SIMPLE STEAM POWER PLANT

THE WORKING PRINCIPLE,

COMPONENTS, AND DIAGRAM
A steam power plantis a facility designed to generate electricity through the use of steam as
the primary working fluid. It operates based on the principles of thermodynamics, utilizing
the conversion of heat energy into mechanical work and subsequently into electrical energy.
The primary components of a steam power plant include a boiler, a turbine, a condenser,
and a generator.

Boiler: The boiler is responsible for heating water to generate steam. This is typically
achieved by burning fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) or by using nuclear energy.
The generated steam is at high pressure and temperature.

A boiler plays a crucial role in the efficient and functional operation of asteam power plant.
It acts as the heart of the power generation process, converting heat energy into high-
pressure steam that drives turbines to produce electricity. The inclusion of a boilers
significantly enhances the efficiency and functionality of a steam power plant in several
ways:
✓ Heat Transfer Efficiency - are designed to maximize heat transfer from the combustion
process to the water, ensuring that the heat generated is efficiently utilized to produce
steam. This efficient heat transfer contributes to overall plant efficiency and reduces fuel
consumption.
✓ Steam Generation Control - precisely control the steam pressure and temperature,
providing a consistent supply of steam to the turbines. This control is essential for
maintaining stable and efficient
power generation.
✓ Steam Quality Assurance - remove impurities from the water and maintain the purity of
the steam, preventing corrosion and damage to the turbines and other components. This
ensures the longevity and reliability of the power plant.
✓ Fuel Flexibility - can be designed to utilize various fuel sources, including coal, natural
gas, oil, or even biomass. This flexibility allows power plants to adapt to changing fuel prices
and availability, ensuring a reliable power supply.
✓ Co-generation Potential - can be combined with other systems to provide co-generation,
producing both electricity and heat simultaneously. This efficient use of energy reduces
overall fuel consumption and environmental impact.
Factors Affecting Boiler Performance:
❑Periodical cleaning of boilers
❑Periodical soot blowing
❑Proper water treatment program and blow down control
❑Draft control
❑Excess air control
❑Percentage loading of boiler
❑Steam generation pressure and temperature
❑Boiler insulation
❑Quality of fuel

Boiler Terminology:
Maximum Continuous Rating (MCR) - Steam boilers rated output is also usually defined as
MCR this is the maximum evaporation rate that can be sustained for 24 hours and may be
less than a shorter duration maximum rating.

Boiler Rating - Conventionally, boilers are specified by their capacity to hold water and the
steam generation rate. Often, the capacity to generate steam is specified in terms of
equivalent evaporation (kg of steam / hour at 100°C). Sample: The equivalent of the
evaporation of 1 kg of water at 100°C to steam at 100 °C.
Efficiency - In the boiler industry there are four common definitions of efficiency:
a. Combustion efficiency - is the effectiveness of the burner only and relates to its ability
to completely burn the fuel. The boiler has little bearing on combustion efficiency. A well-
designed burner will operate with as little as 15 to 20% excess air, while converting all
combustibles in the fuel to useful energy.
b. Thermal efficiency - is the effectiveness of the heat transfer in a boiler. It does not
take into account boiler radiation and convection losses.
c. Boiler efficiency - the term boiler efficiency is often substituted for combustion or
thermal efficiency. True boiler efficiency is the measure of fuel to steam efficiency.
d. Fuel to steam efficiency - is calculated using either of the two methods (input output
method and heat loss method) see attached pdf file for sample computations.
Boiler turndown - is the ratio between full boiler output and the boiler output when
operating at low fire. Typical boiler turndown is 4:1.
Primary air - That part of the air supply to a combustion system which the fuel first
encounters.
Secondary air - The second stage of admission of air to a combustion system, generally to
complete
combustion initiated by the primary air. It can be injected into the furnace of a boiler under
relatively
high pressure when firing solid fuels in order to create turbulence above the burning fuel to
ensure
good mixing with the gases produced in the combustion process and thereby complete
combustion.
Stoichiometric - stoichiometric air is that quantity of air, and no more, which is theoretically
needed
to burn completely a unit quantity of fuel. 'Sub-stoichiometric' refers to the partial
combustion of fuel in
a deficiency of air.
Balanced draught - The condition achieved when the pressure of the gas in a furnace is the
same as
or slightly below that of the atmosphere in the enclosure or building housing it.
Boiler Terminology:
Gross calorific value (GCV) - The amount of heat liberated by the complete combustion,
under
specified conditions, by a unit volume of a gas or of a unit mass of a solid or liquid fuel, in
the
determination of which the water produced by combustion of the fuel is assumed to be
completely
condensed and its latent and sensible heat made available.
Net calorific value (NCV) - The amount of heat generated by the complete combustion,
under
specified conditions, by a unit volume of a gas or of a unit mass of a solid or liquid fuel, in
the
determination of which the water produced by the combustion of the fuel is assumed to
remain as
vapor.
Carbon monoxide (CO) - Produced from any source that burns fuel with incomplete
combustion,
causes chest pain in heart patients, headaches and reduced mental alertness.
Blow down - The removal of some quantity of water from the boiler in order to achieve an
acceptable concentration of dissolved and suspended solids in the boiler water.

