INTRODUCTION

A generating plant which utilizes the potential and kinetic

energy of stored water for generation of electrical energy.
 For hydro power station factors like rainfall, flow of water,
available head and storage facilities are important.
 25% of electricity generation capacity in world is provided
by hydel power plant.
 In the countries like Norvey 99% electricity is produced by
hydel power plant.
India is the 7th largest producer of hydroelectric power in
the world.
4% of the total hydel energy potential in world is in India.

In India 13.5% of total electricity generation capacity is

produced by hydel power plant as on 30th April, 2017.
As per records of 30th April, 2017 44.594GW electricity
was generated by hydel power plant.
It is increasing day by day because of the institutes like
National Hydro Power Corporation Limited(NHPCL).
 Hydroelectric Power
• Installed capacity – 44,594 MW
• Estimated potential – 1,48,000 MW

• Land acquisition issues

• Resettlement and Rehabilitation issues
• Regulatory delays affecting clearances
• Impact on eco system and submergence of forest land
• Financing issues for projects with large development period
• Constraints related to transmission capacity particularly
from NE states
How a Hydroelectric Power System Works?

• Flowing water is
directed at a turbine.
• The flowing water
causes the turbine to
rotate, converting the
water’s kinetic energy
into mechanical energy.
 The mechanical energy produced by the turbine is
converted into electric energy using a turbine
generator.
 Inside the generator, the shaft of the turbine spins
a magnet inside coils of copper wire.
 It is a fact of nature that moving a magnet near a
conductor causes an electric current.
Planck's constant =
6.62607004 × 10-34 m2 kg / s
 PURPOSES OF MULTIPURPOSE
HYDROPROJECT
 For irrigation of agricultural land.

 For navigation.

 For fisheries and tourism.

 For flood control.

 For civil water supply.

 For generation of electricity.

BASIC ELEMENTS OF HYDEL POWER PLANT
 Reservoir
 Dam
 Trace rack
 For bay
 Surge tank
 Penstock
 Spillway
 Turbine
 Powerhouse
• The dam is an artificial concrete barrier
constructed across the way of the river.

• The catchment area behind the dam creates a

huge water reservoir.

• The pressure tunnel takes water from the

dam to the valve house.
• The valve house:
1. sluicing valve
2. automatic isolating valve.

• The sluicing valves control the water flowing

to the downstream
• Automatic isolating valves stop the water flow
when the electrical load is suddenly thrown
off from the plant.

• Automatic isolating valve is a protecting valve does

not play any direct role control the flow of water to
the turbine. It only operates during emergency to
protect the system from burst out.
• The powerhouse there are water turbines and
alternators with associated step up
transformers and switchgear systems to
generate and then facilitate transmission of
electricity.

• The penstock is a steel pipeline of suitable

diameter connected between the valve house
and powerhouse. The water flows down
from upper valve house to lower
powerhouse through this penstock only.
The surge tank is also a protective accessory
associated with hydroelectric power plant.

It is situated just before the valve house. The

height of the tank must be greater than the head
of the water stored in the water reservoir behind
the dam. This is an open top water tank
The purpose of this tank is to protect the penstock from bursting out when
suddenly turbine refuses to take water. At the entry point of turbines, there is
turbine gates control by governors. The governor opens or closes the turbine
gates according to the fluctuation of the electrical load. If the electrical load is
suddenly thrown off from the plant, the governor closes the turbine gates
and water is blocked in the penstock. Sudden stopping of water can cause a
serious burst of penstock pipeline. The surge tank absorbs this back pressure
by swing the level water in this tank.
• Spillways: are structures that either form
part of a dam, or are found just beside one.

• They are used, when a reservoir is full, to

pass floodwater safely, and in a controlled
way, over a dam, around it or through it.
Next time you visit a dam, look for
its spillway.

• Trash racks: are designed to

keep trash and other debris from entering
the spillway and causing damage.
Water hammer 

• It is a phenomenon that can occur in any

piping system where valves are used to
control the flow of liquids or steam. 

• It is the result of a pressure surge, or high-

pressure shockwave that propagates
through a piping system when a fluid in
motion is forced to change direction or stop
abruptly.
• How did Benjamin Franklin
feel after discovering
electricity?

