Category: 3. Sources of Energy and Power Plant Engineering

Over 85% of the energy used in the world is from non-renewable sources. Most of the developed nations are dependent on non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels (coal and oil) and nuclear power. These sources are called non-renewable because they cannot be renewed or regenerated quickly enough to keep pace with their use. Coal: Coal…

Renewable energy comes from the sources that can theoretically be renewed as quickly as they are consumed. If used at a sustainable rate, these sources will be available for consumption for thousands of years or longer. Unfortunately, some potentially renewable energy sources, such as biomass and geothermal, are being depleted in some areas because the usage…

The nuclear reactors can be classified on the basis of neutron energy, fuel used, moderator used, and coolant used. On the basis of neutron energy, we can classify the nuclear reactor as fast reactor and thermal reactor; on the basis of fuel used, we can classify them as natural fuel reactor and enriched uranium reactor;…

Fuel: 92U235, 94Pu239, 92U233 are nuclear fuels used in nuclear reactor to release the heat energy. In uranium ore, 92U235 is available only up to 0.7% and the remaining is 92U238. The other two fuels 94Pu239 and 92U233 are formed in the reactor during the fission process of 92U235. 90Th232 is formed due to absorption of neutron by 92U235 without fission. In homogeneous reactors, the fuel (uranium) and moderator (carbon) are…

In nuclear power plant, nuclear energy released from radioactive materials due to fission reaction is utilized to heat the water and convert it into superheated steam. Rest of the electricity generation process is similar to steam power plant as discussed in Section 1.3. The main problem is careful handling of radioactive fuel used in nuclear reactor.…

The principle of electricity generation in the case of hydroelectric power plant is the same as in thermal power plant; only difference is that the shaft power to the turbine is provided by pressure and kinetic energy of water in the case of hydroelectric power plant and in thermal power plant the shaft power to…

Power plant engineering is a branch of engineering which deals with conversion of various forms of energy into electrical energy. In this text we will discuss about thermal power, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, and non-conventional sources of energy. In thermal power plant, coal, diesel, petrol, natural gas, and kerosene oil are used as fuel and…

Power plant engineering is a branch of engineering which deals with conversion of various forms of energy into electrical energy. In this text we will discuss about thermal power, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, and non-conventional sources of energy. In thermal power plant, coal, diesel, petrol, natural gas, and kerosene oil are used as fuel and…

Prime mover is a primary source of power. All the machinery that provides power for performing various kinds of mechanical work is prime movers. It is a group of machines that transform various forms of energy such as thermal, electrical or pressure into mechanical energy. Engines, turbines, pumps, actuators, etc. are the examples of prime…