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PrefacePreface
PrefacePreface
Preface
There have been significant developments and advances in the field of power plant engineering,
computer applications on energy audit and management, environmental audit and management, human
development and environment. The authors have been encouraged to write this pioneer book for the
benefit of students of engineering and researchers due to their contribution in power generation cover-
ing the syllabi of conventional power plants i.e., Power Plant Engineering, at the international level in
general as text cum reference book.
This book being pilot project of the authors specially in the area of conventional power plant will
satisfy the engineering scholars as well as researchers in the field of direct energy conversion devices.
In the present book the syllabi enclosed has been covered in the most lucid manner from
power plant point of view to avoid the unnecessary bulkiness and to reduce the cost of the price for

the benefit of our beloved students of engineering in particular and others in general.
We have written this pioneering book on the basis of syllabi in the most lucid and compact
manner for the benefit of the students and the readers.
The authors are greatly indebted to Ch. Sunil Singh, Chairman, SITM Lucknow, Mr. K.C. Mishra
Suptt. Engineer, Saudia Electric Co. Saudi Arabia, for their great encouragement in writing this book.
Without their support and help we would not have been able to accomplish this tough and challenging
work.
In the end the authors will feel obliged for critical and useful suggestions since this pioneer book
covers the syllabi in the most useful area of Mechanical Engineering in particular and is applicable for
all branches of technology and engg. for all major Indian Universities, as well as at international level.
A.K. Raja
Amit P. Srivastava
Manish Dwivedi
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ContentsContents
ContentsContents
Contents
Preface (v)
Syllabus (vii)
Chapter 1: Fundamental of Power Plant 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Concept of Power Plants 1
1.3 Classification of Power Plants 2
1.4 Energy 3
1.5 Types of Energy 4
1.6 Power 5
1.7 Power Development in India 5
1.8 Resources for Power Generation 7
1.9 Present Power Position in India 9

1.10 Future Planning for Power Generation 9
1.11 Power Corporations in India 11
1.11.1 National Thermal Power Corporation 11
1.11.2 National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation 11
1.11.3 Rural Electrification Corporation 12
1.11.4 Damodar Valley Corporation 12
1.11.5 North-Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited 12
1.11.6 Bhakra Beas Management Board and Beas Construction Board 13
1.11.7 Power Engineers Training Society (PETS) 13
1.11.8 Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bangalore 13
1.11.9 Nathpa, Jhaicri Power Corporation Limited 13
1.12 Review of Thermodynamics Cycles Related to Power Plants 14
1.13 Classification of Power Plant Cycle 15
1.13.1 Carnot Cycle 15
1.13.2 Rankine Cycle 15
1.13.3 Reheat Cycle 16
1.13.4 Regenerative Cycle (Feed Water Heating) 16
1.13.5 Binary Vapour Cycle 17
1.13.6 Reheat-Regenerative Cycle 17
1.13.7 Formula Summary 18
1.14 Fuels and Combustion 18
1.15 Steam Generators 18
1.16 Steam Prime Movers 19
1.17 Steam Condensers 19
1.17.1 Surface Condensers 20
1.17.2 Jet Condensers 22
1.17.3 Types of Jet Condensers 22
1.18 Water (Hydraulic) Turbines 23
1.18.1 Impulse and Reaction Turbines 23
1.19 Scienc Vs. Technology 25