• Shocked.
• How did Benjamin Franklin
feel after discovering
electricity?
CLASSIFICATION OF HYDEL POWER
PLANT
 According to availability of water:-
a) Run of river plant without pondage
b) Run-off river plant with pondage
c) Storage plant
d) Pump storage plant

 According to head :-
a) Low head plant (25 to 80 m)
b) Medium head plant (80 to 100m)
c) High head plant (100m and above)

 According to load :-
a) Base load plant
b) Peak load plant
 According to plant capacity:-
a) Micro hydal plant (upto 5 MW )
b) Medium capacity plant ( 5-100 MW )
c) High capacity plant (100-500 MW )
d) super plant ( above 500 MW )

 According to place of power house:-

a) Surface power house plant
b) Under ground power house plant

 According to turbine specific speed:-

a) High specific speed plant
b) Medium specific speed plant
c) Low specific speed plant
 Hydel scheme
1. Run-off Plants without Poundage:

As name indicates this type of plant doesn’t store water,

the plant uses as water comes.
2. Run-off plants with Poundage:
Poundage permits storage of water during the off –peak
period and use of this water during peak periods. 
3. Reservoir Plants: A reservoir plant is that which has
reservoir of such size as to permit carrying over storage
from wet season to the next dry season. 
4 .Low head plants: In this case small dam is built across
the river to provide the necessary head. In such plants
Francis type of turbines are used. 

5. Medium head plants: The fore bay provided at the

beginning of Penstock serves as water reservoir for such
plants. In these plants water is generally carried out in
open canals from reservoir to the Fore bay and then to the
penstock. 
6. High head Plant: This plants works above 500mtrs and
Pelton wheel turbines are commonly used. In this plant
water is carried out from the main reservoir by a tunnel up
to surge   tank and then from the surge tank to the power
house in penstock.
7. Base Load Plants: These Plants are mainly depending on
the nature of load. Is demand is more, this plants are used
regularly and load factor (average load divided by the peak
load) of this plants are high. 
8. Peak load Plants: These plants are mainly used during the
peak load. Run-off river plants with poundage can be used as
peak-load plants. reservoir plants with enough storage behind
the dam can be used either as base load or as peak load plants
as required.
9. Pumped storage plants: These plants are used when quantity
of water available for generation is insufficient. If it is possible
to pond at head water and tail water locations after
passing through the turbine is stored in the tail race pond from
where it may be pumped back to the Head water pond.
WATER TURBINES USED IN HYDEL POWER
PLANT

 PELTON TURBINE

 FRANCIS TURBINE

 KAPLAN TURBINE
ADVANTAGES OF HYDEL POWER PLANT
 This plant is free from pollution.
 Its operation and maintenance cost is less.
 It has no stand by losses.
 Unit cost of power is less.
 Hydraulic turbines can be started quickly.
 The plant has longer service life.
 No charge for fuel.
 No change in efficiency with the age.
 DISADVANTAGES OF HYDEL POWER PLANT
 Initial cost of dam and plant is high.

 The availability of power from it is not much reliable.

 Loss of forest creates environmental problems.

 Due to evaporation, considerable water is lost.

 Time required for construction of hydro-project is more.

 AUXILIARIES ATTACHED WITH HYDEL
POWER PLANT
(B)Mechanical instruments
(A)Electrical instruments
 Shaft coupling, journal
 Generator
bearings, thrust bearings

 Exciter, transformers  Lubricating oil system

 Switch gears  Cooling system

 Other instruments of  Brake system for generator-

control room turbine shaft
 SELECTION OF SITE FOR A
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT
1. Availability of water
– All other designs are based on it.
– Estimate should be made about the average quantity of
water available throughout the year and also about
maximum and minimum quantity of water available
during the year.
– These details are necessary to decide the capacity of
the hydropower plant.
– It also provide adequate spillways or gate relief during
flood period.
2. Water storage
– Since there a is wide variation in rainfall during the
year, therefore it is necessary to store the water for
continuous generation of power.
– The storage capacity can be calculated with the help
of mass curve.
– The two types of storages in use are

