Unit 1: Power Plants

For internal circulation only

IC 452 POWER PLANT INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL

Unit 1 : Brief survey of methods of power generation-hydro,

thermal, nuclear, solar and wind power Introduction to
thermal power plant processes building blocks - ideal steam
cycles Boiler types, Boiler - turbine units and its range
systems, feed water systems, steam circuits, combustion
process, products of combustion process, fuel systems,
treatment of flue gases, steam turbine, condensate systems,
alternator, feed water conditioning, turbine bypass valves.
Importance of instrumentation in power generation details
of boiler processes, P & I diagram of boiler combined cycle
power plant, power generation and distribution.
 Power Generating Stations
Type of Generation stations
Thermal Power Plant. Large plants carry constant load (base load plant).
Smaller plants loads are regulated but they operate continuously. Minimum
down time is 20-35 hours.
Nuclear Power Plant. These plants carry constant load and are used as base
loads plants.
Hydroelectric Plants. These plants are loaded to the maximum capacity,
because of the low operating cost. (Water is free)
Combined steam and Gas-Turbine Power Plants. High efficiency plants for
variable load.
Gas-turbine. Peak load plants, high operating and low investment cost.
Solar, Wind. Loaded to the maximum capacity when sun or wind power
available.

 Thermal Power Plant

1. The fuel (pulverized coal, atomized oil or gas) is mixed with

pre-heated air and injected into the boiler, where the high
temperature ignites the fuel.
2. The fuel burning produces ashes and exhaust gases. The
ashes are filtered out from the exhaust and washed away by
water. Powerful exhaust fans drives the smoke out to the
atmosphere through the stack.
3. Pre-heated water is pumped through the tubes covering the
boiler walls. The high heat evaporates the water and
generates steam, which is collected in the steam drum.
 Thermal Power Plant

4. The high pressure steam drives the turbine, which has a high
pressure and a low pressure stage. For some turbines the
steam is re-heated between these two stages.
5. The water-cooled condenser condenses the steam into water.
The water is pumped back to the boiler.
6. Both, the air and the water are preheated to increase efficiency.
7. The turbine drives the generator which produces electricity.