1.19.1 Scientific Research 25
1.19.2 Science and Technology Infrastructure 26
1.20 Facts Vs. Values 26
1.21 Atomic Energy 26
1.22 Highlights of the Nuclear Power Programme 27
1.23 Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited 27
1.24 Ocean Engineering Applications 28
Chapter 2: Non-Conventional Energy Resources and Utilisation 33
2.1 Introduction 33
2.2 Energy Science 33
2.3 Various Energy Science 33
2.4 Energy Technology 35
2.5 Energy Technology and Energy Sciences 36
2.6 Law of Conservation of Energy 37
2.7 Facts and Figures about Energy 37
2.8 Indian and Global Energy Sources 38
2.8.1 The Sun 38
2.8.2 etroleum 39
2.8.3 Natural Gas 43
2.8.4 Coal 44
2.8.5 Nuclear Energy 45
2.8.6 LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) 46
2.8.7 Alcohol 46
2.8.8 Gasohol 46
2.8.9 Hydro Power 46
2.9 Energy Exploited 46
2.10 Energy Demand 48
(viii)
2.11 Energy Planning 49
2.12 Introduction to Various Sources of Energy 51

2.12.1 Conventional Sources of Energy 51
2.12.2 Non-Conventional Sources of Energy 51
2.13 Introduction to Various Non-Conventional Energy Resources 52
2.14 Bio-Gas 53
2.14.1 Aerobic and Anaerobic Bio-Conversion Process 53
2.14.2 Raw Materials 55
2.14.3 Properties of Bio Gas 56
2.14.4 Bio Gas Plant Technology 56
2.15 Wind Energy 58
2.15.1 Wind Machine Fundamentals 59
2.15.2 Aerofoil Design 60
2.15.3 Wind Power Systems 62
2.15.4 Economic Issues 63
2.15.5 Selection of Wind Mill 64
2.15.6 Recent Developments 65
2.16 Solar Energy 66
2.16.1 Solar Radiations 67
2.16.2 Solar Thermal Power Plant 68
2.16.3 Solar Energy Storage 70
2.16.4 Recent Developments in Solar Power Plants 72
2.17 Electrochemical Effects and Fuel Cells 73
2.17.1 Reversible Cells 73
2.17.2 Ideal Fuel Cells 74
2.17.3 Other Types of Fuel Cells 75
2.17.4 Efficiency of Cells 76
2.18 Thermionic Systems and Thennionic Emission 78
2.18.1 Thermoionic Conversion 79
2.18.2 Ideal and Actual Efficiency 80
2.19 Thermoelectric Systems 82
2.19.1 Principle of Working 82

2.19.2 Performance 83
2.20 Geo Thermal Energy 86
2.20.1 Hot Springs 87
2.20.2 Steam Ejection 87
2.20.3 Site Selection 88
(ix)
2.20.4 Geothermal Power Plants 88
2.20.5 Advanced Concepts 95
2.21 Ocean Energy 97
2.21.1 Power Plants Based on Ocean Energy 98
2.22 Other Energy Technology 101
2.22.1 Liquid Fuel 101
2.22.2 Fuel Cell Technology 103
2.22.3 Hydrogen Energy 104
2.22.4 Hydrogen Energy Technology 104
2.22.5 Battery Operated Vehicles 106
2.22.6 Bio Fuel Technology 107
2.22.7 Hydroelectric Power 107
2.22.8 Innovative Heat Exchanger to Save Energy 108
Chapter 3: Power Plant Economics and Variable Load Problem 120
3.1 Terms and Factors 120
3.2 Factor Effecting Power Plant Design 122
3.3 Effect of Power Plant Type on Costs 122
3.3.1 Initial Cost 122
3.3.2 Rate of Interest 123
3.3.3 Depreciation 123
3.3.4 Operational Costs 124
3.3.5 Cost of Fuels 125
3.3.6 Labout Cost 125
3.3.7 Cost of Maintenance and Repairs 125