1. The storage is so constructed that it can make water

available for power generation for one year only.
2. Water is available in sufficient quantity even during
the worst dry periods.
3. Water head
– In order to generate a necessary quantity of power it is
necessary that a large quantity of water at sufficient
head should be available.
– An increase in effective head for a given output,
reduces the quantity of water required to be supplied to
the turbines.
4. Accessibility of site
– The site where hydro-electric plant is to be constructed
should be easy accessible.
– This is important if the electric power generated is to
be utilised at or near the plant site.
– The site selected should have transportation facilities
of rail and road.
5. Distance from the load centre
– Power plant should be set up near the load centre, this
will reduce the cost of transmission line.
– To be economical on transmission of electric power,
the routes and the distances should be carefully
considered since the cost of erection of transmission
lines and their maintenance will depend upon the route
selected.
6. Type of the land of the site
– The land to be selected for the site should be cheap and
rocky.
– The ideal site will be one where the dam will have
largest catchment area to store water at high head and
will be economical in construction.
– Necessary requirement of the foundation rocks for
masonry dam are-
 The rock should be strong enough to withstand the
stresses transmitted from the dam structure as well
as the thrust of the water when the reservoir is full.
 The rock in the foundation of the dam should be
reasonably impervious.
 The rock should remain stable under all conditions.
 Some terms relating with Hydropower
 Head : Vertical change in elevation, expressed in meters,
between the upstream water level and the tailrace water
level. Rated head is H in meters.
 Flow(Q): Volume of water, expressed as cubic meters per
second, passing a point in a given amount of time. Rated
flow is Qr in m3/s.
 Catchment Area: The catchment area of a hydro plant is
the whole area behind the dam, draining into a stream or
river across which the dam has been built at a suitable
place.
 Efficiency(η): A percentage obtained by dividing the
actual power or energy by the theoretical power or energy.
It represents how well he hydropower plant converts the
energy of the water into electrical energy.
 Hydrology
 It is the science which deals with the depletion and
replenishment of water resources.
 It deals with the surface water as well as the ground water.
 It is also concerned with the transportation of water from
one place to another.
 It helps us in determining the occurrence and availability
of water.
 The hydrologic cycle
 Most of the earth’s water sources, such as rivers, lakes,
oceans and underground sources etc get their supply from
rains (By Precipitation), while the rain water itself is the
evaporation from these sources.
 This evaporation and precipitation continues forever and
process is known as hydrologic cycle.
P=R+E
P-Precipitation
R-Run-Off
E-Evaporation
Precipitation:
It includes all the water that falls from atmosphere to the earth
surface. Mostly precipitation is of two types:
Liquid precipitation (rainfall)
Solid precipitation (Snow, Hailstorm)

Run-off:
It is that portion of the precipitation which makes its way
towards stream, lakes or ocean.
Run-off occur only if the rate of precipitation exceed the rate at
which water infiltrate into the soil & after depression small and
large on the soil surface get filled in the water.
Evaporation:
Transfer of water from liquid to vapour state
Transpiration:
Process by which water is released to the atmosphere by the plants.
 hydrograph
 It is defined as a graph showing discharge of flowing water with

respect to time for a specified time.

 Hydrograph of stream of river will depend on the characteristics of

the catchment and precipitation over the catchment.

 It will access the flood flow of rivers hence it is essential that

anticipated hydrograph could be drawn for river for a given storm.

 It indicates the power available from the stream at different times

of day, week, month or year.

cubic feet per second or cfs

For any catchment unit hydrograph can be prepared once, then whenever peak flow
is to be found out, multiply the maximum ordinate of unit hydrograph by the run-off
value expressed in cm.
 Flow duration curve
 This curve is plotted between flow available during a period
versus the fraction of time.
 If the magnitude on the ordinate is the potential power contained
in the stream flow, then the curve is known as “power duration
curve”.
 The flow duration curve is drawn with the help of a hydrograph
from the available run-off data and here it is necessary to find out
the length of time duration which certain flow are available.
 The area under the flow duration curve gives the total quantity of
run-off during that period.
 Steep slope throughout – it
indicates a stream with highly
variable discharge (flow is
mainly from surface run-off)

A flat slope – it indicates small

variability (streams receiving
both surface-runoff and ground
water run-off)

Flow Duration Curve Flat portion at the lower end – it

indicates substantial contribution
A flow duration curve plotted on a from ground water run-off.
log-log paper provides a
qualitative description of the run-
off variability in the stream.
 Use of flow duration curve
1. A flow duration curve allows the evaluation of low level
flows.
2. For hydropower studies, the flow duration curve serves to
determine the potential for firm power generation. The
firm power is also known as the primary power.
Secondary power is the power generated at the plant
utilising water other than that used for the generation of
firm power.
3. The flow duration curve also finds use in the design of
drainage systems and in flood control studies.
4. Flow duration curves are most useful for preliminary
studies and for comparison between streams.
 Shortcomings of flow duration curve

 Not present the flows in natural source of occurrence.

