What Is Energy?

There are different forms of energy on earth. The sun is considered the elemental form of
energy on earth. In physics, energy is considered a quan ta ve property that can be
transferred from an object to perform work. Hence, we can define energy as the strength to
do any kind of physical ac vity. Thus, in simple words, we can define energy as,

Energy is the ability to do work

According to the laws of conserva on of energy, “ energy can neither be created nor
destroyed but can only be converted from one form to another”. The SI unit of energy is
Joule.

Units of Energy

The Interna onal System of Units of measurement of energy is joule. The unit of energy is
named a er James Presco Joule. Joule is a derived unit equal to the energy expended in
applying a force of one newton through a distance of one meter. However, energy is also
expressed in many other units not part of the SI, such as ergs, calories, Bri sh Thermal Units,
kilowa -hours, and kilocalories, which require a conversion factor when expressed in SI
units.

Read More: Unit of Energy

Different Types of Energy

Although there are many forms of energy, it is broadly categorized into:

1. Kine c Energy
 2. Poten al Energy

Kine c Energy

Kine c energy is the energy associated with the object’s mo on. Objects in mo on are
capable of causing a change or are capable of doing work. To be er understand, let us think
of a wrecking ball. A wrecking ball in mo on is used to do work such as the demoli on of
buildings, stones, etc. Even a slow-moving wrecking ball is capable of causing a lot of
damage to another object, such as an empty house. However, a wrecking ball that is not in
mo on does not do any work.
Another example of kine c energy is the energy associated with the constant, random
bouncing of atoms or molecules. This is also known as thermal energy. The average thermal
energy of a group of molecules is what we call temperature, and when thermal energy is
transferred between two objects, it’s known as heat.

Kine c energy is determined by the given formula

K.E=12mv2

Read more: Kine c Energy

Different Types of Kine c Energy:

Radiant energy
  Radiant energy is the type of energy that travels by waves or par cles. This energy is
created through electromagne c waves and is most commonly experienced by
humans in the form of heat. Following are a few examples of radiant energy:

 When you turn on an incandescent light bulb, it gives off two forms of energy. There
is visible light and heat that is generated. Both these generated energies are a form
of radiant energy.

 Sunlight is an example of radiant energy.

Thermal Energy

Thermal energy is similar to radiant energy and is experienced in the form of heat or
warmth. While radiant energy refers to waves or par cles, thermal energy describes the
ac vity level among the atoms and molecules in an object. This is the only difference
between radiant energy and thermal energy. Some examples of thermal energy include:

 The geothermal energy that comes from the decay of natural minerals and the
volcanic ac on of the earth is an example of thermal energy.

 When you heat up the pizza in the oven, you raise the pizza’s temperature. The
molecules that make up the pizza move more quickly when the pizza is piping hot.

 The warmth you feel emana ng from the engine is an example of thermal energy.

Sound Energy

Humans experience the vibra ons that reach the human ear as sound. The disturbance
moves in the form of waves through a medium like air and reaches our eardrum. On
reaching the eardrum, these vibra ons are converted into electrical signals and sent to the
brain, which we interpret as the sensa on of sound.

Electrical Energy

The flow of nega vely charged electrons around a circuit results in electricity which we more
commonly refer to as electrical energy.

Mechanical Energy

Mechanical energy is the energy associated with the mechanical movement of objects. This
type of energy can also be referred to as mo on energy.

Poten al Energy

Poten al energy is the energy stored in an object or system of objects. Poten al energy can
transform into a more obvious form of kine c energy.
 Poten al energy is determined by the given formula

Poten alEnergy=m×g×h

Both poten al energy and kine c energy form mechanical energy.

Mechanical energy is determined by the following formula

MechanicalEnergy=12mv2+mgh

Different Types Of Poten al Energy

Gravita onal Poten al Energy

Gravita onal poten al energy is the energy stored in an object due to its ver cal posi on or
height. A book on a high bookshelf has a higher gravita onal poten al energy than a book
on the bo om bookshelf.

Gravita onal Poten al Energy Examples

 River water at the top of a waterfall

 A book on a table before it falls

 A car that is parked at the top of a hill

Gravita onal Poten al Energy – Video Lecture

5,827

Elas c Poten al Energy

Elas c poten al energy is stored as a result of applying a force to deform an elas c object.
The energy is stored un l the force is removed and the object springs back to its original
shape, doing work in the process. The deforma on could involve compressing, stretching or
twis ng the object.

Elas c Poten al Energy Examples

 A spring that is coiled

 The string of an archer’s bow is pulled back

 Rubber band that has been stretched

Chemical Poten al Energy

Chemical poten al energy is the energy stored in the chemical bonds of the substance. The
energy can be absorbed and released due to a change in the par cle number of the given
species.

Chemical Poten al Energy Examples

 Before the sun shines on the green leaves (poten al photosynthesis)

 Gasoline before it is ignited

 Fireworks before they are launched

Electric Poten al Energy

Electric poten al energy is the energy that is needed to move a charge against an electric
field.

Electric Poten al Energy Examples

 An incandescent light bulb that is turned off

 A radio tower that is not working

 A black-light turned off

 A television before it is turned on

Energy Conversion: Transfer and Transform

We know energy can be transferred from one form to another. The movement of energy
from one loca on to another is known as energy transfer. We no ce various energy
transforma ons happening around us.