3.3.8 Cost of Stores 125
3.3.9 Supervision 126
3.3.10 Taxes 126
3.4 Effect of Plant Type on Rates (Tariffs or Energy Element) 126
3.4.1 Requirements of a Tariff 126
3.4.2 Types of Tariffs 126
3.5 Effect of Plant Type on Fixed Elements 129
3.6 Effect of Plant Type on Customer Elements 129
3.7 Investor’s Profit 129
3.8 Economics in Plant Selection 130
3.9 Economic of Power Generation 131
3.10 Industrial Production and Power Generational Compared 132
3.11 Load Curves 132
(x)
3.12 Ideal and Realized Load Curves 133
3.13 Effect of Variable Load on Power Plan Design 133
3.14 Effect of Variable Load on Power Plant Operation 134
Chapter 4 : Steam Power Plant 142
4.1 Introduction 142
4.2 Essentials of Steam Power Plant Equipment 142
4.2.1 Power Station Design 144
4.2.2 Characteristics of Steam Power Plant 144
4.3 Coal Handling 145
4.3.1 Dewatering of Coal 149
4.4 Fuel Burning Furnaces 150
4.4.1 Types of Furnaces 150
4.5 Method of Fuel Firing 151
4.5.1 Hand Firing 151
4.5.2 Mechanical Firing (Stokers) 153
4.6 Automatic Boiler Control 156

4.7 Pulverized Coal 157
4.7.1 Ball Mill 158
4.7.2 Ball and Race Mill 159
4.7.3 Shaft Mill 161
4.8 Pulverized Coal Firing 161
4.9 Pulverized Coal Burners 163
4.9.1 Cyclone Fired Boilers 166
4.10 Water Walls 166
4.11 Ash Disposal 167
4.11.1 Ash Handling Equipment 168
4.12 Smoke and Dust Removal 172
4.13 Types of Dust Collectors 172
4.13.1 Fly Ash Scrubber 174
4.13.2 Fluidized Bed Combustion (FBC) 175
4.13.3 Types of FBC Systems 176
Chapter 5 : Steam Generator 179
5.1 Introduction 179
5.2 Types of Boilers 179
5.3 Cochran Boilers 181
5.4 Lancashire Boiler 183
(xi)
5.5 Locomotive Boiler 185
5.6 Babcock Wilcox Boiler 187
5.7 Industrial Boilers 189
5.8 Merits and Demerits of Water Tube Boilers over Fire Tube Boilers Mertis 189
5.9 Requirements of a Good Boiler 190
5.10 High Pressure Boilers 190
5.10.1 La Mont Boiler 191
5.10.2 Benson Boiler 191
5.10.3 Loeffler Boiler 192

5.10.4 Schmidt-Hartmann Boiler 193
5.10.5 Velox Boiler 193
Chapter 6 : Steam Turbine 195
6.1 Principle of Operation of Steam Turbine 195
6.2 Classification of Steam Turbine 196
6.3 The Simple Impulse Turbine 200
6.4 Compounding of Impulse Turbine 201
6.5 Pressure Compounded Impulse Turbine 202
6.6 Simple Velocity-Compounded Impulse Turbine 203
6.7 Pressure and Velocity Compounded Impulse Turbine 204
6.8 Impulse-Reaction Turbine 205
6.9 Advantages of Steam Turbine over Steam Engine 206
6.10 Steam Turbine Capacity 206
6.11 Capability 207
6.12 Steam Turbine Governing 207
6.13 Steam Turbine Performance 207
6.14 Steam Turbine Testing 208
6.15 Choice of Steam Turbine 208
6.16 Steam Turbine Generators 208
6.17 Steam Turbine Specifications 209
Chapter 7 : Fuels and Combustion 217
7.1 Introduction 217
7.2 Coal 217
7.3 Coal Analysis 219
7.3.1 Proximate Analysis 219
7.3.2 Ultimate Analysis 219
7.3.3 Heating Value 219
(xii)
7.4 Coal Firing 221
7.5 Mechanical Stokers 222

