COURSE CODE: (ESM-222)/ Electrical Power

Generation
Module 3
CO 2. - ILO 1 & 2

Week 9: FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 1, 2022 | 2nd Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022

Introduction
This module covers the advantages and disadvantages of
nonrenewable energy sources and the introduction of steam power
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plants, its main parts, and its working principle.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Be able to know what the advantages and disadvantages of
non-renewable energy sources are.
• To understand the parts and function of equipment used in
steam power plants.

Topic 1 – Advantages and Disadvantages of non-

renewable energy sources

A. The students are expected to join actively in the online

classes for lecture, discussions and clarifications regarding
the topics uploaded in the USTEP system.
B. Long quiz is expected at the end of ILO active lecture.
C. In this ILO, the students are required to submit the
following assignments/activity.

ADVANTAGES

• They are abundant and affordable.

• Non-renewable energy is cost effective and easier to product
and use.
• We can prepare non-renewable supplies at almost any
location.
• Non-renewables produce more power after the refinement
process.
• The global economy depends on the presence of non-
renewables.
• Non-renewable energy provides a stronger energy output.
• It is cheaper to obtain non-renewable energy that other
resources.
• Non-renewable energy provides us with many of the tools we
use every day.
 DISADVANTAGES

• Non-renewable energies lead to high levels of pollution.

• Non-renewable products can become the foundation of
political conflict.
• Fossil fuels may not be available forever.
• Fossil fuel combustion is dangerous to our health.
• Non-renewable energy refinement destroys the environment.
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Topic 2- Steam Power Plants (Introduction, Main

parts and functions, Layout Working principle.

STEAM POWER PLANTS

It is the power plant which is used to generate electricity by the use

of steam turbine.
 MAJOR PARTS OF STEAM POWER PLANT

Boiler
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A pressure vessel that provides a heat transfer surface (generally a

set of tubes) between the combustion products and the water. A
boiler is usually integrated into a system with many components.

Types of Boilers

• Firetube Boilers - In firetube boilers, the combustion gases pass

inside boiler tubes, and heat is transferred to water between
the tubes and the outer shell.
 • Watertube Boiler- In watertube boilers, boiler water passes
through the tubes while the exhaust gases remain in the shell
side, passing over the tube surfaces.
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Steam turbine

A Steam Turbine is a mechanical device that extracts

thermal energy from pressurized steam and transforms it into
mechanical work.
As the name implies, a steam turbine is powered by steam. As hot,
gaseous steam flows past the turbine’ spinning blades, steam
expands and cools, giving off most of the energy it contains. This
steam spins the blades continuously. The blades thus convert most
of the steam’s potential energy into kinetic energy.
 Two basic types of steam turbines are

▪ Impulse turbine: The rotating blades are like deep buckets.

High-velocity jets of incoming steam from carefully shaped
nozzles kick into the blades, pushing them around with a series
of impulses, and bouncing off to the other side with a similar
pressure but much-reduced velocity.
▪ Reaction Turbine: In a reaction turbine, there is a second set of
stationary blades attached to the inside of the turbine case.
These help to speed up and direct the steam onto the rotating
blades at just the right angle before the steam dissipates with
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reduced temperature and pressure.

Condenser

The main purposes of the condenser are to condense the exhaust

steam from the turbine for reuse in the cycle and to maximize turbine
efficiency by maintaining proper vacuum. As the operating pressure
of the condenser is lowered (vacuum is increased), the enthalpy
drop of the expanding steam in the turbine will also increase. This will
increase the amount of available work from the turbine (electrical
output).
 By lowering the condenser operating pressure, the following will
occur: 
• Increased turbine output 
• Increased plant efficiency 
• Reduced steam flow (for a given plant output)  It is therefore very
advantageous to operate the condenser at the lowest possible
pressure (highest vacuum).
 Function of the condenser
• To create a vacuum by condensing steam,
• Removing dissolved non condensable gases from the
condensate
• Conserving the condensate for re-use as the feedwater supply
to the steam generator
• Providing a leak-tight barrier between the high-grade
condensate contained within the shell and the untreated
cooling water
• Providing a leak-tight barrier against air ingress, preventing
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excess back pressure on the turbine

• Serving as a drain receptacle, receiving vapor and
condensate from various other plant heat exchangers, steam
dumps, and turbine bleed-offs

CONDENSER OPERATION
• The main heat transfer mechanisms in a surface condenser
are the condensing of saturated steam on the outside of the
tubes and the heating of the circulating water inside the
tubes.
• Thus, for a given circulating water flow rate, the water inlet
temperature to the condenser determines the operating
pressure of the condenser. As this temperature is decreased,
the condenser pressure will also decrease. As described
above, this decrease in the pressure will increase the plant
output and efficiency.
• The non-condensable gases consist of mostly air that has
leaked into the cycle.
• These gases must be vented from the condenser.