Following are the four ways through which energy can be transferred:

 Mechanically – By the ac on of force

 Electrically – Electrically

 By Radia on – By Light waves or Sound waves

 By Hea ng – By conduc on, convec on, or radia on

The process which results in the energy changing from one form to another is known as
energy transforma on. While energy can be transformed or transferred, the total amount of
energy does not change – this is called energy conserva on.

Read More: Energy Conversion

Law of Conserva on of Energy

The law of energy conserva on is one of physics’s basic laws. It governs the microscopic
mo on of individual atoms in a chemical reac on. The law of conserva on of energy states
that “In a closed system, i.e., a system that is isolated from its surroundings, the total energy
of the system is conserved.” According to the law, the total energy in a system is conserved
even though energy transforma on occurs. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it
can only be converted from one form to another.

What is the Law of Conserva on of Energy?

The law of conserva on of energy states that energy can neither be created nor be
destroyed. Although, it may be transformed from one form to another. If you take all forms
of energy into account, the total energy of an isolated system always remains constant. All
the forms of energy follow the law of conserva on of energy. In brief, the law of
conserva on of energy states that

In a closed system, i.e., a system that is isolated from its surroundings, the total energy of
the system is conserved.
Example of Energy Transforma on

So in an isolated system such as the universe, if there is a loss of energy in some part of it,
there must be a gain of an equal amount of energy in some other part of the universe.
Although this principle cannot be proved, there is no known example of a viola on of the
principle of conserva on of energy.

Sources of Energy

The two major sources of energy is classified as:

 Conven onal Sources

 Non-Conven onal Sources

The classifica on of the sources of energy is given in the below image.

Conven onal Sources of Energy

Conven onal Sources of Energy are also known as non-renewable sources of energy and are
available in limited quan ty apart from hydro-electric power. Further, it is classified under
commercial and non-commercial energy.

Commercial Energy Sources

Coal, electricity and petroleum are known as commercial energy since the consumer needs
to pay its price to buy them.

Coal
Coal is the most important source of energy. There are more than 148790 coal deposits in
India, and between 2005-2006, the annual produc on went up to 343 million tons. India is
the fourth-largest coal-producing country, and the deposits are primarily found in Bihar,
Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bengal.

Oil and Natural Gas

Oil is considered liquid gold and one of the crucial energy sources in India and the world. Oil
is primarily used in planes, automobiles, trains and ships. The total oil produc on in India
was 0.3 million tons in 1950-51, which increased up to 32.4 million tons in 2000-01. It is
mainly found in Assam, Gujarat and Mumbai.

Electricity

Electricity is a common form of energy used for domes c and commercial purposes, and it is
mainly u lized in electrical appliances like fridges, T.V, washing machines and air
condi oning.

The major sources of power genera on are:

 Nuclear Power

 Thermal Power

 Hydro-electric power

Thermal PowerThermal power is generated at various power sta ons u lizing oil and coal. It
is a vital source of electric current, and its share in the na on’s total capacity in 2004-05 was
70 percent.

Hydroelectric PowerHydroelectric power is produced by construc ng dams above flowing

rivers like Damodar Valley Project and Bhakra Nangal Project. The installed capacity of
hydroelectric power was 587.4 mW in 1950-51 and went up to 19600 mW in 2004-05.

Nuclear PowerThe fuel used in nuclear power plants is Uranium, which costs less than coal.
Nuclear power plants can be found in Kaiga (Karnataka), Kota (Rajasthan), Naroura (UP) and
Kalapakam(Chennai).

Non-commercial Energy Sources

Generally, the freely available energy sources are considered non-commercial energy
sources. Examples of non-commercial energy sources include straw, dried dung,
firewood./p>

Non-Conven onal Sources of Energy

Non-conven onal sources are also known as renewable sources of energy. Examples of non-
conven onal sources of energy include solar energy, bioenergy, dal energy and wind
energy.
Solar Energy

Solar Energy is produced by sunlight. The photovoltaic cells are exposed to sunlight based on
the form of electricity that needs to be produced. The energy is u lized for cooking and
dis lla on of water.

Wind Energy

Wind energy is generated by harnessing the power of wind and mostly used in opera ng
water pumps for irriga on purposes. India stands as the second-largest country in the
genera on of wind power.

Tidal Energy

Tidal energy is generated by exploi ng the dal waves of the sea. This source is yet to be
tapped due to the lack of cost-effec ve technology.

Difference Between Conven onal and Non-conven onal Sources of Energy

Conven onal Sources of Energy Non-conven onal sources of energy

These sources of energy are also known as a non- These sources of energy are also known as a
renewable source of energy renewable source of energy

They find both commercial and industrial

They are mainly used for household purposes
purposes

These can be considered to be one of the reasons These are not responsible for the cause of
for the cause of pollu on pollu on

Coal, fossil fuels are two examples Wind, solar energy and Biomass two examples

The need for non-conven onal energy sources for power genera on arises from several
cri cal factors:

 Environmental Concerns:
Fossil fuels contribute significantly to air pollu on and greenhouse gas emissions,
which are major drivers of climate change. Non-conven onal sources, such as wind,
solar, and geothermal, produce li le to no direct emissions.
  Resource Limita ons:
Fossil fuels are finite and concentrated in specific regions. As demand increases,
reliance on these limited resources leads to energy security concerns. Renewable
energy sources are abundant and locally available in many cases.

 Economic Stability:
Inves ng in renewable energy can help stabilize energy prices over me and reduce
the economic vulnerability associated with vola le fossil fuel markets. Addi onally,
the growth of renewable energy sectors can spur job crea on and technological
innova on.