7.6 Pulverized-Coal Firing 224
7.7 Cyclone Furnaces 230
Chapter 8 : Diesel Power Plant 234
8.1 Introduction 234
8.2 Operating Principle 236
8.3 Basic Types of IC Engines 236
8.3.1 Two-Stroke, Spark Ignition Gas Engines/Petrol Engines 237
8.3.2 Diesel Engines/Heavy Oil Engines 237
8.3.3 Duel Fuel Engines 237
8.3.4 High Compression Gas Engines 238
8.4 Advantage of Diesel Power Plant 238
8.5 Disadvantage of Diesel Power Plant 238
8.6 Application of Diesel Power Plant 238
8.7 General Layout of Diesel Power Plant 239
8.8 Performance of Diesel Engine 239
8.8.1 Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (IMEP) 239
8.8.2 Indicated Hourse Power (IHP) 239
8.8.3 Brake Horse Power (B.H.P.) 240
8.8.4 Frictional Horse Power (F.H.P.) 240
8.8.5 Indicated Thermal Efficiency 240
8.8.6 Brake Thermal Efficiency (Overall Efficiency) 240
8.8.7 Mechanical Efficiency 240
8.9 Fuel System of Diesel Power Plant 241
8.10 Lubrication System of Diesel Power Plant 242
8.10.1 Liquid Lubicricants or Wet Sump Lubrication System 244
8.10.2 Solid Lubricants or Dry Sump Lubrication System 246
8.10.3 Mist Lubrication System 246
8.11 Air Intakes and Admission System of Diesel Power Plant 246
8.12 Supercharging System of Diesel Power Plant 247
8.12.1 Types of Supercharger 248

8.12.2 Advantages of Supercharging 249
8.13 Exhaust System of Diesel Power Plant 249
8.14 Cooling System of Diesel Power Plant 250
8.14.1 Open Cooling System 251
8.14.2 Natural Circulation System 251
(xiii)
8.14.3 Forced Circulation Cooling System 251
8.15 Diesel Plant Operation 252
8.16 Efficiency of Diesel Power Plant 253
8.17 Heat Balance Sheet 255
Chapter 9 : Gas Turbine Power Plant 267
9.1 Introduction 267
9.2 Classification of Gas Turbine Power Plant 267
9.2.1 Open Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant 268
9.2.2 Closed Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant 269
9.3 Elements of Gas Turbine Power Plants 272
9.3.1 Compressors 272
9.3.2 Intercoolers and Heat Exchangers 273
9.3.3 Combustion Chambers 274
9.3.4 Gas Turbines 276
9.4 Regeneration and Reheating 276
9.4.1 Regeneration 276
9.4.2 Reheating 278
9.5 Cogeneration 279
9.5.1 Cogeneration—Why 279
9.5.2 Cogeneration Technologies 280
9.6 Auxiliary Systems 282
9.6.1 Starting Systems 282
9.6.2 Ignition Systems 283
9.6.3 Lubrication System 283

9.6.4 Fuel System and Controls 285
9.7 Control of Gas Turbines 286
9.7.1 Prime Control 286
9.7.2 Protective Controls 287
9.8 Gas Turbine Efficiency 289
9.8.1 Effect of Blade Friction 291
9.8.2 Improvement in Open Cycle 291
9.9 Operations and Maintenance Performance 292
9.9.1 Operation 292
9.9.2 Maintenance Performance 293
9.10. Troubleshooting and Remedies 294
9.11 Combined Cycle Power Plants 295
9.12 Applications of Gas Turbine 296
(xiv)
9.13 Advantages of Gas Turbine Power Plant 296
9.14 Disadvantages 297
Chapter 10 : Nuclear Power Plant 307
10.1 Introduction 307
10.2 General History and Trends 308
10.2.1 Major Events 308
10.2.2 What Might Change the Current Situation ? 309
10.2.3 Technical History and Developments 311
10.2.4 Developments After WW-2 311
10.3 The Atomic Structure 312
10.4 Summary of Nuclear Energy Concepts and Terms 314
10.4.1 Summary of Features 314
10.4.2 Fission 314
10.4.3 Critical Mass 315
10.4.4 Alpha Radiation 315
10.4.5 Beta Particles 315