Water feed pump

A feed pump is a type of pump that supplies water to a boiler to

produce steam. For industrial purposes, a feed pump supplies a
liquid for further processing. These pumps are high-pressure pumps
and are generally of two types:

• Positive displacement type feed pumps

• Centrifugal feed pumps
 STEAM POWER PLANT WORKING PRINCIPLE
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In the steam power plant, the pulverized coal is fed into the boiler,
and it is burnt in the furnace. The water present in the boiler drum
changes to high pressure steam. From the boiler the high-pressure
steam passed to the superheater where it is again heated up to its
dryness. This superheated steam strikes the turbine blades with high
speed and the turbine starts rotating at high speed. A generator is
attached to the rotor of the turbine and as the turbine rotates it also
rotates with the speed of the turbine. The generator converts the
mechanical energy of the turbine into electrical energy. After striking
on the turbine the steam leaves the turbine and enters the
condenser. The steam gets condensed with the help of cold water
from the cooling tower. The condensed water with the feed water
enters the economizer. In the economizer the feed water gets
heated up before entering the boiler. This heating of water increases
the efficiency of the boiler. The exhaust gases from the furnace pass
through the superheater, economizer, and air pre-heater. The heat
of this exhaust gases is utilized in the heating of steam in the
superheater, feed water in the economizer and air in the air pre-
heater. After burning of the coal into the furnace, it is transported to
ash handling plant and finally to the ash storage.
 Site Selection

The site selection of steam power plant depends upon various

factors. Let’s discuss these factors one by one

1. Cost of the land: The cost of the land which is selected

for the installation should be minimum or economical.
2. Population density of the land: The distance of the
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steam power plant from the public area should be at

appropriate distance. So that in case of any failure or
hazard happen in the plant, the population of the area
near to the power plant should not be affected.
3. Availability of water sources: There should be a plenty
of water sources in the selected area. Since the power
plant requires a large amount of water for the
generation of steam.
4. Availability of fuel: The availability of required fuel (coal)
should be there because without fuel the plant will not
work.
5. Type of land: The land which is selected for the power
plant installation should be plain enough and it is
suitable for the strong foundation for the various
machinery of the plant.
6. Scope for the future demand: The size of the land should
be such that it is capable for the handling of future
power demand.
7. Availability of Ash handling facility: Proper ash handling
facility should be available near the power plant to
minimize the adverse effect of the ash produced in the
steam power plant
8. Availability of transportation facility: The transportation
facility is must in the installation for the power plant
because any material cannot be transported to the
power plant form its required location in lack of
transport. There should be easy availability of proper
transportation facility at the selected site.
 The efficiency of Steam Power Plant

• The power plant that operates on coal constitutes

almost 41% of the world’s electricity generation.
• It is the modified Rankine thermodynamic cycle on
which the coal-fired power plant operates.
• The overall efficiency of the coal power plant ranges
from 32% to 42%. And this is calculated by the
superheat pressures and superheat and reheat
temperatures of steam.
• Most of the large power plants that operates at steam
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pressures of 170 bar,570 ℃ superheat and 570 ℃ reheat

steam temperatures can achieve the efficiency
ranges from 35% to 38%.
• The efficiency of the super critical power plants
operating at 220 bar steam pressure, 600/600
℃ superheat/reheat temperatures can achieve is 42%.
• The efficiency in the range of 45 to 48% can be
achieved by the ultra-super critical power plants
operating at 300 bar pressure, 600/600 ℃
superheat/reheat steam temperatures.
Advantages

• As compared with the power generating plant, it has a

low initial cost and hence economical.
• Less land area is required as compared with the hydro
power plant.
• Coal is used as fuel and the cost of coal is cheaper
than petrol and diesel fuel. So, the power generation
cost is economical.
• This power plant has easy maintenance cost.
• Steam power plant can be installed in any area where
water sources and transportation facility are easily
available.

Disadvantages

• High Running Cost: The running cost of the steam

power plant is comparatively high because of fuel,
maintenance, etc.
• Low Efficiency: If we talk about the overall efficiency of
the steam power plant then it is about 35 % to 41%
which is low.
• Global Warming: Due to the release of burnt gases of
coal or fuel, it contributes to global warming to a larger
extent.
• Adverse Effect on the aquatic living organism: The
heated water that is thrown in the rivers, ponds etc.
puts and adverse effect on the living organism and
disturbs the ecology.
 ACTIVITIES
QUIZZES AND ACTIVITIES WILL BE POSTED

THROUGH GOOGLE FORMS.

PLEASE WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

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THANK YOU!

References

• https://www.abma.com/boiler-101
• https://www.mechanicalbooster.com/2016/08/steam-power-plant.html
• https://studentenergy.org/conversion/steam-turbine/