 Technological Advancements:
Advances in technology have made renewable energy more efficient and cost-
effec ve, enabling greater integra on into the power grid. This has helped
renewables become a more viable op on for large-scale power genera on.

 Sustainable Development:
Non-conven onal energy supports long-term sustainable development by reducing
dependency on fossil fuels, thus contribu ng to cleaner air, reduced water usage,
and less environmental degrada on.

What is Thermal Power Plant Working?

A thermal power plant works by u lizing the heat energy generated from the combus on of
fossil fuels to produce steam, which in turn drives the turbines to generate electricity. The
waste heat is then released into the environment, making it an efficient but pollu ng source
of power.

Thermal Power Plant Working

A thermal power plant generates electricity by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or gas.
The heat produced by the burning fuel is used to create steam, which then drives a turbine
to generate electricity. The steam is cooled and condensed back into water, which is reused
in the process.
How does the Thermal Power Plant Work?

As we know in a power plant electrical power is obtained from the fuel being used. A
Thermal Power Plant makes use of Coal to boil water and produce steam. This steam is made
to hit on the blades of the Steam turbine. From there further, the mechanical energy is
converted to electricity using generators. We refer to them as thermal power plants because
we make use of heat energy released by the burning of fuel to produce electricity. Thermal
power plants work on the Rankine vapor cycle. The below figure shows the Thermal Power
Plant view.

Thermal Power Plant Working Principle

In Thermal Power plants, the heat of combus on of fossil fuel (Coal, oil, or gas) is u lized by
the boiler to turn water into steam with high pressure and temperature. The coal is broken
into pieces for easy combus on to heat the water in the boiler. From the boiler, the steam is
passed through the superheater to increase the pressure and made to hit the turbines.

The steam produced is used in driving the steam turbines or some mes steam engine
coupled generators and electrical energy is generated. The basic opera ng mechanism of
the power plant is shown in the image above.

Thermal Power Plants in India

There are many places in India where Thermal Power plants are located, the below table
shows the Thermal power plants in India and their respec ve capacity (MW).

Name of TPS Place/ District State Capacity (MW)

Simhadri Super Thermal Power Plant Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh 2000

Kothagudem Thermal power Khammam Telangana 1720

Pynampuram Power sta on Nellore Andhra Pradesh 1320

NTPL Thermal Power sta on Tu corin Tamil Nadu 1000

The largest Thermal power plant in India is TPC Ramagundam in Karimnagar, Telangana
with 2600 MW capacity
SELECTION OF SITE FOR THERMAL POWER PLANT

o 1. Land Availability. Power plant needs a wide range of land requirements. For
example, coal plants tend to need larger areas to support rail lines, coal piles, and
landfills. Natural gasfired power plants may only need area for the genera on
facili es and support equipment . Needed informa on includes the site size (acres),
and the por on of the site (acres) that would be occupied by plant buildings and
systems.

o 2. Water Availability. Many power plant technologies use water from lakes, rivers,
municipal water u li es, or groundwater. Surface water is used for plant cooling and
groundwater is used for plant processes. Generally, the presence of adequate and
usable water resources at or near a site is preferred over sites with remote,
inadequate, or low-quality water resources.

o 3. Fuel Availability. Fuel availability influences choices posi vely; its marginal u lity is
diminishing with supply. Without a higher level of availability, alterna ve fuels are
unlikely to be adopted.

o 4. Skilled Manpower. Availability A power plant requires labor for construc on and
opera on. Local communi es can benefit from these employment opportuni es.
Generally, sites that can make use of local labor are more desirable.
Fig 3: Thermal Power Plant Outline

Components of Thermal Power Plant

The whole arrangement of a modern thermal power sta on consists of various components,
namely

o Coal and ash handling arrangement

o Coal pulveriza on plant

o Steam genera ng plant

o Steam turbine

o Alternator

o Feed water

o Cooling arrangement
 o Exciter

o Instrumenta on equipment

o Chimney

Fig 4: Components of Thermal Power Plant

Coal Handling Plant

The fuel used in the thermal power plant is Coal, The main func on of the coal handling
plant is to feed the coal to the boiler unit. The coal is transported from the mines to the
power sta on by road (or) rail (or) seaways. The following are various steps involved in coal
handling are as follows:

o (a) Coal delivery

o (b) Unloading

o (c) Prepara on

o (d) Transfer

o (e) Outdoor storage (dead storage)

o (f) Covered Storage

o (g) Inplant handling

o (h) Weighing and measuring

o (i) Feeding the coal into the furnace

Coal Delivery: The coal is delivered by ships (or) boats to power sta ons suited near to sea
river whereas coal is supplied by rail (or) Trucks to the power sta ons which are situated
away from the sea (or) river The transporta on of coal by trucks is used if the hallway
facili es are not available.

Unloading: The type of unloading mainly depends on how the coal is received at the thermal
power sta on

(a) it the coal is received by trucks then there is no need to unload the equipment

(b) If the coal is received by railway wagons, ship (or) boats, the unloading may be done by
car shakes, rotary car dampers, cranes, grab buckets, and coal accelerators

Prepara on: The coal delivered to the power sta ons is in the form of big lumps (or size).
Hence it needs to prepare proper sizing of coal and it can be achieved by crushers, sizers,
magne c separators, and breakers.