10.4.6 Gamma Particles 315
10.4.7 Uramium Fission 315
10.4.8 Half Life, T 316
10.5 Ethical Problems in Nuclear Power Regulation 316
10.6 Chemical and Nuclear Equations 316
10.7 Nuclear Fusion and Fission 317
10.7.1 Fusion 318
10.7.2 Fission 319
10.8 Energy From Fission and Fuel Burn Up 320
10.9 Radioactivity 320
10.10 Nuclear Reactor 322
10.10.1 Parts of a Nuclear Reactor 322
10.10.2 Nuclear Fuel 322
10.10.3 Moderator 324
10.10.4 Moderating Ratio 324
10.10.5 Reflector 325
10.10.6 Reactor Vessel 325
10.10.7 Biological Shieding 326
10.10.8 Coolant 326
10.10.9 Coolant Cycles 326
10.10.10 Reactor Core 326
(xv)
10.11 Conservation Ratio 327
10.12 Neutron Flux 327
10.13 Clasification of Reactors 327
10.14 Cost of Nuclear Power Plant 327
10.15 Nuclear Power Station in India 328
10.16 Light Water Reactor (LWR) and Heavy Water Reactor (HWR) 331
10.16.1 Importance of Heavy Water 332
10.17 Site Selection 333

10.18 Comparison of Nulcear Power Plant and Steam Power Plant 334
10.19 Multiplication Factor 334
10.20 Uranium Enrichment 334
10.21 Reactor Power Control 336
10.22 Nuclear Power Plant Economics 336
10.23 Safety Measures for Nuclear Power Plants 337
10.24 Site Selection and Commissioning Procedure 338
10.25 Major Nuclear Power Disasters 338
10.26 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant 339
10.26.1 Reactor Design: RBMK-1000 340
10.26.2 Control of the Reactor 340
10.26.3 Chernobyl Reactor Operations 340
10.26.4 Accident/Safety Plans 340
10.26.5 Evacuation 340
10.27 Safety Problems in Chernobyl Reactor Design 340
10.27.1 System Dynamics 340
10.27.2 Another Safety Problem with the Design 341
10.28 Other, Earlier, Soviet Nuclear Accidents 341
Chapter 11 : Hydro-Electric Power Plants 343
11.1 Introduction 343
11.2 Run-Off 345
11.3 Hydrograph and Flow Duration Curve 347
11.4 The Mass Curve 347
11.5 Selection of Site for a Hydro-Electric Power Plant 348
11.6 Essential Features of a Water-Power Plant 349
11.7 Calculations of Water Power Plants 351
11.8 Classification of Hydro-Plant 352
11.8.1 Storage Plants 352
11.8.2 Run-of-River Power Plants 354
(xvi)

11.8.3 Pumped Storage Power Plants 354
11.9 Power House and Turbine Setting 355
11.9.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of Underground Power-House 359
11.10 Prime-Movers 362
11.11 Specific Speed of Turbine 367
11.12 Draft Tubes 370
11.12.1 Methods to Avoid Cavitation 375
11.12.2 Types of Draft Tubes 375
11.12.3 Different Types of Draft Tubes 377
11.13 Models and Model Testing 378
11.14 Selection of Turbine 381
Chapter 12 : Electrical System 386
12.1 Introduction 386
12.2 Generators and Motors 386
12.2.1 Rotors 387
12.2.2 Stators 389
12.2.3 Ventilation 390
12.2.4 Hight-Voltage Generators 392
12.3 Transformers 392
12.3.1 Constructional Parts 393
12.3.2 Core Constructions 393
12.3.3 Windings 397
12.4 Cooling of Transformers 402
12.4.1 Simple Cooling 403
12.4.2 Mixed Cooling 403
12.4.3 Natural Oil Cooling 403
12.4.4 Forced Oil Cooling 405
12.4.5 Internal Cooling 406
12.5 Bus-Bar 409
12.5.1 Single Bus-Bar System 409

