Power Plants Types of Power Plants The engine, motor, and related parts Supplies the motive power of a self-propelled object Produces a kinetic energy output from a fuel source input Electricity generating station Typically what is referred to by “power plant” Mechanical, heat, chemical, solar sources

Power Plants – Power Stations Background

Power Plants – Power Stations Background What electricity is used for: Heating, cooking, cooling, light, sound, computers, communication, entertainment… Distribution grid: Our focus http://www.howstuffworks.com/power.htm

Power Plants – Power Stations Typical Operation Fuel is used to produce heat energy Water is heated and boiled to steam High pressure steam enters and spins turbines (Turbines convert steam into mechanical energy) Turbines turn electrical generator (electricity is created) Electricity is transmitted via cables through power grid http://www.howstuffworks.com/power.htm 2 1 5 3 4

Power Plants – Power Stations Alternative Operation Alternative energy source (e.g. water, wind) spins turbines Turbines turn electrical generator Electricity is transmitted via cables through power grid 1 http://www.howstuffworks.com/power.htm 3 2

Power Plants – Power Stations Types of Power Stations – Non-renewable Fossil Fuel Power Plant – Coal Prime mover is steam turbine Flue gas exhausted to atmosphere Waste heat released to atmosphere – cooling towers 2nd law of thermodynamics – not all heat can be converted into mechanical form to do work, some heat will be wasted A power plant cannot be 100% efficient http://www.howstuffworks.com/power.htm

Power Plants – Power Stations Types of Power Stations – Non-renewable Fossil Fuel Power Plant – Coal (cont.) Flue 7 5 4 http://www.eas.asu.edu/~holbert/eee463/coalart.gif 1 3 6 2 Waste Heat

Power Plants – Power Stations Types of Power Stations – Non-renewable Fossil Fuel Power Plant – Petroleum and Natural Gas Prime mover is gas turbine http://www.eas.asu.edu/~holbert/eee463/FOSSIL.HTML#Coal

Power Plants – Power Stations Waste heat (options): Cooling Towers: Released to atmosphere Combined Cycle: Recycled in secondary boiler http://www.eas.asu.edu/~holbert/eee463/FOSSIL.HTML#Coal

Power Plants – Power Stations PRIMARY LOOP Nuclear Power Plant Closed-loop reactor Control rods inserted to decrease chain reaction (control rods absorb neutrons, which slows reaction) Heated reactor water boils secondary loop of water in boiler (steam generator) http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.freeinfosociety.com/images/science/nuclearenergy1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.freeinfosociety.com/site.php%3Fpostnum%3D3115&usg=__x8wqqN0V5uyu_HXat8Z-iicSBb4=&h=299&w=612&sz=28&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=WtC6Zhde0KAmSM:&tbnh=66&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnuclear%2Bpower%2Bplant%2Bdiagram%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG

Power Plants – Power Stations SECONDARY LOOP Nuclear Power Plant http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.freeinfosociety.com/images/science/nuclearenergy1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.freeinfosociety.com/site.php%3Fpostnum%3D3115&usg=__x8wqqN0V5uyu_HXat8Z-iicSBb4=&h=299&w=612&sz=28&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=WtC6Zhde0KAmSM:&tbnh=66&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnuclear%2Bpower%2Bplant%2Bdiagram%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG Steam spins turbine Electricity generated to grid

Power Plants – Power Stations TERTIARY LOOP Cooling water from outside source; gets hot as it condenses steam Released in cooling tower Nuclear Power Plant http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.freeinfosociety.com/images/science/nuclearenergy1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.freeinfosociety.com/site.php%3Fpostnum%3D3115&usg=__x8wqqN0V5uyu_HXat8Z-iicSBb4=&h=299&w=612&sz=28&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=WtC6Zhde0KAmSM:&tbnh=66&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnuclear%2Bpower%2Bplant%2Bdiagram%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG

Containment Structure Steam Turbine Generator Condenser Cooling Tower Containment Structure Reactor Boiler Nuclear Power Plant (continued) http://www.allforpower.com/CustomFiles/Image/2007/AFP107/afp107_svar_01.jpg

Containment Structure Steam Turbine Generator Condenser Cooling Tower Containment Structure Reactor Boiler Nuclear Power Plant (continued) http://www.allforpower.com/CustomFiles/Image/2007/AFP107/afp107_svar_01.jpg