Fossil Power Plants Overview
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Questions and Answers

Which process is primarily involved in converting thermal energy to electrical energy in fossil power plants?

  • Thermal to mechanical to electrical (correct)
  • Mechanical to hydraulic to electrical
  • Photonic to thermal to electrical
  • Chemical to mechanical to electrical

What is the main purpose of the boiler in a fossil power plant?

  • To transport fuel to the turbine
  • To burn fuel to produce steam (correct)
  • To store coal and other fuels
  • To convert mechanical energy to electrical energy

How is coal prepared before being burned in a fossil power plant?

  • It is compressed into briquettes
  • It is dissolved in a liquid solution
  • It is pulverized into a fine powder (correct)
  • It is mixed with chemical additives

Why is natural gas considered the easiest fossil fuel to burn?

<p>It mixes well with air and burns cleanly (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method is NOT used for transporting coal to a fossil power plant?

<p>Pipeline (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the turbine in a fossil power plant?

<p>To drive the generator and produce electricity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about fossil power plants is incorrect?

<p>The turbine-driven generator converts mechanical energy directly to thermal energy. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of energy conversion is primarily utilized in combined cycle plants?

<p>Thermal to mechanical to electrical (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which system is NOT a major system of a boiler?

<p>Cooling system (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the deaerator in the condenser?

<p>To remove air from the condensed water (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pollutants contributes directly to the formation of acid rain?

<p>Sulfur oxides (C), Nitrous oxides (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component transforms heat energy from steam into mechanical energy?

<p>Turbine (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines the maximum thermal efficiency of a fossil power plant?

<p>Carnot cycle (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of synchronous machines in fossil power plants?

<p>Supply alternating current electric power (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about ground-level ozone is true?

<p>It is a harmful air pollutant (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary consequence of sulfur oxides and nitrous oxides emissions?

<p>Respiratory irritation and acid rain (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of prime mover is typically used for high-speed machines?

<p>Steam turbine (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes rotating-armature synchronous machines from rotating-field synchronous machines?

<p>Rotating-armature machines have the field system on the rotor, while rotating-field machines have it on the stator. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the overall thermal efficiency of modern combined cycle plants?

<p>60% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which cycle is not part of the efficiency determination in a combined cycle plant?

<p>Stirling cycle (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of synchronous machine has a cylindrical rotor?

<p>Non-salient pole machine (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a major limitation of conventional gas turbine plants?

<p>Low thermal efficiency (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary fuel type used in combined cycle power plants for its environmental benefits?

<p>Natural gas (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the input power to a power station expressed mathematically?

<p>$E_{in} = m * CV$ (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary fuel source for combustion turbines in fossil power plants?

<p>Petroleum and natural gas (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the output power formula for a three-phase system?

<p>$P_{out} = 3V_{L} I_{L} cos(∅)$ (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a combined cycle plant, which cycle is the gas turbine associated with?

<p>Brayton cycle (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are conventional gas turbine plants often restricted to serving as peaking or reserve units?

<p>They have low thermal efficiency and depend on high fossil fuel costs. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes combined cycle plants from cogeneration plants?

<p>Only cogeneration produces steam (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What feature allows gas turbines to be taken from a cold start to 100% power quickly?

<p>Simple operational structure (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the expression for plant efficiency?

<p>$η = \frac{P_{out} - P_{auxiliary} - P_{losses}}{P_{in}}$ (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the calorific value measure in a fuel?

<p>The amount of heat produced after combustion (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Fossil Fuel Combustion

Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, or natural gas) to generate heat for electricity production.

Fuel Storage and Handling

Storing and transporting fossil fuels to a power plant. This process includes coal delivery by trains, barges, or open-air conveyors

Coal Handling

Coal transportation to the power plant and pulverization into fine powder.

Oil and Natural Gas Handling

Transporting oil and natural gas to the burners by pumping or pipelines.

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Boiler

A component in a thermal power plant where fuel is burned to generate steam.