Transfer: A er the prepara on of coal it is then transferred to the dead storage by means of
the following systems :

o Belt convey

o Grab bucket elevators

o Screen conveyors

o Skip hoists

o Bucket elevators.

Belt convey: In this type of conveyor, the belt is made up of rubber (or) canvas. It consists of
an endless belt moving over a pair of end drums (rollers). The average speed of belt
conveyors varies between 200-300 r.p.m.

Grab Bucket Elevator: It li s and transfers coal on a single rail (or) track from one point to
the other. The coal li ed by grab buckets is transferred to an overhead bunker or storage.

The grab bucket conveyor can be used with a crane (or) tower as shown here. The ini al cost
of this system is high but the opera on cost is less. This system requires less power for
opera on and requires minimum maintenance.

Screw Conveyors: It consists of an endless helicoid screw fi ed to a sha as shown above.

The screw while rota ng in a trough transfers the coal from the feeding end to the discharge
end.

This system is suitable for short distances. Its ini al cost is low. It is best suited for speeds
between 75 and 125 r.p.m.
Skip Hoist: It consists of a ver cal (or) inclined hoist, a bucket (or) a car guided by a frame,
and a cable for hois ng the bucket. The bucket is held in an upright posi on. This method is
simple and compact for eleva ng coal (or) Ash.

Bucket Elevator: It consists of buckets fixed to a chain that is moving on two wheels and is as
shown here. In this method, the coal is carried by the buckets from the bo om and
discharged at the top.

Coal Prepara on Plant

The coal before feeding to the combus on chamber should be prepared as per the
standards i.e., sizing of the coal, drying, and removing the Iron par cles.

A coal prepara on plant includes the following types of equipment :

(a) Pulverising

(b) Breakers

(c) Sizers

(d) Dryers

(e) Magne c separators

Fig 5: Coal Prepara on plant

The above figure shows a coal prepara on plant. Pulverizing machines are used to reduce
the size of the coal to the required size. The capacity of pulveriza on units is as high as 600
Tons per hour. Sizers are used along with crushers and breakers. The coal dryers are used in
order to remove the excess free moisture from coal. Hot flue gases are passed through the
storage.

The iron par cles from coal are removed with the help of "magne c separators". If the iron
par cles are not removed will cause choking the burners and wear of handling equipment.
A er collec ng the iron par cles it will fall off sooner, and be dropped into a reject chute.

Steam Genera ng Plant

The steam genera ng plant consists of a boiler and other auxiliary equipment for the
u liza on of flue gases. It is the major part of the power plant where steam is generated.

Boiler

The heat developed due to the combus on of coal is u lized in the boiler for conver ng the
water into steam at high temperatures and pressure. The flue gases from the boiler will flow
through the superheater, Economiser, Air preheater, and finally, exhaust to the atmosphere
through the chimney.

Fig 6: Boiler Diagram

Super Heater

The steam produced from the boiler is wet and if this steam passes through the steam
turbine, the turbines may get damaged. In order to avoid this condi on the steam produced
from the boiler is further heated at Super Heater. It is as shown here.

The main func on of a superheater in a boiler is to increase the temperature of the steam
above the boiling point of water by u lizing the heat from the flue gases.
Fig 7: Superheater diagram

It is a heat exchanger whose job is to transfer heat energy to superheat saturated or wet
steam to the necessary temperature. Depending on the design and use of the furnace, the
superheaters are either placed directly over the furnace or in the hot flue gas path.

Steam is superheated and reheated in modern steam power plants at temperatures

between 440°C and 650°C. The superheaters make use of 40% of the total heat produced in
a modern boiler. Steam superhea ng and rehea ng have the following benefits:

o It increases the plant's overall efficiency.

o It lowers the moisture content in the turbine's final stages.

o Reduces the condensa on losses at the last stages of the turbine

o Reduces the erosion of steam turbine blades due to the absence of moisture

If superhea ng is done over 450°C, specific high-strength steels are u lized to make the
superheaters, although carbon steel, which is less expensive, can be used for temperatures
below 450°C.

Economiser

An economiser in a boiler is essen ally a feed water heater. The feed water is fed to the
economiser before supplying to the boiler. The main func on of an economiser is that it will
increase the temperature of feed water by u lizing the heat from the hot flue gases.
Fig 8: Economiser

The major use of the economiser is for hea ng the feedwater

Air Preheater

It is placed in between the boiler and the economizer. It increases the temperature of the air
supplied for coal burning by deriving heat from flue gases. Air is drawn from the atmosphere
by a forced draught fan and is passed through the air preheater before supplying to the
boiler furnace. The func on of an air preheater is to extract heat from flue gases and
increase the temperature of the air used for coal combus on.

Fig 9: Air preheater diagram

The main benefits of prehea ng the air are: increased thermal increased steam capacity per
square meter of boiler surface efficiency and increased steam capacity per square meter of
boiler surface. The above figure shows the schema c diagram of the Air preheater.

Steam Turbines

A steam turbine is a rota ng machine that converts the heat energy of steam into
mechanical energy. The superheated steam from the superheater is fed to the sta turbine
which will convert heat energy into mechanical energy.
Types of Steam turbines are namely

o Impulse turbine

o Reac on turbine

In an Impulse turbine, the steam expands completely in the sta onary nozzles (or fixed
blades), and the pressure over the moving blades remains constant. In doing so, the steam
a ains a high velocity and impinges against the moving blades. Hence, the Impulsive force
on the moving blades sets the rotor rota ng.

