Coal Fired Thermal Power Plant: The Basic Steps and Facts (Page 2 of 2)

• The ash produced from this combustion is around 200,000 tons per year.

• Electrostatic precipitators capture almost all of this ash without dispersing this to the atmosphere. Pollutants from coal power plants like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide can also affect the environment.

• The boiler for typical 500 MW units produces around 1600 tons per hour of steam at a temperature of 540 to 600 degrees Centigrade. The steam pressures is in the range of 200 bar. The boiler materials are designed to withstand these conditions with special consideration for operational safety.

• Heat transfer from the hot combustion gases to the water in the boiler takes place due to Radiation and convection.

• The Electrical generators carry very large electric currents that produce heat and are be cooled by Hydrogen and water.

• The steam leaving the turbine is condensed and the water is pumped back for reuse in the boiler. To condense all the steam it will require around 50,000 cubic meter per hour of cooling water to be circulated from lakes, rivers or the sea. The water is returned to the source with only an increase of 3 to 4 degrees centigrade to prevent any effect to the environment.

• Apart from the cooling water the power plant also requires around 400 cubic metere per day of fresh water for making up the losses in the water steam cycle.

These are some of the facts to highlight the complexities of the working of a Coal Fired Power Plant generating Electricity.

For more details, discover how coal is blended to the right mix to maximize energy production or learn about the specific caloric energies of coal and how moisture in the coal can affect a power plant's efficiency.

You may also learn about the parts of a thermal power plant and site selection.