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Turbine

A mechanical device that converts the thermal energy of steam into mechanical rotational energy.

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Generator

A device that converts mechanical rotational energy into electrical energy via electromagnetic induction.

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Thermal Power Plant Components

Fuel storage/handling, boiler, turbine, generator.

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Once-through Cooling

A method of dissipating heat from a power plant by directly discharging warm water into a river, lake, or ocean.

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Cooling Ponds

Large, shallow ponds used for cooling power plants by allowing water to evaporate and release heat.

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Cooling Towers

Tall structures used for cooling power plants by evaporating water to release heat.

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SOX

Sulfur oxides, such as SO2 and SO3, produced during fossil fuel combustion. They can cause respiratory problems and acid rain.

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NOX

Nitrogen oxides, such as NO and NO2, produced during fossil fuel combustion. They contribute to smog, ozone formation, and acid rain.

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Carnot Cycle

A theoretical thermodynamic cycle that describes the maximum efficiency possible for a heat engine operating between two temperatures.

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Rankine Cycle

A thermodynamic cycle used in many power plants, including fossil fuel plants, to convert heat energy into mechanical energy and then electrical energy.

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Prime Mover

The engine or device that provides mechanical power to drive a generator in a power plant. Examples include diesel engines, steam turbines, and water turbines.

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Synchronous Machines

Generators that operate at a constant speed synchronized with the frequency of the electric grid.

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Rotating-Armature Type

A type of synchronous machine where the armature winding is on the rotor and the field winding is on the stator.

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Rotating-Field Type

A type of synchronous machine where the field winding is on the rotor and the armature winding is on the stator. This is the most common type used in power plants.

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Cylindrical-Rotor Type

A synchronous machine with a cylindrical rotor that has no salient poles (protrusions).

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Salient-Pole Type

A synchronous machine with a rotor that has salient poles (protrusions). This design helps improve stability.

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Combustion Turbine

A power plant that uses a gas turbine to generate electricity by combusting fuel (like natural gas) to drive the turbine.

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Combined Cycle Plant

A power plant that uses both a gas turbine (Brayton cycle) and a steam turbine (Rankine cycle) to increase efficiency. The heat from the gas turbine is used to generate steam for the steam turbine.

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Combined Cycle Plant Efficiency

The overall efficiency of a combined cycle plant is a remarkable 60% due to the combined work from the Brayton and Rankine cycles.

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Combined Cycle Plant Advantages

Combined cycle plants offer advantages like quick startup, short construction time (around 2 years), and use of natural gas, a relatively clean and affordable fuel.

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Calorific Value

The calorific value measures the amount of heat released during the complete combustion of a substance, often expressed as kJ/kg or kWh/kg.

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Input Power Calculation

The input power to a power plant is calculated by multiplying the fuel mass flow rate (𝑚ሶ) by its calorific value (CV): 𝑃𝑖𝑛 = 𝑚ሶ ∗ 𝐶𝑉

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Output Power in AC Circuit

The output power of a three-phase AC power station is calculated as: 𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 3𝑉𝐿 𝐼𝐿 cos(∅), where VL is the line voltage, IL is the line current, and ∅ is the phase angle.

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Output Power in DC Circuit

The output power of a DC power station is simply calculated as: 𝑃𝐷𝐶 𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑉𝐼, where V is the voltage and I is the current.

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Plant Efficiency Calculation

The efficiency of a power plant is the ratio of output power (𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡) to input power (𝑃𝑖𝑛), considering auxiliary losses: η = (𝑃𝑖𝑛 − 𝑃𝑎𝑢𝑥𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑟𝑦 − 𝑃𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠) / 𝑃𝑖𝑛

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Why is efficiency important?

High efficiency is crucial for power plants to minimize fuel consumption and reduce environmental impact. It translates to saving money and generating more power with less fuel.