12.5.2 Single Bus-Bar System with Sectionalisation 409
12.5.3 Duplicate Bus-Bar System 410
12.6 Busbar Protection 411
12.6.1 Differential Protection 411
12.6.2 Fault Bus Protection 412
(xvii)
Chapter 13 : Pollution and its Control 414
13.1 Introduction 414
13.2 Environment Pollution due to Energy Use 414
13.3 Environment Pollution due to Industrial Trial Emissions 415
13.4 Environment Pollution to Road Transport 415
13.5 Harmful Effects of Emissions 415
13.5.1 Buildings and Materials 416
13.5.2 Soil, Vegetation and Animal Life 416
13.5.3 Human Beings 416
13.6 Steps Taken so far and their Impact 416
13.7 Noise Pollution and its Control 417
13.8 Green House Gases and their Effects 418
13.9 Fossil Fuel Pollution 419
13.9.1 Urban Air Pollution 419
13.9.2 Acid Rain 420
13.9.3 Global Climate Change 420
13.9.4 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion 420
13.9.4 Acid Fog 420
13.10 Pollution due to Combustion of Fuel 421
13.10.1 Gas Fuel 421
13.10.2 Methane 421
13.10.3 Alkanes 422
13.11 Pollution due to Gas Combustion 422
13.11.1 Unburned Hydrocarbons (UHCS) 422

13.11.2 Carbon Monoxide (CO) 422
13.11.3 Nitric Oxide (NO
x
) 422
13.11.4 Soot 424
13.12 Pollution due to Liquid Fuel 424
13.12.1 Atomization 424
13.12.2 Vaporization 424
13.12.3 Modes of Combustion 424
13.13 Pollution due to Solid Fuel 425
13.14 Air Pollution by Thermal Power Plants 428
13.15 Water Pollution by Thermal Power Plants 428
13.16 Environment Concerns and Diesel Power Plants 429
13.17 Nuclear Power Plant and the Environment 431
(xviii)
13.17.1 The Fuel Cycle 432
13.17.2 Wastes 433
13.18 Radiations from Nuclear-Power Plant Effluents 434
13.19 Impact on Pollution and Air Qality in Delhi 434
13.19.1 Environmental Concerns 435
13.19.2 Pollution Levels 435
13.19.3 Measurs to Combat Pollution 436
13.20 Method for Pollution Control 440
13.21 Control of Marine Pollution 441
Appendix 443
Glossary 445
Bibliography 455
Index 462
(xix)
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Chapter 1Chapter 1
Chapter 1Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Fundamental of Power PlantFundamental of Power Plant
Fundamental of Power PlantFundamental of Power Plant
Fundamental of Power Plant
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The whole world is in the grip of energy crisis and the pollution manifesting itself in the spiraling
cost of energy and uncomforted due to increase in pollution as well as the depletion of conventional
energy resources and increasing curve of pollution elements. To meet these challenges one way is to
check growing energy demand but that would show down the economic growth as first step and to
develop nonpolluting energy conversion system as second step. It is commonly accepted that the stand-
ard of living increases with increasing energy consumption per capita. Any consideration of energy
requirement and supply has to take into account the increase conservation measures. On the industrial
font, emphasis must be placed on the increased with constant effort to reduce energy consumption.
Fundamental changes in the process, production and services can affect considerable energy saving
without affecting the overall economy. It need not be over emphasized that in house hold commercial
and industrial use of energy has considerable scope in energy saving. Attempt at understanding the
integrated relationship between environment and energy have given shape due to development of
R-134a, (an non pollutant refrirgent) to emerging descipling of environmental management. The gov-
ernment of India has laid down the policy “it is imperative that we carefully utilize our renewal (i.e.,
non-decaying) resources of soil water, plant and animal live to sustain our economic development” our
exploration or exploitation of these is reflected in soil erosion, salutation, floods and rapid destruction of
our forest, floral and wild life resources. The depletion of these resources often tends to be irreversible
since bulk of our population depends on these natural resources. Depletion of these natural resources
such as fuel, fodder, and housing power plant;
1.2 CONCEPT OF POWER PLANT
A power plant is assembly of systems or subsystems to generate electricity, i.e., power with
economy and requirements. The power plant itself must be useful economically and environmental