 Not possible to tell from flow duration curve whether the
lowest flow occurred in consecutive periods or were
scattered throughout the considered period.
 MASS CURVE

A mass curve is the graph of the

cumulative values of water
quantity against time.
It is an integral curve of the
hydrograph which expresses the
area under the hydrograph from
one time to another.
It is a convenient device to
determine storage requirement
that is needed to produce a
certain dependable flow from
fluctuating discharge of a river
The slope of the mass curve is the by a reservoir.
derivative of the volume with respect to
time or the rate of discharge.
• It is a plot of cumulative volume
of water that can be stored from a
stream flow versus time in days,
weeks or months. It shows a mass
curve, Maximum intercept
between line AB and mass curve is
known as reservoir capacity •

• The unit used for storage is either

cubic metre or day-second-metre.
A day- second-metre is the flow at
the rate of 1m3/sec for one day
and equal to 60*60*24=86400 m3.
• The capacity of plant is based on the storage capacity,
which can be modified by storage for the same mass
curve, The water stored in dams is called pondage and
water stored in upstream reservoir is called storage.

•  A small storage is used to meet the fluctuating demand

for small period (one day). When powerhouse is away
from the main storage, a small pondage is provided near
the powerhouse.

• Sometimes surge tank is used. The capacity of reservoir,

made for a period of deficiency to make available the flow
of water at a required rate, is studied by mass curve.
 Some terms relating with Hydropower
Spiral case: A spiral-shaped steel intake guiding
the flow into the wicket gates located just prior to
the turbine.
Wicket gates: Adjustable elements that control the
flow of water to the Turbine passage.
Runner: The rotating part of the turbine that
converts the energy of falling water into mechanical
energy.
 Cavitation: It is a complex multiphase phenomenon
that involves the formation of bubbles inside a liquid
medium. It causes negative implications
on hydro turbines such as noise, vibration, surface
erosion and performance loss.

 Suction head : The suction head Hs is the distance

from the install level of the centre line of turbine
runner to the minimum tailrace level.
 Water Power Equation
Let H=Head of water in meters (Between the water level at
inlet and tail race)

Q=Quantity of water discharge in m3/sec

W= Specific gravity of water

= 1 Kg/Lit when Q represents in Lit/sec
3
= 1000 Kg/m3 when Q represents in m /sec

η =Overall efficiency of turbine alternator set

If Q quantity of water falls through H meters, theoretical
work done= WQH Kg-m/sec

Effective work done or output of the system= WQHη

Metric output= WQHη/75 H.P
( 1H.P = 75 Kg-m/sec)

