This document discusses thermal power energy and thermal power plants. It begins with an introduction to energy and power, noting that power is generated from nonrenewable sources like coal, oil, and gas. It then discusses the different kinds of thermal power energy, including fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. The document explains how a thermal power plant works, including the principle of converting chemical energy to thermal energy and then to physical and electrical energy. It describes the main equipment used in thermal power plants like the boiler, turbine, generator, and cooling systems. Finally, it includes some images of thermal power plants.
4. Energy
LOGO
Energy creates the power to drive tools and
machines, to process materials into
manufactured products and to create
structures.
Power is generated from nonrenewable
energy sources such as coal, oil, and gas, or
can be generated from natural resources such
as geothermal, solar, and gravitational
energies.
4/24
7. Fossil fuels
LOGO
Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas -- currently provide
more than 40% of all the energy consumed in the world,
nearly two-thirds of the electricity, and virtually all of the
transportation fuels. Moreover, it is likely that the nation’s
reliance on fossil fuels to power an expanding economy will
actually increase over at least the next two decades even
with aggressive development and deployment of new
renewable and nuclear technologies.
7/24
8. Fossil fuels
LOGO
* In a fossil-fueled power plant, heat, from the burning of coal, oil, or natural gas, converts (boils) water
into steam (A), which is piped to the turbine (B). In the turbine, the steam passes through the blades,
which spins the electrical generator (C), resulting in a flow of electricity. After leaving the turbine, the
steam is converted (condensed) back into water in the condenser (D). The water is then pumped (E)
back to the boiler (F) to be reheated and converted back into steam.
8/24
9. Coal
LOGO
Coal is one of the true measures of the
energy strength of the world. One
quarter of the world’s coal reserves are
found within the United States, and the
energy content of the nation’s coal
resources exceeds that of all the world’s
known recoverable oil. Coal is also the
workhorse of the nation’s electric power
industry.
9/24
10. Natural Gas
LOGO
Natural Gas usually associated
with petroleum deposits, consists
mostly of methane, but it also
contains significant amounts of
ethane, propane and butane.
10/24
11. Petroleum
LOGO
Petroleum is a thick, dark liquid
composed mostly of compounds
called hydrocarbons that contain
carbon and hydrogen.
11/24