In the case of a Reac on turbine, the steam is par ally expanded in the sta onary nozzles,
the remaining expansion takes place during its flow over the moving blades. The result is
that the momentum of the steam causes a force on the moving blades which sets the rotor
in mo on.

A er giving heat energy to the turbine, the steam is exhausted to the condenser which
condenses the exhausted steam by means of cold water circula on.

Alternator

An alternator is coupled to the same sha of the turbine which will convert the mechanical
energy of the turbine into electrical energy. The electrical energy developed by the
alternator is delivered to the bus bars through the transformer, circuit breakers, and
isolators.

Boiler Feedwater

The steam coming out from the turbine is condensed and the condensate is fed back to the
boiler as feed water. To reduce the losses in the closed water circuit, makeup water is added
It is necessary to heat the feed water before feeding it to the boiler for the following
reasons:

o Boiler Feedwater heater improves the overall efficiency of the plants.

o The dissolved gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO2CO2) are removed

o The thermal stresses due to cold water entering the boiler are eliminated

o The quan ty of steam produced by the boiler is increased.

In large modern power plants, if the quan ty of make-up water required is less. then
evaporators are used If a large quan ty of make-up water is required, the impuri es are
removed through coagula on, sedimenta on, and chemical treatment

Cooling Arrangement

In order to improve the efficiency of the plant the steam exhausted from the turbine is
condensed by means of a condenser. Water is drawn from a natural source of supply such as
a river, canal, or lake, and is circulated through the condenser in thermal power plants. The
circulated water takes up the heat of the exhausted steam and itself becomes hot.

This hot water coming out from the condenser is discharged at a suitable loca on down the
river. In case the availability of water from the source of supply is not assured throughout
the year cooling towers are used. During the scarcity of water in the river, hot water from
the condenser is passed on to the cooling towers where it is cooled. The cold water from the
cooling tower is reused in the condenser.

Exciter

Exciters are nothing but DC generators. Its main func on is to supply D.C. power to the field
system/rotor. These are mounted on the same sha as the alternator capacity of the exciter
is about 0.5 to 3 % of the alternator capacity.

Chimney

Chimneys are made up of steel (or) bricks and concrete. Concrete chimneys are more
popular. The average life of concrete chimneys is 50 years and that of steel chimneys is
about 15 years depending upon the care taken to prevent corrosion.

The net area of the chimney depends on the following factors,

o The volume of gases to be discharged when the boilers operate at maximum ra ng

o Draught to be produced

Chimneys are provided with a lightning conductor, Aircra warning flights, and various
means of access and inspec on.

Losses of energy at various stages in Thermal Power Plant

The thermal efficiency of the thermal power plant is defined as the ra o of heat equivalent
to mechanical energy transmi ed to the turbine sha and the heat of combus on (about
30%).

The overall efficiency of the power plant is defined as the ra o of heat equivalent of
electrical output to the heat of combus on (about 29%).

The losses that occurred in the thermal power plant at various stages are as follows

1. Boiler House Losses:

(a) To dry flue gases 5%

(b) To moisture in gases 5%

(c) To ash and unburnt carbon 1.0%

(d) To radia on and leakage 2.5%

(e) Unknown losses 25% 2.5%

Total Boiler Losses of 16.0%

2. Turbine Losses

(a) Heat rejected to condenser 54.0%

(b) Alternator losses 1.0%

Total losses in Thermal power plant = 71.0%

3. The output of the Thermal Plant is 29.0 %

Steam plant (500 MW units at Bokaro) commissioned in the year 1952-53 in India 28% while
the largest and most efficient thermal power plant having a unit size of 16 MW at Trombay
commissioned in 1965 it was 37%. Due to the development in the deep of boilers, turbines,
and alternators, the efficiency of thermal power sta ons is gone upto nearly 42% in 1980's

Improving Efficiency of Thermal Power Plant

The thermal efficiency of a steam power plant can be increased in the following ways:

o The thermal efficiency can be increased by raising the ini al temperature of the state
without changing the pressure

o An increase in the ini al pressure of steam raises thermal efficiency.

o Intermediate rehea ng of steam improves the thermal efficiency of the plant.

Thermal Efficiency=Heat Equivalent ofmechanical energy supplied of the turbineHeat of coal

combus onThermal Efficiency=Heat Equivalent ofmechanical energy supplied of the turbine
Heat of coal combus on

Overall Efficiency=Heat Equivalent ofElectrical outputHeat of coal combus onOverall Efficien

cy=Heat Equivalent ofElectrical outputHeat of coal combus on

Overall efficiency < Thermal Efficiency

Controls in Thermal Power Plant

Controlling the equipment is very necessary to ensure the safe and secure opera on of the
power plant. This opera on should be carried out at every stage. The following are the
controls at the Thermal Power Plant.

o Automa c Control of Boiler

o Control of Turbine

o Control of generator or Alternator Unit

o Control of Condensers
Automa c Control of Boiler: Hagan system of automa c combus on control is used in
controlling the Boiler level. It usually maintains a certain pressure inside it, and once it
exceeds the relay actuates, and the opera on becomes easy.

Control of Turbine: Turbine governing is affected by thro ling the steam at the main valve
(thus reducing the steam pressure and hence mass flow also) or by reducing the amount of
steam entering through the nozzles.

Control of generator or Alternator Unit: This can be op mized by the control of speed and
load on the alternator.

