Introduction of Thermodynamics (Fundamentals)

1. Applied Thermodynamics - I
Mr. Avesahemad Sayyadnaimutulla Husainy
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
SITCOE, Yadrav- Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra, India
Member of ISHRAE and ASHRAE, Ph.D. Research Scholar Shivaji University, Kolhapur
Sharad Institute of Technology College of
Engineering, Yadrav (Ichalkaranji)
NAAC ‘A’ grade accredited institute, NBA accredited
programs, An ISO 9001:2015 accredited institute.
Fundamental Concept of APTH-I
Introduction of Steam Power plant

2. The steam power plant is the important source to produce the
electricity. The major portion of electricity demand is fulfilled by the
steam power plant. It is also called as thermal power plant. It provides
the electricity requirement to different areas. In this article we will
study about the construction, working, efficiency, advantages and
disadvantages of steam power plant.
Working of Steam Power Plant

3. 1.Coal Storage: It is the place where coal is stored which can be utilized when
required.
2.Coal Handling: Here the coal is converted into the pulverized form before
feeding to the furnace. A proper system is designed to transport the pulverized
coal to the boiler furnace.
3.Boiler: It converts the water into high pressure steam. It contains the furnace
inside or outside the boiler shell. The combustion of coal takes place in the
furnace.
4.Air-preheater: It is used to pre-heat the air before entering into the boiler
furnace. The pre heating of air helps in the burning of fuel to a greater extent. It
takes the heat from the burnt gases from the furnace to heat the air from the
atmosphere.
5.Economizer: As its name indicates it economizes the working of the boiler. It
heats the feed water to a specified temperature before it enters into the boiler
drum. It takes the heat from the burnt gases from the furnace to do so.
6.Turbine: It is the mechanical device which converts the kinetic energy of the
steam to the mechanical energy.
7.Generator: It is coupled with the turbine rotor and converts the mechanical
energy of the turbine to the electrical energy.
8.Ash Storage: It is used to store the ash after burning of the coal.
9.Dust Collector: It collects the dust particle from the burnt gases before it is
released to the chimney.
10.Condenser: It condensate the steam that leaves out turbine. It converts the
low pressure steam to water. It is attached to the cooling tower.
11.Cooling Tower: It is a tower which contains cold water. Cold water is circulates
to the condenser for the cooling of the residual steam from the turbine.
12.Chimney: It is used to release the hot burnt gases or smoke from the furnace
to the environment at appropriate height. The height of the tower is very high
such that it can easily throw the smoke and exhaust gases at the appropriate
height. And it cannot affect the population living near the steam power plant.
13.Feed Water ump: It is used to transport the feed water to the boiler
Components of Steam Power Plant

4. Advantages
1. As compared with power generating plant, it has low initial cost and
hence economical.
2. Less land area is required as compared with the hydro power plant.
Coal is used as fuel and the cost of coal is cheaper than petrol and
diesel fuel. So the power generation cost is economical.
3. This power plant has easy maintenance cost.
4. Steam power plant can be installed in any area where water sources
and transportation facility are easily available.
Disadvantages
1. The running cost of steam power plant is comparatively high because
of fuel, maintenance etc
2. If we talk about the overall efficiency of steam power plant, than is
about 35 % to 41% which is low.
3. Due to the release of burnt gases of the coal or fuel, it contributes to
the global warming to a larger extent.
4. The heated water that is thrown in the rivers, ponds etc puts and
adverse effect on the living organism of water and disturbs the ecology.

6. Rankine Cycle

7. The Rankine cycle or Rankine Vapor Cycle is the process widely used
by power plants such as coal-fired power plants or nuclear reactors. In
this mechanism, a fuel is used to produce heat within a boiler,
converting water into steam which then expands through a turbine
producing useful work.
This process was developed in 1859 by Scottish engineer William J.M.
Rankine. This is a thermodynamic cycle which converts heat into
mechanical energy which usually gets transformed into electricity by
electrical generation.
The steps in the Rankine Cycle as shown in Figure 1 are outlined
below:
Pump: Compression of the fluid to high pressure using a pump.
Boiler: The compressed fluid is heated to the final temperature
(which is at boiling point), therefore, a phase change occurs—from
liquid to vapor.
Turbine: Expansion of the vapor in the turbine.
Condenser: Condensation of the vapor in the condenser (where the
waste heat goes to the final heat sink (the atmosphere or a large body
of water (ex. lake or river).