friendly to the society. The present book is oriented to conventional as well as non-conventional energy
generation. While the stress is on energy efficient system regards conventional power systems viz., to
increase the system conversion efficiency the supreme goal is to develop, design, and manufacturer the
non-conventional power generating systems in coming decades preferably after 2050 AD which are
conducive to society as well as having feasible energy conversion efficiency and non-friendly to pollu-
tion, keeping in view the pollution act. The subject as a whole can be also stated as modern power plants
for power viz electricity generation in 21st century. The word modern means pertaining to time. At
present due to energy crisis the first goal is to conserve energy for future while the second step is to
2 POWER PLANT ENGINEERING
develop alternative energy systems including direct energy conversion devices, with the devotion, dedi-
cation and determination remembering the phrase, “ Delve and Delve Again till wade into”.
1.3 CLASSIFICATION OF POWER PLANTS
Power Plant
Conventional
Non-conventional
Steam Engines Power Plants
Steam Turbine Power Plants
Diesel Power Plants
Gas Turbine Power Plants
Hydro-Electric Power Plants
Nuclear Power Plants
Thermoelectric Generator
Therm-ionic generator
Fuel-cells Power Plants
Photovoltaic solar cells Power System
MHD Power Plants
Fussion Reactor NPP Power System
Biogas, Biomass Energy Power system
Geothermal Energy
Wind Energy Power System

Ocean Thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
Wave and Tidal Wave
Energy Plantation Scheme
A power plant may be defined as a machine or assembly of equipment that generates and delivers
a flow of mechanical or electrical energy. The main equipment for the generation of electric power is
generator. When coupling it to a prime mover runs the generator, the electricity is generated. The type of
prime move determines, the type of power plants. The major power plants, which are discussed in this
book, are,
1. Steam power plant
2. Diesel power plant
3. Gas turbine power plant
4. Nuclear power plant
5. Hydro electric power plant
The Steam Power Plant, Diesel Power Plant, Gas Turbine Power Plant and Nuclear Power Plants
are called THERMAL POWER PLANT, because these convert heat into electric energy.
FUNDAMENTAL OF POWER PLANT 3
1.4 ENERGY
Energy is the capacity for doing work, generating heat, and emitting light. The equation for work
is the force, which is the mass time the gravity times the distance.
Heat is the ability to change the temperature of an object or phase of a substance. For example,
heat changes a solid into a liquid or a liquid into a vapor. Heat is part of the definition of energy.
Another part of the definition of energy is radiation, which is the light and energy emitted in the
form of waves traveling at the speed of light.
Energy is measured in units of calorie, quad, and joule. A kilocalorie is the amount of energy or
heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water from 14.5°C to 15.5°C. The quad unit is
used to measure energy needed for big countries. The final measurement of energy is joules.
Energy is an essential input for economic development and improving quality of life. India’s per
capita consumption of Commercial Energy (viz., coal, petroleum and electricity) is only one-eighth of
the Global Average and will increase with growth in Gross Domestic Production (GDP) and improve-
ment in standard of living.