Metric output in kilowatt= 0.736* WQHη/75 Kw

= 9.81*10-3* WQHη
( 1 metric H.P = 0.736 Kw)
Major Hydropower generating units
Different types of turbines used in different major hydro plants
 Low head plants
 In this case a small dam is built across the river to provide
the necessary head.
 The excess water is allowed to flow over the dam itself.
 In such plants Francis, Propeller or Kaplan types of
turbines are used.
 No surge tank is required.
 These plants are constructed where the water head
available less then 30mtrs.
 The production of electricity will be less due to low head.
 Medium head plants
 Forebay provided before the Penstock, which acts as
water reservoir for medium head plants.
 In this plants water is carried from main reservoir to
forebay and then allowed to go into the penstock.
 The forebay acts as surge tank for these plants.
 The turbines used will be Francis type.
 High head plants
 In these plants pressure tunnel is provided before the surge
tank. A pressure tunnel is take off from the reservoir and
water brought to the valve house at the start of the
penstocks.
 The penstocks are huge steel pipes which take large
quantity of water from the valve house to the power house.
 The valve house contains main sluice gates and in addition
to automatic isolating valves which come into operation
when the penstock bursts for cutting further supply of water.
 Surge tank is an open tank and is built just in between
the beginning of the penstock and the valve house.
 In absence of surge tank, the water hammer can damage
the fixed gates.
 The sluice gates are opened when dam level is below level
and there is shortage water for irrigation.
 Normally the high head plants are 500 meters above and
for heads above 500 meters Pelton wheels are used. 
 Components of hydel Power Plant
The major components are:
1. Dam
2. Reservoir
3. Fore bay
4. Intake structure
5. Penstock
6. Surge tank
7. Turbine
8. Power house
9. Draft tube
10. Tail race
 Functions of different components of
hydroelectric power plant
1) Dam
 The dam is the most important component of
hydroelectric power plant.
 The dam is built on a large river that has abundant
quantity of water throughout the year.
 It should be built at a location where the height of the
river is sufficient to get the maximum possible potential
energy from water.
 Dams are classified based on following factors:
a) Function
b) Shape
c) Construction material
d) Design
a) Based on function the dam may be called as storage dam,
diversion dam or detention dam.
b) Based on the shape the dam may of trapezoidal section & arch
type.
c) The materials used for constructing dams are earth, rock pieces,
stone masonry.
d) According to structural design the dam maybe classified as:
i. Gravity dam
ii. Arch dam
iii. Buttress dam
 Arch Dams
 It resist the pressure of
water partly due to its
weight and partly due to
arch action.
 Arch shape gives strength
 Less material (cheaper)
 Narrow sites
 Concrete Gravity Dams
Resist the pressure of water
by its weight.
Material used for
Construction of this dam is
solid masonry or concrete.
 Weight holds dam in place.
 Lots of concrete required
(expensive).
 Buttress Dams
 Buttress supporting a flat
slab.
 When cost of reinforced
concrete is high this type
of dam is selected.
 Face is held up by a series
of supports.
 It has flat or curved face.
 Embankment Dams

 Earth or rock

 Weight resists flow of

water
 Diversion Facility

 Doesn’t require a dam.

 Facility channels diverts
portion of river through
canal or penstock.
2) Water Reservoir
 The water reservoir is the place behind the dam where
water is stored.
 The water in the reservoir is located higher than the rest of
the dam structure.
 The height of water in the reservoir decides how much
potential energy the water possesses.
 The higher the height of water, the more its potential
energy.
 The high position of water in the reservoir also enables it
to move downwards effortlessly.
 The height of water in the reservoir is higher than the
natural height of water flowing in the river, so it is
considered to have an altered equilibrium.
 This also helps to increase the overall potential energy of
water, which helps ultimately produce more electricity in
the power generation unit.
 3) Intake or Control Gates
 The gates are built inside the dam. The water from
reservoir is released and controlled through these gates.
 These are called inlet gates because water enters the
power generation unit through these gates.
 When the control gates are opened the water flows due to
gravity through the penstock and towards the turbines.
 The water flowing through the gates possesses potential as
well as kinetic energy.
 4) The Penstock
 The penstock is the long pipe or shaft that carries the
water from the reservoir towards the power generation
unit.
 The water in the penstock possesses kinetic energy due to
its motion and potential energy due to its height.
 The total amount of power generated in the hydroelectric
power plant depends on the height of the water reservoir
and the amount of water flowing through the penstock.
 5) Water Turbines
 Water flowing from the penstock is allowed to enter the power
generation unit, which houses the turbine and the generator.
 When water falls on the blades of the turbine, the kinetic and
potential energy of water is converted into the rotational
motion of the blades of the turbine.
 The rotating blades causes the shaft of the turbine to rotate.
 The turbine shaft is coupled to the generator.
 In most hydroelectric power plants there is more than one
power generation unit.
 There is large difference in height between the level of turbine
and level of water in the reservoir.
 This difference in height is known as the head of water,
decides the total amount of power that can be generated in the
hydroelectric power plant.
 There are various types of water turbines such as Kaplan
turbine, Francis turbine, Pelton wheels etc.
 The type of turbine used in the hydroelectric power plant
depends on the height of the reservoir, quantity of water to be
discharged and the total power generation capacity.
 6) Generators
 The generator Shaft is coupled to the shaft of the water
turbine, which rotates and produces alternating current in
the coils of the generator.
 Hence the rotation of the shaft of the turbine is crucial for
the production of electricity and this is achieved by the
kinetic and potential energy of water.
 Thus in hydroelectricity power plants energy of water is
converted into electricity.
 7) Spillways
 This is a sort of safety valve for a dam.
 Spillways allow water to be released to the turbines in
controlled ways so that the water does not overwhelm the
turbines and damage them.
 It serves to discharge excess in the reservoir beyond the
full permissible level.
 8) Trash rack
 The trash rack is used to catch trash and other things, such
as fish, before being sent into the impeller unit of the
hydro station.
 It is a moving rack, with an automatic backwash that
allows self cleaning, and non-killing removal of fish.
 9) Fore bay
 A regulating reservoir storing water temporarily when load
on the plant is reduced and providing water for initial
increase on account of increasing load during which time
water in the canal is being accelerated.
 It is considered as the enlarged body of water just above the
intake.
 This may either be a pond behind the diversion dam or an
enlarged section of a canal spread out to accommodate the
required width of intake.
 10) Surge Tank
 In Hydro Electric Power Plant Water is used to generate
Power by using some Hydraulic Machines.
 For the smooth operation of Power Plant some necessary
arrangements are required, Surge Tank is one of them.
 The requirement of Surge Tank is due to some problems
which accrued in Water Flow.
 Water Hammer
 Due to Motion, Water possesses some Momentum. If the
Flowing water is suddenly brought to rest by closing
the Valve. This Momentum is destroyed.
 A very High Pressure is developed on Valve. This High
Pressure is followed by a series of Pressure Vibrations,
resulting noise in pipe. This noise is known as "Knocking".
 The sudden rise in Pressure has the effect of Hammering
Action on the walls of pipe, known as Water Hammer.
This Water Hammer can burst the pipe in Hydro Electric
Power Plant.
 The requirement of water goes on changing, that's why it is
essential to increase or decrease the Discharge flowing
through the pipe line.
 Whenever the requirement of Water suddenly decreased,
the Valve must suddenly closed, resulting a very High
Pressure developed in entire pipe line between the
Reservoir and the Turbine. This is happened due to Water
Hammer.
 To overcome this problem, a Storage Reservoir is fitted at
some location on the pipe line in order to store water when
the valve is suddenly closed, or to discharge water when
increased discharged is required.
 Such a Storage Reservoir is known as "Surge Tank".
 Functions of Surge Tank
1)To control the Pressure Variations, due to rapid changes in
the pipeline flow, thus eliminating Water Hammer
possibilities.

