Thermal Power Plant Diagram: Overview, Questions, Preparation

More than half of the world's energy requirements are met by thermal power plants (or thermal power stations). Through burning some fossil fuel in these power stations, steam is produced, which is then used to operate the steam turbines. Therefore, thermal power plants may also be classified as steam power plants. The steam is then condensed in the steam turbine, then condensed in the condenser, and then the steam is reheated in the steam turbine. This is the ranking phase.

The thermal power plant is a power plant that generates energy by burning fossil fuels, including coal, petroleum, etc. It conducts the chemical energy from the gasoline into mechanical energy and then translates it into electrical energy. This power is transferred to a motor which drives a generator which generates electricity. Thermal power plants are planned for continuous operation, which enables the plant to run for years. The unit used to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy is known as a turbine. In thermal power plants, the fuel is used to convert heat to water. This hot water is converted to steam, and then the pressure is required for turbines to work. To produce mechanical energy, either the steam turbine or the gas turbine can be used.

A turbine is mostly constructed of several rows of small blades but may be made up of either set or movable rows. The arrangement of blades is fitted with a power supply that is fixed on a horizontal axis. The movement of the rotor transforms strength into energy. Now steam is pressurized to squeeze into the rows of blades. The force of the sudden pressure shift imposed on the blades allows the blades to spin. This is created by the generator by converting the mechanical energy from a shaft to electrical energy. The average production for a large-scale thermal power plant operating on coal and oil is about 20-25 per cent, but the plant’s efficiency utilizing gas is 40 per cent.

Much heat is lost in different processes in the facility. The condenser loses significant heat. That is why the thermal power plant productivity is so low.

Thermal Efficiency: Thermodynamic performance is calculated by the ratio of 'heat equal to mechanical energy delivered to the turbine shaft' to 'heat of coal combustion.’ The performance of thermal power production has improved and is around 30%. If 100 calories of heat are generated by coal combustion, the amount of energy available at the turbine shaft equals 30 calories.

Overall Efficiency: The ratio of the headevice’s t production to the heat output of coal-burning is called the overall efficiency. A thermal plant’s productivity falls between 29 and 30 percent (slightly less than the thermal efficiency).

Thermal Power Plant Diagram in Class 10

This concept is taught under the chapter Sources of Energy. You will learn about the basics of the plant, its process, and its applications. The weightage of the chapter is 7 marks.

Example 1) What is the thermal efficiency of a steam power station?

Answer: The thermal efficiency of a steam power station is 28%.

Example 2) What are the electric systems in a Thermal Power Plant?

Answer: Electric systems in a thermal power plant include

1. Turbine Generator
2. Exciter System
3. Generator Protection System
4. Generator Transformer
5. HT/LT switchgear
6. Electrical Switch-yard

Example 3) What generator is used for a thermal power plant?

Answer: Steam turbine-driven generators are widely found in solar thermal power stations, coal, solar thermal, nuclear, waste incineration, and natural gas.