Electric Power Generation Unit 1

Unit 1: Generation of Electric Power

• Hydroelectric Power Plants: Components include a dam, reservoir, water intake, penstock, turbine, generator, and other auxiliary equipment.
• Hydroelectric Plant Merits and Demerits: Merits: Renewable, environmentally friendly, reliable, and inexpensive; Demerits: High initial cost, environmental impact, limited availability of suitable sites.
• Site Selection for Hydroelectric Plants: Factors include water availability, land topography, dam construction suitability, proximity to load center, and environmental impact.
• Classification of Hydroelectric Power Plants: Classification can be based on head, power output, type of turbine used, or other relevant criteria. Methods of classification are discussed in the text, and are detailed, citing specific factors for each classification category.
• Pumped Storage Hydro Plants: These plants use excess electricity to pump water to an elevated reservoir, and release that water later to generate power.  This allows for flexible power generation to meet fluctuating demand.
• Thermal Power Plants: Comprise boilers, superheaters, steam turbines, generators, and associated auxiliaries. There is a specific diagram given in the text.
• Boilers and Superheaters: Boilers generate steam, while superheaters further heat the steam to improve efficiency; Their operation and functions are detailed in the text.
• Nuclear Power Plants: Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) is one type; Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power plants (including PWR) are mentioned.
• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): Basic principle is using the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep sea water to generate electricity.
• Tidal Power Generation: Discusses various methods, highlighting the limitations of each.
• Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS): Components of WECS are examined and diagrammed.
• Fuel Cells: Explained as energy conversion devices which convert fuel directly into electricity. Different fuel cell types and advantages are explored.
• Solar Energy into Heat: Description of the basic principle of harnessing solar energy to heat substances.
• Flat-Plate Solar Collectors: Components are detailed, including the function of each component.
• Concentrating Collectors: Advantages and disadvantages of concentrating collectors compared to flat-plate collectors.

Unit 2: Economics of Power Generation

• Power Station Economics: Concepts like connected load, maximum demand, load factor, diversity factor, and load duration curve are key to evaluating power station costs and efficiency. Various data calculations are included to determine the economic viability of a power station. Methods for determining Annual Working cost were given.
• Fixed Costs, Running Costs, Tariff: These costs and how costs are determined for various power station types are included
• Transmission Line Parameters: GMR, GMD, calculation and understanding of line parameters. Calculation of capacitance and inductance of transmission lines, including transposition effects.
• Overhead Transmission Lines: Methods for determining capacitance, inductance, and other relevant factors for over-head transmission lines.

Unit 3: Overhead Transmission Line Parameters

• Overhead Transmission Line Parameters: Understanding GMR and GMD in single-phase transmission lines. Capacitance per-phase calculations. Inductance of a group of parallel wires carrying current.
• Bundled Conductors: Explained as a method and reason for reducing inductance.
• ACSR Conductors: Advantages detailed for use in overhead lines.

Unit 4: Performance of Transmission Lines

• Nominal π and T Circuits: Detailed analysis and derivations of the transmission line circuits.
• Ferranti Effect: Explained concerning voltage rise in unloaded lines.
• Transmission Efficiency: Calculation procedures.

Unit 5: DC Distribution

• DC Distribution System Design: Includes calculations to determine the appropriate diameter of a conductor for a given current and voltage drop. Load arrangements diagrammed.
• Ring Main Systems : Specific calculations mentioned and diagrams provided.