Control of Condensers: This can be obtained with the help of minimizing air leakages at the
joints, packings, and glands of the condenser.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Thermal Power plant

Till now we have discussed the concepts of Thermal Power plant now let us study the
advantages and disadvantages of Thermal Power plants:

Advantages of Thermal Power Plant

o The cost of fuel (coal) is cheaper as compared to nuclear power plants.

o Less quan ty of water is required as compared to hydel power plants

o A large amount of power can be generated.

o Less space is required that for hydroelectric plants

o Cheaper in ini al cost in comparison with other types of power plants of capacity. Its
cost varies from Rs. 3,000/- to Rs. 4,000/- per kW of installed capacity.

o Cheaper in produc on cost in comparison with that diesel power plants.

o They can be installed at any place irrespec ve of the existence of fuels, while
hydroelectric plants can be developed only at the source of water power

o These can be located near the load centers. While the hydroelectric plants have
essen ally to be installed at the source of water power which is usually isolated from
urban areas, transmission costs are. Therefore, it was reduced.

o Able to respond to rapidly changing loads without difficulty

o Steam turbines can run con nuously under 25% overload.

Disadvantages of Thermal Power Plant

o High maintenance and opera ng costs.

o Pollu on of the atmosphere due to fumes and residues from pulverized fuels.
 o Requirement of water in huge quan es.

o Handling coal and the disposal of ash is quite difficult.

o Troubles from stroke and heat from the plant

o With the increase in the opera ng temperature and pressure, the plant cost
increases

o Requires a long me for erec on and to put into ac on.

o Efficiency falls rapidly below 75% of full load.

o Costlier in opera ng cost in comparison with that of Hydro and Nuclear power plants

What is a Nuclear Power Plant?

Nuclear power is the most controversial of all forms of electricity genera on. Evalua ng its
importance involves weighing poli cal, strategic and o en emo onal considera ons
alongside the more usual technical economic and environmental factors that form the core
elements of any power technology.

Nuclear energy provides around 15% of the electricity generated worldwide. It avoids
around 2.5bn tonnes of CO2 emissions, so it makes a major contribu on towards a
sustainable electricity supply which achieves the goals in terms of economics, capability and
the environment to a large extent.

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Nuclear Fuel and the Nuclear Resource

Nuclear reactors require nuclear fuel in order to func on. This fuel is usually uranium
although other elements, including plutonium, can also be used. Thorium, though not a
nuclear fuel itself, can be turned into a suitable isotope of uranium in a nuclear reactor.
Thorium is naturally occurring like uranium but plutonium is only produced during nuclear
reac ons so its main source is nuclear reactors.

Uranium is present in most rocks and in seawater and is a rela vely common element in the
earth’s crust with an abundance similar to that of beryllium, molybdenum, n, arsenic and
germanium. It is found in rela vely high concentra ons in a few areas and it is these that
provide the supply that is used for nuclear power.

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

The produc on of fuel for nuclear reactors and the handling of spent fuel a er it has been
removed from a reactor involve a number of industrial processes that taken together are
known as the nuclear fuel cycle.

The nuclear fuel cycle starts with the mining of uranium containing ores and the milling of
the ore to extract uranium in the form of uranium oxide. This usually involves the processing
of large quan es of rela vely low quality ore, crushing and grinding it in order to release
the uranium mineral par cles and then capturing the uranium in solu on, o en with sulfuric
acid. The uranium is then extracted from the acid solu on to provide a solid oxide called
yellow cake, which is packaged into drums for shipment to fuel manufacturing facili es.

Working of Nuclear Power Plants

Genera ng Electricity by Nuclear Power Plants

Basically, nuclear power plants work in the same way as coal and gas fired plants conver ng
heat to electricity. Whereas fossil fuel fired power plants run on energy media such as oil,
lignite or hard coal, nuclear power plants use the heat given off when atomic nuclei split.

The working of a nuclear power plant with a pressurized water reactor model is shown
below.

Nuclear fission inside the reactor pressure vessel generates heat, which heats water un l it
evaporates, turning thermal energy into latent energy in steam. This team which is under
high pressure then drives the turbines, which turn the generators connected to them
genera ng electrical energy like a bicycle dynamo. Condensing the steam required to drive
the turbines is done either by direct flow or seawater cooling or via a cooling system using a
cooling tower.

SELECTION OF SITE FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

The various factors to be considered while selec ng the site for nuclear plant are as follows :

1. Availability of water. At the power plant site an ample quan ty of water should be
available for condenser cooling and made up water required for steam genera on. Therefore
the site should be nearer to a river, reservoir or sea.

2. Distance from load center. The plant should be located near the load center. This will
minimise the power losses in transmission lines.

3. Distance from populated area. The power plant should be located far away from
populated area to avoid the radioac ve hazard.

4. Accessibility to site. The power plant should have rail and road transporta on facili es.

5. Waste disposal. The wastes of a nuclear power plant are radioac ve and there should be
sufficient space near the plant site for the disposal of wastes.

