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Lecture 5

Thermal power plant

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14 views17 pages

Lecture 5

Thermal power plant

Uploaded by

mi3238028
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture (5)

Power Plant Economics and Variable


Load Problem
The main terms and factors are as follows:
1. Load Factor
It is defined as the ratio of the average load to the peak load during a certain
prescribed period of time. The load factor of a power plant should be high so that
the total capacity of the plant is utilized forth maximum period that will result in
lower cost of the electricity being generated. It is always less than unity.
High load factor is a desirable quality. Higher load factor means greater
average load, resulting in greater number of power units generated for a given
maximum demand. Thus, the fixed cost, which is proportional to the maximum
demand, can be distributed over a greater number of units (kWh) supplied. This
will lower the overall cost of the supply of electric energy.
2. Utility Factor
It is the ratio of the units of electricity generated per year to the
capacity of the plant installed in the station. It can also be defined as the
ratio of maximum demand of a plant to the rated capacity of the plant.
Supposing the rated capacity of a plant is 200 mW. The maximum load on
the plant is 100 mW at load factor of 80 per cent, then the utility will be

100 × 0.8
= = 40%
200

3. Plant Operating Factor


It is the ratio of the duration during which the plant is in actual
service, to the total duration of the period of time considered
4. Plant capacity factor
It is the ratio of the average loads on a machine or equipment to the
rating of the machine or equipment, for a certain period of time considered.
Plant Capacity Factor = (Actual kWh Produced)/(Maximum Possible Energy that
might have produced during the same period)

5.Demand Factor
The actual maximum demand of a consumer is always less than his connected
load since all the appliances in his residence will not be in operation at the same
time or to their fullest extent. This ratio of' the maximum demand of a system to
its connected load is termed as demand factor. It is always less than unity.
6. Diversity Factor
The ratio of the sum of the individual maximum demands to the maximum demand of
the total group is known as diversity factor.

7. Load Curve
It is a curve showing the variation of power with time. It shows the value of a specific
load for each unit of the period covered. The unit of time considered may be hour,
days, weeks, months or years.
8. Load Duration Curve
It is the curve for a plant showing the total time within a specified period, during
which the load equaled or exceeded the values shown.
Important Terms and Factors
Load Curve Importance
The daily load curves have attained a great importance in generation as they
supply the following information readily:
The following points may be noted about load duration curve :
1.The load duration curve gives the data in a more presentable form. In other
words, it readily shows the number of hours during which the given load has
prevailed.
2.The area under the load duration curve is equal to that of the corresponding load
curve. Obviously, area under daily load duration curve (in kWh) will give the units
generated on that day.
3.The load duration curve can be extended to include any period of time. By laying
out the abscissa from 0 hour to 8760 hours, the variation and distribution of
demand for an entire year can be summarized in one curve. The curve thus
obtained is called the annual load duration curve.
The daily load curves have attained a great importance in generation as they
supply the following information readily:
Important Terms and Factors
Connected load:
It is the sum of continuous ratings of all the equipment's connected to supply
system.

Maximum demand:
It is the greatest load demand on the power plant during a given period. (The station
should be capable of meeting this maximum demand).
Demand factor:
It is the ratio of maximum demand to the connected load.

Average load or average demand:


The average of loads occurring on the power
station in a given period (day or month or year)
is known as average load or average demand.

Load factor:
The ratio of average load to the maximum demand during a given period is known as load
factor i.e.,
Diversity factor:
The ratio of the sum of individual maximum demands to the maximum demand on power
station is known as diversity factor i.e.,

Plant capacity factor:


It is the ratio of actual energy produced to the maximum possible energy that could have been
produced during a given period i.e.,
The plant capacity factor is an indication of the reserve capacity of the plant. A
power station is so designed that it has some reserve capacity for meeting the increased load
demand in future. Therefore, the installed capacity of the plant is always somewhat greater
than the maximum demand on the plant.
It is interesting to note that difference between load factor and plant capacity factor is an
indication of reserve capacity.
Effect of Power Plant type on Cost
The cost of a power plant depends upon, when a new power plant is to set up or
an existing plants to be replaced or plant to be extended. The cost analysis includes

1. Fixed Cost
It includes Initial cost of the plant, Rate of interest, Depreciation cost, Taxes,
and Insurance.

2. Operational Cost
It includes Fuel cost, Operating labour cost, Maintenance cost, Supplies,
Supervision, Operating taxes
3. Initial cost
The initial cost of a power station includes the following:
1. Land cost 2. Building cost
3. Equipment cost 4. Installation cost
5. Overhead charges, which will include the transportation cost, stores and storekeeping
charges,interest during construction etc.
Rate of interest:
All enterprises need investment of money and this money may be obtained as
loan, through bonds and shares or from owners of personal funds. Interest is the
difference between money borrowed and money returned. It may be charged at a
simple rate expressed as % per annum or may be compounded, in which case the
interest is reinvested and adds to the principal, thereby earning more interesting
subsequent years. Even if the owner invests his own capital the charge of interest is
necessary to covert he income that he would have derived from it through an
alternative investment or fixed deposit with a bank. Amortization in the periodic
repayment of the principal as a uniform annual expense.

Depreciation:
The decrease in the value of the power plant equipment and building due to constant
use.
*In actual practice, every power station has a useful life ranging from fifty to sixty

years. From the time the power station is installed, its equipment steadily deteriorates
due to wear and tear so that there is a gradual reduction in the value of the plant. This
reduction in the value of plant every year is known as annual depreciation. It becomes
obvious that while determining the cost of production, annual depreciation charges
must be included.

Example:

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