A power generating station converts energy from sources like coal, natural gas, nuclear fuel, or renewable sources like wind or solar into electrical energy. It consists of a prime mover, like a steam or gas turbine, connected to an alternator that generates electricity. Common types of generating stations include steam power stations, hydroelectric stations, gas stations, and nuclear stations. Steam power stations, the most common type, burn coal to create steam that drives a steam turbine connected to a generator.

1. Generating Station
What is a power generating station?
Power generating station (i.e. power plants) is special plants with a set of
components that have the ability to generate bulk electric power.
A generating station ( fig.1) essentially employs a prime mover coupled to an alternator for
the production of electric power.
 The prime mover (e.g., steam turbine, water turbine etc.) converts energy from some
other form into mechanical energy.
 Alternator converts mechanical energy of the prime mover into electrical energy.
 The electrical energy produced by the generating station is transmitted and distributed
with the help of conductors to various consumers.
Fig.1schdual of A generating station
What are the sources of electric energy?
Since electrical energy is produced from energy available in various forms in
nature, it is desirable to look into the various sources of energy. These sources of energy
are:
(i) The Sun (ii) The Wind (iii) Water……( Renewable energy)
(iv) Fuels (v) Nuclear energy……….. (Classical energy)
Depending upon the form of energy converted into electrical energy, the
generating stations are classified as under:
(i) Steam power stations
(ii) Hydroelectric power stations
(iii) Diesel power stations
(iv) Gas station
(v) Nuclear power stations
(vi) Wind power station
(vii) Solar cell (Photovoltage cell)

2. Types of generating stations:
1. Steam Power Station (Thermal Station): A generating station which converts
heat energy of coal combustion into electrical energy is known as a steam power station.
A steam power station basically works on the Rankine cycle. Steam is produced in the
boiler by utilizing the heat of coal combustion. The steam is then expanded in the prime
mover (i.e., steam turbine) and is condensed in a condenser to be fed into the boiler again.
The steam turbine drives the alternator which converts mechanical energy of the turbine
into electrical energy.
1.1 Schematic Arrangement of Steam Power Station
Although steam power station simply involves the conversion of heat of coal
combustion into electrical energy, yet it embraces many arrangements for proper working
and efficiency.
The schematic arrangement of a modern steam power station can be divided into the
following stages for the sake of simplicity:
1. Coal and ash handling arrangement
2. Steam generating plant
3. Steam turbine
4. Alternator
5. Feed water
6. Cooling arrangement
1. Coal and ash handling arrangement
- From the coal storage plant, coal is delivered to the coal handling plant where it is
pulverized (i.e., crushed into small pieces) in order to rapid combustion without using
large quantity of excess air.
- The coal is burnt in the boiler.
- Ash handling then delivered to the ash storage plant
- in a thermal station, about 50% to 60% of the total operating cost consists of fuel
purchasing and its handling.

3. 2.Steam generating plant, it is consists of Boiler with Other auxiliary equipment :
Boiler: Place of burning coal, the heat of combustion of coal in the boiler is utilized to
convert water into steam at high temperature and pressure.
Other auxiliary equipment for the utilization of flue gases are:
1. Superheater. The steam produced in the boiler is wet and is passed through a
superheater where it is dried and superheated (i.e., steam temperature increased above
that of boiling point of water) by the flue gases on their way to chimney.
Superheating provides two principal benefits:
* Firstly, the overall efficiency is increased.
*Secondly, avoided blade corrosion of steam turbine
2. Economiser. used for extracts a part of heat of flue gases to increase the feed water
temperature before supplying to the boiler.
3. Air preheater. The air preheater extracts heat from flue gases and increases the
temperature of air used for coal combustion.
The principal benefits of preheating the air are:
 Increased thermal efficiency
 Increased steam capacity per square meter of boiler surface.

5. 3. Steam turbine. The dry and superheated steam from the super heater is fed to
the steam turbine through main valve. The heat energy of steam when passing
over the blades of turbine is converted into mechanical energy.
4. Alternator. The steam turbine is coupled to an alternator. The alternator converts
mechanical energy of turbine into electrical energy. The electrical output from the
alternator is delivered to the bus bars through transformer, circuit breakers and
isolators.
5. Feed water. The condensate from the condenser is used as feed water to the boiler. Some
water may be lost in the cycle which is suitably made up from external source.
6. Cooling arrangement. In order to improve the efficiency of the plant, the steam
exhausted from the turbine is condensed* by means of a condenser.
1.3 Efficiency of Steam Power Station
The overall efficiency of a steam power station is quite low (about 29%) due mainly
to two reasons.
*Firstly, a huge amount of heat is lost in the condenser.
*Secondly heat losses occur at various stages of the plant.
(i) Thermal efficiency. The ratio of heat equivalent of mechanical energy transmitted to
the turbine shaft to the heat of combustion of coal is known as thermal efficiency of steam
power station.
The thermal efficiency of a modern steam power station is about 30%. It means that if
100 calories of heat is supplied by coal combustion, then mechanical energy equivalent of
30 calories will be available at the turbine shaft and rest is lost. It may be important to note
that more than 50% of total heat of combustion is lost in the condenser. The other heat
losses occur in flue gases, radiation, ash etc.

6. (ii) Overall efficiency. The ratio of heat equivalent of electrical output to the
heat of combustion of coal is known as overall efficiency of steam power
station i.e. Overall efficiency,
The overall efficiency of a steam power station is about 29%. It may be seen that
overall efficiency is less than the thermal efficiency. This is expected since some
losses (about 1%) occur in the alternator. The following relation exists among the
various efficiencies.
Overall efficiency = Thermal efficiency . Electrical efficiency
Example 2.1. A steam power station has an overall efficiency of 20% and 0·6 kg of coal
is burnt per kWh of electrical energy generated. Calculate the calorific value of fuel.

9. TUTORIAL PROBLEMS
1. A generating station has an overall efficiency of 15% and 0·75 kg of coal is burnt per kWh
by the station. Determine the calorific value of coal in kilocalories per kilogram. [7644
kcal/kg]
2. A 75 MW steam power station uses coal of calorific value of 6400 kcal/kg. Thermal
efficiency of the station is 30% while electrical efficiency is 80%. Calculate the coal
consumption per hour when the station is delivering its full output. [42 tons]
3. A 65,000 kW steam power station uses coal of calorific value 15,000 kcal per kg. If the coal
consumption per kWh is 0·5 kg and the load factor of the station is 40%, calculate (i) the
overall efficiency (ii) coal consumption per day. [(i) 28·7% (ii) 312 tons]
4. A 60 MW steam power station has a thermal efficiency of 30%. If the coal burnt has a
calorific value of 6950 kcal/kg, calculate :
(i) the coal consumption per kWh,
(ii)the coal consumption per day. [(i) 0·413 kg (ii) 238 tons]
5. A 25 MVA turbo-alternator is working on full load at a power factor of 0·8 and efficiency
of 97%. Find the quantity of cooling air required per minute at full load, assuming that 90%
of the total losses are dissipated by the internally circulating air. The inlet air temperature is
20º C and the temperature rise is 30º C. Given that specific heat of air is 0·24 and that 1 kg
of air occupies 0·8 m3. [890 m3/minute]
6. A thermal station has an efficiency of 15% and 1·0 kg of coal burnt for every kWh
generated. Determine the calorific value of coal. [5733 kcal/kg]