Solar thermal plants

Solar thermal plant is one of the most interes ng applica ons of solar energy for power
genera on. The plant is composed mainly of a solar collector field and a power conversion
system to convert thermal energy into electricity. It is noteworthy that three solar thermal
power plants are dis nguished based on the employed solar collector, namely: low, medium,
and high-temperature technologies. The first one involves the use of FPC to drive a small
heat engine; however, this type suffers from a very low efficiency and a high cost, which
makes this technology outdated. By contrast, concentra ng solar collectors are effec vely
used for medium and high-temperature technologies given their ability to produce higher
temperatures. In medium-temperature solar power plants, the solar collector field,
composed of PTC and LFR, focuses the direct irradia on onto a focal line; whereas in high-
temperature systems, PDR and SPT are employed to focus the solar irradia on onto a focal
point. Sun-tracking system is an important device to enhance the thermal efficiency of
concentra ng solar collectors by keeping the collectors' aperture in the op mal posi on that
maximizes the received solar energy, which could be enhanced by 10%–100% in comparison
with a nontracking solar system [18]. The sun trackers are divided into two groups: single-
axis and dual-axis tracking systems. The first one rotates the solar collector using one axis
that could be horizontal, ver cal, or lted axis, while the second one uses two axes,
horizontal and ver cal, and is the op mal mode despite its large land usage and capital cost,
especially for large-scale solar power plants.

Photovoltaic cell (solar power genera on)

The energy contained in sunlight can be converted into electricity by employing PV cells. PV
cells consist of discrete mul ple cells connected in series/parallel combina ons depending
on voltage/current ra ngs, respec vely. As the output of a PV cell is DC, PV cell–based DGs
are connected to the grid via a power electronics interface. Solar power plants can be
categorized as off-grid, on-grid, and hybrid. Off-grid solar plants are ba ery-based plants in
which the priority is to feed the connected load, while addi onal power is stored
in ba eries. The priority of on-grid solar plants is the same as that of the off-grid plant, but
excess power in off-grid solar plants is fed to the grids. The combina on of off-grid and on-
grid is termed a hybrid solar plant, where surplus power can be stored locally in ba eries as
well as fed to grid. A typical hybrid solar power genera on plant connected to a grid as well
as supplying power locally is shown in Fig. 3.2. The major benefits of PV cells include lower
maintenance and no emission, while the major issues are intermi ent nature and the
introduc on of harmonics due to the use of inverters for grid connec on.

Selec ng a site for a solar power plant involves evalua ng mul ple factors to ensure the
project is economically viable, technically feasible, and environmentally sustainable. Here
are some key considera ons:

1. Solar Resource Availability:

 o Irradiance: High solar irradiance levels ensure maximum energy produc on.

o Climate: Minimal cloud cover and a favorable climate support efficient

opera on.

2. Land Suitability and Availability:

o Size: Adequate land area is needed to accommodate the solar panels,

inverters, and associated infrastructure.

o Topography: Flat or gently sloping terrain is preferred to minimize installa on

costs and op mize panel orienta on.

o Zoning and Land Use: Land should be free from conflic ng uses and in
compliance with local regula ons.

3. Proximity to Grid Infrastructure:

o Transmission Access: Being close to exis ng transmission lines or substa ons

reduces connec on costs and transmission losses.

o Grid Capacity: The local grid must have the capacity to integrate the
addi onal power generated.

4. Accessibility and Infrastructure:

o Road Access: Good road access is essen al for transpor ng equipment and
facilita ng maintenance.

o U lity Services: Availability of water and communica on infrastructure can

be beneficial.

5. Environmental and Regulatory Considera ons:

o Environmental Impact: Assess poten al impacts on local wildlife, vegeta on,

and water resources.

o Permi ng: Understand and comply with local, regional, and na onal
regula ons and obtain necessary permits.

6. Economic and Social Factors:

o Cost of Land: Evaluate land costs, which can vary widely depending on
loca on.

o Community Acceptance: Engage with local communi es to address concerns

and secure social license.
UNIT 4

Five Core Principles of Energy Management System?

An effec ve energy management system is essen al for any organiza on that wants to
reduce its energy consump on and become more sustainable. It is important to understand
the five core principles of an effec ve energy management system in order to ensure that
your organiza on is taking the necessary steps towards becoming more energy efficient.
These five core principles include:

1. Understanding the current state of your energy use: Capturing energy consump on
and storage data, finding out ways to conserve energy, es ma ng opportuni es for
energy conserva on, and analyzing the meter data to observe the improvements and
review the progress of energy conserva on measures.

2. Se ng goals and objec ves: Energy management includes planning and opera on of
energy produc on and energy consump on units as well as energy distribu on and
storage.

3. Implemen ng strategies for achieving those goals: Organiza ons might have green
goals such as are resource conserva on, climate protec on and cost savings, while
they access to the energy they need.

4. Monitoring progress: Iden fica on and tracking of energy pa ern, controlled energy
system’s use, properly maintained and managed facili es, and good maintenance are
also important steps in energy management.

5. Making adjustments as needed. Energy management is based on controlling,

conserving, and monitoring energy within the organiza on.

Advantages of EMS

Energy efficiency is an important part of energy management, and facility management is an

important part of energy management in opera onal func ons. There are many advantages
to using an energy management system. These include:

1. Improved efficiency: An energy management system can help to iden fy and

eliminate energy waste, which can help to improve energy efficiency.

2. Cost savings: An energy management system can help to reduce energy costs, as the
system can help to iden fy and eliminate energy waste.

