest carbon

content (86-97 %) & highest
energy density.
- Ignites with difficulty and burns with a short, blue, and

smokeless flame.
- Only 1% of global coal reserves & is mined in only a
few countries around the world.
- USA, China, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, South
Africa, Vietnam, the UK, Australia, & Canada.
Hydro-Electric Power Plant

- Hydroelectric power plant
uses potential energy of water
at a high level to generate
electricity.
- Water-head is created by making a
dam across river or lake.
- From dam, water is led to water turbine
which captures energy of falling water and converts it
into mechanical energy at shaft.
- Water turbine rotates generator to produce electricity.
Advantages of Hydro power Plant

1. Proven and reliable technology
2. No fuel charges, water used to generate electricity.
3. Clean & neat, no smoke and ash produced
4. Maintenance and operation charges are very low.
5. Plant efficiency does not change with age.
6. Short time to run and synchronize the plant.
7. Long life (100-125 years)
8. Flood control and irrigation purposes.
9. Machines used hydro-electric plants are robust and
generally run at low speeds at 300 to 400 rpm.
Disadvantages of Hydro power Plant

1. High initial cost of the plant
2. Long time for the erection of hydro power plant
3. As located in hilly areas far away from load Centre,
long transmission lines required, subsequently the
cost of transmission lines and losses in them will be
more.
4. Power generation depends on quantity of water
which in turn depends on rain. If rainfall is in time
and proper, then water can be collected. Otherwise,
the plant will not function properly.
Selection of Site for Hydropower Plant

1. Availability of water
2. Water storage
3. Water head
4. Easily accessible site
5. Distance from load Centre
6. Cost effective land for site
Elements of Hydroelectric Power Plant
Catchment Area: Area from which rainfall flows into a

river, lake, or reservoir is called catchment area.
Reservoir:
- Reservoir stores water
from catchment area.
- A natural reservoir is a
lake in high mountains.
- An artificial reservoir is built by erecting a dam across
the river.
- Water held in reservoir/dam is called storage water
whereas water behind dam at plant is called pondage
water.
Dam:
- Dam is a barrier which stores water and creates water-
head.
- Dams are generally built of concrete or stone masonry,
earth or rock fill, or timber.
- Dam raises water- head & diverts flow of water from
river/lake (reservoir) to turbines to convert potential
energy of water to mechanical energy, which in turn
rotates generator to generate electricity.
Penstocks:
- Open or closed conduits which carry water from dam
to turbines.
- Made up of steel, wood or

reinforced concrete.
- Concrete penstocks suitable
for low head (< 30 m)
- Steel penstocks suitable for
any head.
Exposed penstocks:
- Less expensive & more life
- Easy to install
- Easy maintenance
- Easy Inspection
Buried penstock:
- These are preferred where land slide, snow slide or
falling rocks may take place.
- In very cold climates where freezing is expected,
buried pen stocks are used. However, corrosion is more
and life is less.
Surge Tank:
- Storage reservoir at downstream end of dam to absorb
sudden changes in water requirements and reduce
water hammer and negative pressure in penstock.
- No surges in flow of water through penstock when turbine

is running at a steady load
- When load on turbine decreases, governor closes gate of
turbine to reduce water supply
- The excess water at lower end of penstock goes to surge
tank and increases its water level. Thus, conduit is
prevented from bursting.
- Similarly, when load on turbine increases, additional water
is drawn from surge tank to meet load requirements.
- Hence surge tank overcomes abnormal pressure in conduit
when load on turbine falls and acts as a reservoir when
load on turbine increases.
Draft Tube:
- Located at outlet of turbines
- Reduces velocity of discharged water
Tailrace:
Water channel that takes water
out of turbine.
Gate & Butterfly Valves:
- Used to open and close
inlets and outlets to
adjust pressure, flow and
direction of water.
Hydraulic turbines:
• Hydraulic means operated,
moved, or effected by water.
• Convert potential energy,
kinetic energy & pressure
energy of water into
mechanical energy
• ME of hydro turbine rotates generator
• Generator provides electrical power
• Water contains:
- Potential energy at height
- Pressure energy in a pipe
- Kinetic energy in motion
Spillways discharge surplus water from a

reservoir after it has been filled to its
maximum capacity.
Hydro Head is change in

water levels between
intake and discharge point.
Trash-Racks:
- Installed at intake of HE plants
- Prevent entrance of large debris
which can damage turbine parts
- Prevent fish species from
entering the intake system
Low Head/run-of-river Power Plant
- Water head < 30 m
- Uses vertical shaft Francis/Kaplan turbines.
- Turbine is installed at narrow side of river.
- Penstock not needed
Medium Head Power Plant:

- Water head: 30 to 100 m
- Dam is mandatory part
- Small length penstock required
High Head Power Plants:
- Water head > 100 m
- Water is stored in lakes on high mountains during rainy
season or when snow melts.
- Gives extremely high pressure to turbine
- Dam is compulsory part.
- Long penstock required
IMPULSE TURBINE
- Water creates some impulsive
force on turbine to get it to
move, so called as impulse
turbine.
- The entire pressure of water is
converted into kinetic energy
in a nozzle and velocity of jet drives the wheel.
- Suited for high head and low discharge (high velocity) of
water. This means that it is used when the amount of
water flow is small, and there is high pressure due to the
high location of the water head.
• Examples: Pelton, Turgo & Cross-flow.
REACTION TURBINES
- Almost 60% of turbines are
reaction turbines.
- When water passes over rotating
blades, both pressure and
velocity of water are reduced
compared to bottom side of
blades. This pressure difference causes a reaction force
which drives turbine.
- Runner blades are completely dipped in water.
- Water after moving over runner blades enters into draft
tube and finally to the trail race.
- Water flows over blades instead of striking each
individually. Examples: Francis, Kaplan, Propeller

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WEEK-2, LEC-3 & 4 Electrical Power Systems M.Sc.

Construction, Working & Design Aspects of

Schematic Diagram of Steam Power Plant

Choice of Site for Steam P/P

Efficiency of Steam Power Plant

Energy Units Conversions

Calorific Values of Fuels

- Brown, soft & combustible.

- black coal, hard, & ranked

- Hard, black, highest carbon

- Ignites with difficulty and burns with a short, blue, and

Hydro-Electric Power Plant

Advantages of Hydro power Plant

Disadvantages of Hydro power Plant

Selection of Site for Hydropower Plant

Elements of Hydroelectric Power Plant

Catchment Area: Area from which rainfall flows into a

- Made up of steel, wood or

- No surges in flow of water through penstock when turbine

Spillways discharge surplus water from a

Hydro Head is change in

Medium Head Power Plant:

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