2)To regulate the flow of water to the turbine by providing

necessary retarding Head of Water.
 The Surge Tanks are placed near to the Turbine.
 The Height of Surge Tank is generally kept above the
maximum Water Level in the supply Level Reservoir.
 There are three important types of Surge Tanks used in Hydro
Electric Power Plant:

1) Simple Surge Tank

2) Restricted Orifice type Surge Tank

3) Differential Surge Tank.

 Pumped Storage Power Plant
 During Storage, water
pumped from lower
reservoir to higher one.
 Water released back to
lower reservoir to
generate electricity.
 Pumped-storage hydroelectric plant is a type of hydroelectric power
generation used by some power plants for load balancing.
 The method stores energy in the form of potential energy of water,
pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation.
 Low-cost off-peak electric power is used to run the pumps.
 During periods of high electrical demand, the stored water is
released through turbines to produce electric power.
 The losses of the pumping process makes the plant a net consumer
of energy, the system increases revenue by selling more electricity
during periods of peak demand, when electricity prices are highest.
 Thermal plants are not able to respond to sudden changes in
electrical demand, which will cause frequency
and voltage instability.
 Pumped storage plants can respond to load changes within seconds.
 These turbines could operate as both turbine-generators and in
reverse as electric motor driven pumps. (usually a Francis turbine).
 Along with energy management, pumped storage systems help to
control electrical network frequency and provide reserve generation.
 PSH energy efficiency varies in between 70% and 80%.
STEAM POWER STATION
[THERMAL POWER STATION]
 THERMAL POWER STATION
 A Generating station which converts heat energy of coal combustion
into electrical energy is known as Thermal power station.