3. Reduced environmental impacts: An energy management system can help to reduce

the environmental impacts of energy use, as the system can help to iden fy and
reduce energy waste.
Energy Management Strategy as follows:

 Measure the facility’s current energy consump on profile

 Iden fy opportuni es to decrease energy consump on

 Develop an Energy Management Strategy with facility management

 Implement the Energy Management Strategy and act on iden fied opportuni es

 Educate Stakeholders including facility managers, occupants and decision-makers

 Recognize achievements and the need for future ac ons

Modern trends in power system computeriza on

primarily focus on "smart grid" technology,

integra ng advanced digital communica on and control systems to op mize energy flow,

enabling be er integra on of renewable energy sources,

distributed genera on,

energy storage,

and real- me monitoring

, all while improving grid resilience and efficiency through data analysis and AI applica ons

An energy audit

is a systema c inspec on and analysis of energy usage in a building, system, or

organiza on. The goal of an energy audit is to iden fy areas where energy efficiency can be
improved.

There are several types of energy audits, including preliminary, general, detailed, and
investment-grade audits. The type of audit you choose depends on your needs, the industry,
and the desired level of analysis.

Preliminary energy audit

 A quick assessment that uses exis ng data and limited diagnos c tools

 Iden fies areas for further inves ga on

  O en involves a walk-through inspec on

 Helps iden fy low-cost improvements

Detailed energy audit

 A more in-depth analysis that uses sophis cated instrumenta on

 Involves data analysis, simula ons, and measurements

 Provides a detailed report with recommenda ons for energy efficiency

improvements

General energy audit

 A comprehensive review of energy consump on and poten al savings

 Provides recommenda ons for efficiency enhancements

Investment-grade audit

 The most detailed and rigorous type of audit

 O en used to secure financing or make large-scale energy efficiency investments

 Involves engineering and financial studies to support the financial jus fica on for
energy-saving projects

Detailed Energy Audit Methodology

A comprehensive audit provides a detailed energy project implementa on plan for a facility,
since it evaluates all major energy using systems.

This type of audit offers the most accurate es mate of energy savings and cost. It considers
the interac ve effects of all projects, accounts for the energy use of all major equipment,
and includes detailed energy cost saving calcula ons and project cost. In a comprehensive
audit, one of the key elements is the energy balance. This is based on an inventory of energy
using systems, assump ons of current opera ng condi ons and calcula ons of energy use.
This es mated use is then compared to u lity bill charges. Detailed energy audi ng is carried
out in three phases: Phase I, II and III.

Phase I - Pre Audit Phase

Phase II - Audit Phase

Phase III - Post Audit Phase

Phase I –Pre Audit Phase Ac vi es

A structured methodology to carry out an energy audit is necessary for efficient working. An
ini al study of the site should always be carried out, as the planning of the procedures
necessary for an audit is most important.

Ini al Site Visit and Prepara on Required for Detailed Audi ng

An ini al site visit may take one day and gives the Energy Auditor/Engineer an opportunity
to meet the personnel concerned, to familiarize him with the site and to assess the
procedures necessary to carry out the energy audit.

During the ini al site visit the Energy Auditor/Engineer should carry out the following
ac ons: -

 Discuss with the site’s senior management the aims of the energy audit.

 Discuss economic guidelines associated with the recommenda ons of the audit.

 Analyse the major energy consump on data with the relevant personnel.

 Obtain site drawings where available – building layout, steam distribu on,
compressed air distribu on, electricity distribu on etc.

 Tour the site accompanied by engineering/produc on

The main aims of this visit are: -

 To finalise Energy Audit team

 To iden fy the main energy consuming areas/plant items to be surveyed during the
audit.

 To iden fy any exis ng instrumenta on/ addi onal metering required.

 To decide whether any meters will have to be installed prior to the audit eg. kWh,
steam, oil or gas meters.

 To iden fy the instrumenta on required for carrying out the audit.

 To plan with me frame

 To collect macro data on plant energy resources, major energy consuming centers

 To create awareness through mee ngs/ programme

Phase II- Detailed Energy Audit Ac vi es

Depending on the nature and complexity of the site, a comprehensive audit can take from
several weeks to several months to complete. Detailed studies to establish, and inves gate,
energy and material balances for specific plant departments or items of process equipment
are carried out. Whenever possible, checks of plant opera ons are carried out over
extended periods of me, at nights and at weekends as well as during normal day me
working hours, to ensure that nothing is overlooked.

The audit report will include a descrip on of energy inputs and product outputs by major
department or by major processing func on, and will evaluate the efficiency of each step of
the manufacturing process. Means of improving these efficiencies will be listed, and at least
a preliminary assessment of the cost of the improvements will be made to indicate the
expected payback on any capital investment needed. The audit report should conclude with
specific recommenda ons for detailed engineering studies and feasibility analyses, which
must then be performed to jus fy the implementa on of those conserva on measures that
require investments.

The informa on to be collected during the detailed audit includes: -

1. Energy consump on by type of energy, by department, by major items of process

equipment, by end-use

2. Material balance data (raw materials, intermediate and final products, recycled
materials, use of scrap or waste products, produc on of by-products for re-use in
other industries, etc.)

3. Energy cost and tariff data

4. Process and material flow diagrams

5. Genera on and distribu on of site services ([Link] air, steam).

6. Sources of energy supply (e.g. electricity from the grid or self-genera on)

7. Poten al for fuel subs tu on, process modifica ons, and the use of co-genera on
systems (combined heat and power genera on).

8. Energy Management procedures and energy awareness training programs within the
establishme

There are three parts to an energy audit Apporach:

evalua on,

tes ng, and

efficiency recommenda ons.

Once the audit is complete, the auditor will provide you with a report outlining energy
consump on, a final energy grading, and home improvement sugges ons to cut energy
costs on energy bills