Thermal Power Plant Diagram: Notes, Definition, Working Principle & Real-Life Applications

The thermal power plant is a power plant that generates energy by burning fossil fuels, including coal, petroleum, etc. It converts 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 the turbines to work. To produce mechanical energy, either the steam turbine or the gas turbine can be used.

Key Component of Thermal Power Plant

Below is the list of key components of a thermal power plant:

• Coal handling plant
• Coal pulverizing plant
• Steam generating plant
• Draft or draught fan
• Boiler
• Steam turbine and generator
• Altornator
• Feed water
• Condenser
• Cooling tower and ponds
• Exciter
• Protection and control equipment
• Instrumentation
• Chimney

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.

Thermal power plants are classified based on their heat sources. Below are different types of thermal power plants

• Coal fired
• Geothermal
• Biomass
• Waste material
• Gas
• Diesel or Liquid fuel

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 head device’s 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.