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Study Notes

Fossil Power Plants

  • These plants utilize a range of energy sources, including both renewable and nonrenewable resources.
  • Most nonrenewable energy generation methods involve a thermal-to-mechanical-to-electrical conversion process.
  • Renewable energy sources, like solar, wind, and hydro, use diverse conversion paths to produce electricity.
  • Examples of Fossil Fuel Power Plants include:
    • Fuel Storage and Handling
    • Boiler
    • Turbine
    • Generator and Electrical System
    • Combustion Turbine
    • Combined Cycle Plants

Fossil Power Plants - Boiler

  • Boiler structure is an inverted U-shaped steel structure.
  • Boiler walls are covered by water tubes.
  • Major boiler systems include:
    • Fuel injection system
    • Water-steam system
    • Air-flue gas system
    • Ash handling system

Fossil Power Plants - Condenser

  • A deaerator within the condenser removes air from condensed water to prevent corrosion.
  • Heat dissipation techniques include:
    • Once-through cooling (river, lake, or ocean)
    • Cooling ponds (including spray ponds)
    • Cooling towers

Fossil Power Plants - Electrostatic Precipitators

  • These devices remove particulate matter from flue gas.
  • By using high-voltage power supply, positively charged particles are attracted to negatively charged collection plates.
  • This process traps dust particles and other pollutants.

Fossil Power Plants - Combustion Gasses

  • Ideal combustion produces only water and carbon dioxide.
  • Major pollutants are sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO).
  • SOx and NOx contribute to acid rain and respiratory problems.
  • CO causes oxygen-carrying capacity reduction in blood.

Fossil Power Plants - Turbine

  • Steam's thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy by the turbine.
  • Steam flows through blades causing rotational motion, driving the shaft.

Fossil Power Plants - Generator and Electrical System

  • Synchronous machines are primarily used as alternating current (AC) generators for various sectors (industrial, commercial, agricultural, domestic).

  • Generator sizes range from tens to hundreds of megawatts.

  • The prime mover for the generator (e.g., steam turbine, diesel engines) converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

  • High-speed machines often use steam turbines, while low-speed machines might be driven by hydro turbines.

  • Synchronous machines are classified by field and armature winding arrangements.

    • Rotating-armature type: armature windings on the rotor, field on the stator
    • Rotating-field type: armature windings on the stator, field system on the rotor

  • Machine types also vary by the shape of the field:

    • Cylindrical-rotor (non-salient pole)
    • Salient-pole

Fossil Power Plants - Generator Electrical System

  • The generator electrical system in a power plant includes components like transformers, auxiliary transformers, circuit breakers, and current and voltage transformers. This interconnected network distributes and manages electricity.

Fossil Power Plants - Combustion Turbine

  • Petroleum and natural gas combustion in a furnace boiler can generate steam to power turbines and generators in larger plants
  • Smaller plants use a combusting gas turbine utilizing the Brayton thermal cycle
  • Smaller structure compared to large plants designed for quick starting.

Fossil Power Plants - Combined Cycle

  • These plants utilize gas turbines (Brayton) alongside steam turbines (Rankine) to improve efficiency.
  • This combined use improves efficiency.
  • Significant efficiency compared to individual cycle plants.

Fuel Calorific Value

  • The calorific value refers to the heat produced after complete combustion.
  • It is often expressed in energy per unit mass (e.g., kJ/kg).

Plant Output Power and Efficiency

  • Plant output power can be calculated using factors such as line voltage, line current, and phase-shift angle in 3-phase systems.
  • In simplified scenarios, direct current (DC) output power calculations are used.
  • The plant efficiency is found by dividing the output power by the input power.
  • Losses include auxiliary power needs and system losses.

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Cairo University Faculty of Engineering Electrical Power Engineering (EPE) Lectures - Principles of Energy Conversion (EPEG102)

Description

Discover the fundamental components and mechanisms of fossil power plants in this quiz. Learn how these plants utilize different energy sources for electricity generation, including the roles of boilers and condensers. Test your knowledge about the systems that make fossil fuel power production possible.

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