Perfect combustion - The complete oxidation of the fuel, with the exact theoretical
(stoichiometric)
amount of oxygen (air) required.
Wet Steam Saturated- steam which contains moisture.
Dry Steam- Either saturated or superheated steam containing no moisture.
Boiler Terminology:
Superheated Steam – steam heated to a temperature above the boiling point or saturation
temperature corresponding to its pressure.
Oxygen trim - sensor measures flue gas oxygen and a closed loop controller compares the
actual oxygen level to the desired oxygen level.
Heat transfer mediums - there are different types of heat transfer medium (steam, hot
water and
thermal oil). Steam and Hot water are most common and it will be valuable to briefly
examine.
Boiler Terminology:
Thermic Fluid - is used as a heat transfer mechanism in some industrial process and heating
applications. Thermic Fluid may be a vegetable or mineral based oil and the oil may be
raised to a
high temperature without the need for any pressurization.
Hot water - Water is a fluid with medium density, high specific heat capacity, low viscosity
and
relatively low thermal conductivity. At relatively low temperature e.g. 70°C - 90°C, hot
water is useful
for smaller heating installations.
Steam - When water is heated its temperature will rise the heat added is called sensible heat
and the heat content of the water is termed its enthalpy. The usual datum point used to
calculate enthalpy is 0°C. When the water reaches its boiling point, any further heat input
will result in some proportion of the water changing from the liquid to the vapor state, i.e.
changing to steam.
The heat required for this change of state is termed the 'latent heat of evaporation' and is
expressed in terms of a fixed mass of water. Where no change in temperature occurs during
the change of state, the steam will exist in equilibrium with the water. This equilibrium state
is termed “saturation condition”.
Saturation conditions can occur at any pressure, although at each pressure there is only
one discrete temperature at which saturation can occur. If further heat is applied to the
saturated steam the temperature will rise and the steam will become 'superheated'. Any
increase in temperature above saturated conditions will be accompanied by a further rise in
enthalpy. Steam is useful heat transfer medium because, as a gas, it is compressible. At high
pressure and consequently density, steam can carry large quantities of heat with relatively
small volume.

CNSC (10-BHP CIMECH BOILER)

Turbine: The high-pressure steam from the boilers is directed into a turbine. The turbine is
designed with blades that are turned by the force of the steam’s high-speed flow. As the
steam flows through the turbine, its high-pressure energy is converted into rotational
mechanical energy. Generator: The turbine is connected to a generator, which consists of
coils of wire within a magnetic field. As the turbine spins, it turns the rotor of the generator,
creating a moving magnetic field. This movement induces an electric current in the wire
coils, ultimately producing electrical energy.

THE WORKING PRINCIPLE, COMPONENTS, AND DIAGRAM

A steam power plantis a facility designed to generate electricity through the use of steam as
the primary working fluid. It operates based on the principles of thermodynamics, utilizing
the conversion of heat energy into mechanical work and subsequently into electrical energy.
The primary components of a steam power plant include a boiler, a turbine, a condenser,
and a generator.
Condenser: After passing through the turbine, the steam is directed to the condenser. Here,
the steam is cooled and condensed back into water, releasing its latent heat. This process
allows for the efficient reuse of the water in the boiler, reducing water consumption and
increasing overall efficiency.
Cooling System: Steam power plants require a cooling system to dissipate excess heat from
the condenser. This can involve cooling water from nearby water bodies, cooling towers, or
other heat exchange methods.
There are two main types of steam power plants:
1. Conventional steam power plants: These plants use fossil fuels,
such as coal, oil, or natural gas, to heat water and create steam.
2. Nuclear steam power plants: These plants use nuclear fission to
heat water and create steam.
There are also a number of other types of steam power plants, including:
1. Geothermal steam power plants: These plants use geothermal energy to heat water and
create steam.
2. Solar thermal power plants: These plants use solar energy to heat water and create
steam.
3. Waste heat steam power plants: These plants use waste heat from other industrial
processes to heat water and create steam.
Steam power plants have a number of Advantages, including:
✓ Low Initial Cost: Economical setup compared to other power plants.
✓ Less Land Required: Can be installed in smaller areas compared to hydroelectric plants.
✓ Fuel Flexibility: Can use coal, natural gas, oil, or biomass. They are relatively
inexpensive to build and operate.
✓ Easy Installation: Can be set up near fuel and water supplies.
✓ Scalability: They can be used to generate electricity on a large or small scale.
Steam power plants have a number of Disadvantages, including:
❖ Low Efficiency: Overall efficiency is around 29% to 41%.
❖ Environmental Impact: Air pollution from fossil fuels contributes to climate change.
❖ High Running Costs: Fuel and maintenance costs are high.
❖ Water Requirements: Needs a large water source.
❖ Noise Pollution: Can be noisy during operation.