Objectives:
1. To familiarize with different types of
energy sources
2. To familiarize with energy
transformation
3. To familiarize with the different types of
power plants
Introduction to Power Plant
Engineering
Did you Know?
There is a close relationship between the energy used
per person and his standard of living. The greater the per
capita consumption of energy in a country. The greater
the demand in electricity
What is energy per capita?
Average power per capita was calculated according to the formula:
Electric energy per capita [ in watt−hour]
Total population electricity consumption [ in kW·h/yr ] ∗ 1,000
=
𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Energy exists in different forms in nature but the most important
form is the electrical energy.
Energy Transformation
Chemical energy to light energy
Chemical energy to kinetic energy
Chemical energy to Light, Sound, Heat and
chemical energy
electricity to Light, Sound, Heat and
chemical energy
Electrical energy to mechanical energy
Importance of Electrical Energy
• a. Convenient form. It can be easily converted
into other forms of energy.
• Example. Convert electrical energy to heat by passing
electrical current to high resistance wire
Importance of Electrical Energy
b. Easy control
Example. Switch for lamp and motors, Variable speed
control for motors
Importance of Electrical Energy
c. Greater flexibility
Example. Ease of transporting electrical energy with the
help of conductors
Importance of Electrical Energy
d. Cheapness
Example. It is more economical to use electrical energy for
domestic, commercial and industrial purposes
Importance of Electrical Energy
e. Cleanliness
Example. Electricity is not associated with smoke, fumes or
poisonous gases unlike automotive.
Importance of Electrical Energy
f. High transmission efficiency
Example. Electricity can be transmitted conveniently and
efficiently from the centers of generation to the consumers
with the help of transmission lines.
Generation of Electrical Energy
Electrical energy is a manufactured commodity like clothing, furniture
or tools. Just as the manufacture of a commodity involves the
conversion of raw materials available in nature into the desired form,
Generation of Electrical Energy
similarly electrical energy is produced from the forms of
energy available in nature.
Generation of Electrical Energy
However, electrical energy differs in one
important aspect. Whereas other commodities
may be produced at will and consumed as
needed, the electrical energy must be produced
and transmitted to the point of use at the
instant it is needed. The entire process takes
only a fraction of a second. The instantaneous
production of
electrical energy introduces
technical and economic considerations unique
to the electric power industry.
Generation of Electrical Energy
Sources of energy such as pressure head of water,
chemical energy of fuels,
nuclear energy of
radioactive substances can be converted into electrical
energy by the use of suitable arrangements.
Generation of Electrical Energy
The arrangement essentially employs an alternator
coupled to a prime mover. The prime mover is the energy
obtained from the various sources such as burning of fuel,
pressure of water, force of wind etc.
Generation of Electrical Energy
Example
Chemical energy of a fuel (e.g. coal) can be used to produce steam
at high pressure. The steam is fed to prime mover which may be a
steam engine or a steam turbine.
The turbine converts the heat of steam into mechanical energy
which is further converted into electrical energy by the alternator.