Commercial Energy accounts for a little over half of the total energy used in the Country, the rest
coming from non-commercial resources like cow-dung, fuel wood and agricultural waste. Though the
share of these non-commercial sources has been coming down, consumption has increased almost dou-
ble since 1953.
These renewable, non-commercial sources have been used extensively for hundreds of years but
in a primitive and ineffective way. Indiscriminate use of non-commercial energy sources is leading to an
energy crisis in the rural areas. Seventh Plan laid emphasis on the development and accelerated utilisa-
tion of renewable energy sources in rural and urban areas. A major Policy of the Government is directed
towards increasing the use of coal in household and of electricity in transport sector in order to reduce
dependence on oil, which is becoming scarce gradually.
The Government has formulated an energy policy with objectives of ensuring adequate energy
supply at minimum cost, achieving self-sufficiency in energy supplies and protecting environment from
adverse impact of utilising energy resources in an injudicious manner. Main elements of the policy are:
1. Accelerated exploitation of domestic conventional energy resources-oil, coal, hydro and nu-
clear power;
2. Intensification of exploration to increase indigenous production of oil and gas;
3. Management of demand for oil and other forms of energy;
4. Energy conservation and management;
5. Optimisation of utilisation of existing capacity in the country;
6. Development and exploitation of renewable sources of energy to meet energy requirements
of rural communities;
7. Intensification of research and development activities in new and renewable energy sources;
and
8. Organisation of training far personnel engaged at various levels in the energy sector.
Development of conventional forms of energy for meeting the growing energy needs of the
society at a reasonable cost is the responsibility of Government viz., Department of Power, Coal and
4 POWER PLANT ENGINEERING
Petroleum and Natural Gas. Development and promotion of non-conventional/alternate/new and renew-
able sources of energy such as Solar, Wind and Bio-energy, etc., are also getting sustained attention from
the Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources created in September, 1982. Nuclear Energy De-

velopment is being geared up by the Department of Atomic Energy to contribute significantly to overall
energy availability in the Country.
Energy Conservation is being given the highest-priority and is being used as a tool to bridge the
gaps between demand and supply of energy. An autonomous body, namely Energy Management Centre,
has been set up on ten April, 1989, as a nodal agency for energy conservation projects.
1.5 TYPES OF ENERGY
There are various types of energy which, they include nuclear, electrical, thermal, chemical, and
radiant energy. In addition, gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy that combines to produce
mechanical energy.
Nuclear energy produces heat by fission on nuclei, which is generated by heat engines. Nuclear
energy is the world’s largest source of emission-free energy. There are two processes in Nuclear energy
fission and fusion. In fission, the nuclei of uranium or plutonium atoms are split with the release of
energy. In fusion, energy is released when small nuclei combine or fuse. The fission process is used in all
present nuclear power plants, because fusion cannot be controlled. Nuclear energy is used to heat steam
engines. A Nuclear power plant is a steam engine using uranium as its fuel, and it suffers from low
efficiency.
Electricity powers most factories and homes in our world. Some things like flashlights and Game
Boys use electricity that is stored in batteries as chemical energy. Other items use electricity that comes
from an electrical plug in a wall socket. Electricity is the conduction or transfer of energy from one place
to another. The electricity is the flow of energy. Atoms have electrons circling then, some being loosely
attached. When electrons move among the atoms of matter, a current of electricity is created.
Thermal energy is kinetic and potential energy, but it is associated with the random motion of
atoms in an object. The kinetic and potential energy associated with this random microscopic motion is
called thermal energy. A great amount of thermal energy (heat) is stored in the world’s oceans. Each
day, the oceans absorb enough heat from the sun to equal the energy contained in 250 billion barrels of
oil (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Systems).
Chemical energy is a form of energy that comes from chemical reactions, in which the chemical
reaction is a process of oxidation. Potential energy is released when a chemical reaction occurs, which is
called chemical energy. A car battery is a good example, because the chemical reaction produces
voltage and current to start the car. When a plant goes through a process of photosynthesis, what the

plant is left with more chemical energy than the water and carbon dioxide. Chemical energy is used in
science labs to make medicine and to product power from gas.
Radiant energy exists in a range of wavelengths that extends from radio waves that many be
thousands of meters long to gamma rays with wavelengths as short as a million-millionth (10
– 12
) of a
meter. Radiant energy is converted to chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis.
The next two types of energy go hand and hand, gravitational potential energy and kinetic
energy. The term energy is motivated by the fact that potential energy and kinetic energy are different
aspects of the same thing, mechanical energy.