-- Works based on Rankine cycle

-- steam is produced in the boiler by utilizing the heat of coal

combustion and expanded in the prime mover and condensed in the
condenser and fed into the boiler again.
 SUTABILITY – Abundant amount of coal and water.
 ADVANTAGES
 Less initial cost as compared to other stations.
 The fuel ( i.e., coal) used is quite cheap
 Can be installed at any place irrespective of the existence
of coal.
 Requires less space as compared to the hydro electric
power station.
 Cost of generation is less than that of diesel power station.
 DISADVANTAGES
 It pollutes the atmosphere due to production of large
amount of smoke and fumes.
 It is costlier in running cost as compared to hydro electric
plant.
 Choice of site for steam power station

 Following are to be considered while selecting site

-- Supply of fuel

-- Availability of water

-- Transport facility

-- Cost and type of land

-- Nearness to load centers

-- Distance from polluted areas

MAIN PARTS AND WORKING OF A
THERMAL POWER STATION

Plant layout is divided into four circuits

-- Fuel and ash circuit

-- Air and gas circuit

-- Feed water and steam circuit

-- cooling water circuit

Schematic layout thermal power station
 Fuel and Ash circuit
 Fuel (coal ) is fed to the furnace of the boiler from coal storage unit
through fuel feeding device called as coal handling plant (CHP).
 In CHP, coal is pulverized ( i.e. crushed into small pieces)
- To increase the surface exposure

- Promoting rapid combustion with out using large quantity of

air
 Ash produced as a result of combustion of coal is collected and
removed from the boiler to ash storage through ash handling
equipment.
 Air and gas circuits
 Air from atmosphere is fed into the combustion chamber of
the boiler through air- preheater unit (which extracts the heat
from the flue gasses before passing out the chimney) with
the help of Forced draught fan.
 Flue gases from the boiler make their journey through super
heater, economizer, air pre heater and finally exhausted to
atmosphere through the chimney .
 During this process the heat is extracted form the flue gasses
and used to improve the efficiency the plant indirectly.
 Steam generating unit

 Essentially consists of boiler and other auxiliary

equipment for utilization of flue gases like super heater,
economize, air preheater.
 Feed water and steam circuit
 The condensate from the condenser is used as feed water to the
boiler
 Boiler -- The heat of coal combustion in the boiler is utilized to
convert water into steam.
 Before feed water fed to the boiler it is heated by water heaters and
economizer.
 Economizer - Extracts a part of heat of flue gases
-- efficiency of the plant improves
 The steam produced by utilizing heat of coal combustion in the
furnace is wet and it is passed through the super heater and dried
and superheated by the flue gases on the way to the chimney.
 Super heater – To rises the temperature of the steam above the
boiling point of water
Benefits :
-- efficiency is increased.
-- Too much condensation at the last stage of turbine is avoided.
 Cooling arrangement
 To improve the efficiency, the steam exhausted from the
turbine is condensed by means of a condenser.
 Condenser : water is drawn from natural sources like river
etc., and is circulated through condenser where it takes up
the heat and converts steam into water.
 If the availability of water is less then we go for cooling
arrangement by cooling towers.
OPERATION OF THERMAL
POWER STATION
 EFFICIENCY OF STEAM POWER PLANT
Over all efficiency of a thermal power station is low about 29% For a typical late 20th-
century power
station,
-- Huge amount of heat loss takes place in the condenser superheated steam fro
which cannot be avoided. m the boiler is
delivered through 14–
16-inch (360–410 mm)
--- i.e., conversion of heat energy into mechanical energy is diameter piping at
possible only with temperature difference. 2,400 psi (17 MPa;
160 atm) and 1,000 °F
(540 °C) to the high-
---- Greater the temperature difference greater is the heat pressure turbine,
energy converted [ Thermodynamics laws.] where it falls in
pressure to 600 psi
(4.1 MPa; 41 atm) and
& to 600 °F (320 °C)
in temperature 
-- heat loss in the various stages of the plant
 THERMAL EFFICIENCY
 η thermal efficiency = Heat equivalent of mechanical energy
transmitted to the turbine shaft / Heat of coal combustion

Thermal efficiency of a modern thermal power station is

about 30 %

-- 50 % of total heat of combustion is lost in the condenser

-- heat loss also takes place in the form of flue gases,
radiations etc.,
 OVERALL EFFICIENCY
 η overall efficiency = Heat equivalent of electrical
output /heat of combustion of coal

Overall efficiency = Thermal efficiency X Electrical

efficiency
 ELECTICAL EFFICIENCY

 η ELECTICAL EFFICIENCY = Heat equivalent of

electrical output / Heat equivalent of mechanical energy
transmitted to the turbine shaft