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Expt. # 03 Study of A Steam Turbine Power Plant

The document discusses the components and processes of a steam power plant. It begins by describing the Rankine cycle, which is the ideal thermodynamic cycle for steam power plants. It then explains the key components of a typical steam power plant layout, including the boiler, turbine, condenser, pumps, and auxiliary equipment. The summary concludes by briefly mentioning some major components like the economizer, air preheater, reheater, and soot blower.

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Sajeeb Sarker
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110 views6 pages

Expt. # 03 Study of A Steam Turbine Power Plant

The document discusses the components and processes of a steam power plant. It begins by describing the Rankine cycle, which is the ideal thermodynamic cycle for steam power plants. It then explains the key components of a typical steam power plant layout, including the boiler, turbine, condenser, pumps, and auxiliary equipment. The summary concludes by briefly mentioning some major components like the economizer, air preheater, reheater, and soot blower.

Uploaded by

Sajeeb Sarker
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Expt. No.

: 03
Name of Expt.: Study of Steam Power Plant.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To study about the Rankine cycle and different components steam power plant.
2. To study about the layout of steam power plant.
THEORY:
The Ideal Cycle for Vapor Power Cycle: Rankine Cycle

Fig. 01: Rankine Cycle.


The Rankine cycle consists of the following four processes:
1-2: Isentropic compression in pump (compressors)
2-3: Constant pressure heat addition in boiler
3-4: Isentropic expansion in turbine
4-1: Constant pressure heat rejection in a condenser
Process 1-2
Water enters the pump at state 1 as saturated liquid and is compressed isentropically to the
operating pressure of the boiler. The water temperature increases somewhat during this
isentropic compression process due to slight decrease in the specific volume of the water. The
vertical distance between state 1 and 2 on the T-s diagram is greatly exaggerated for clarity.
Process 2-3
Water enters the boiler as a compressed liquid at state 2 and leaves as a superheated vapor at
state 3. The boiler is basically a large heat exchanger where the heat originating from
combustion gases, is transferred to the water essentially at constant pressure. The boiler
together with the section where the steam is superheated (the superheater), is often called the
steam generator.
Process 3-4
The superheated vapor at state 3 enters the turbine, where it expands isentropically and
produces work by rotating the shaft connected to an electric generator. The pressure and the
temperature of the steam drops during this process to the values at state 4, where steam enters
the condenser
Process 4-1
At this state, the steam is usually a saturated liquid-vapor mixture with a high quality. Steam is
condensed at constant pressure in the condenser which is basically a large heat exchanger, by
rejecting heat to a cooling medium from a lake, or a river. Steam leaves the condenser as
saturated liquid and enters the pump, completing the cycle.

Fig. 02: Mini Steam Power Plant.


Essentials of Steam Power Plant Equipment:
A steam power plant must have following equipment:
1) A furnace to burn the fuel.
2) Steam generator or boiler containing water. Heat generated in the furnace is utilized to
convert water into steam.
3) Main power unit such as an engine or turbine to use the heat energy of steam and
perform work.
4) Piping system to convey steam and water.
In addition to the above equipment the plant requires various auxiliaries and accessories
depending upon the availability of water, fuel and the service for which the plant is intended.
The flow sheet of a thermal power plant consists of the following four main circuits:
1) Feed water and steam flow circuit.
2) Coal and ash circuit.
3) Air and gas circuit.
4) Cooling water circuit.
A steam power plant using steam as working substance works basically on Rankine cycle.
Steam is generated in a boiler, expanded in the prime mover and condensed in the condenser
and fed into the boiler again.
The different types of systems and components used in steam power plant are as follows:
1) High pressure boiler
2) Prime mover
3) Condensers and cooling towers
4) Coal handling system
5) Ash and dust handling system
6) Draught system
7) Feed water purification plant
8) Pumping system
9) Air preheater, economizer, super heater, feed heaters.
Fig. 03 shows a schematic arrangement of equipment of a steam power station. Coal received
in coal storage yard of power station is transferred in the furnace by coal handling unit. Heat
produced due to burning of coal is utilized in converting water contained in boiler drum into
steam at suitable pressure and temperature. The steam generated is passed through the
superheater. Superheated steam then flows through the turbine. After doing work in the turbine
the pressure of steam is reduced. Steam leaving the turbine passes through the condenser which
is maintained the low pressure of steam at the exhaust of turbine. Steam pressure in the
condenser depends upon flow rate and temperature of cooling water and on effectiveness of air
removal equipment. Water circulating through the condenser may be taken from the various
sources such as river, lake or sea. If sufficient quantity of water is not available the hot water
coming out of the condenser may be cooled in cooling towers and circulated again through the
condenser. Bled steam taken from the turbine at suitable extraction points is sent to low
pressure and high-pressure water heaters.

Fig. 03: Steam power plant layout with its different circuits.
Air taken from the atmosphere is first passed through the air pre-heater, where it is heated by
flue gases. The hot air then passes through the furnace. The flue gases after passing over boiler
and superheater tubes, flow through the dust collector and then through economizer, air pre-
heater and finally they are exhausted to the atmosphere through the chimney.
Steam condensing system consists of the following:
1) Condenser
2) Cooling water
3) Cooling tower
4) Hot well
5) Condenser cooling water pump
6) Condensate air extraction pump
7) Air extraction pump
8) Boiler feed pump
9) Make up water pump.
Major Components and Their Functions:
Economizer
The economizer is a feed water heater, deriving heat from the flue gases. The justifiable cost
of the economizer depends on the total gain in efficiency. In turn this depends on the flue gas
temperature leaving the boiler and the feed water inlet temperature. A typical return bend type
economizer is shown in the Fig. 03.
Air Pre -heater
The flue gases coming out of the economizer is used to preheat the air before supplying it to
the combustion chamber. An increase in air temperature of 20 degrees can be achieved by this
method. The pre heated air is used for combustion and also to dry the crushed coal before
pulverizing.
Soot Blowers
The fuel used in thermal power plants causes soot and this is deposited on the boiler tubes,
economizer tubes, air pre heaters, etc. This drastically reduces the amount of heat transfer of
the heat exchangers. Soot blowers control the formation of soot and reduce its corrosive effects.
The types of soot blowers are fixed type, which may be further classified into lane type and
mass type depending upon the type of spray and nozzle used. The other type of soot blower is
the retractable soot blower. The advantages are that they are placed far away from the high
temperature zone, they concentrate the cleaning through a single large nozzle rather than many
small nozzles and there is no concern of nozzle arrangement with respect to the boiler tubes.
Condenser
The use of a condenser in a power plant is to improve the efficiency of the powerplant by
decreasing the exhaust pressure of the steam below atmosphere. Another advantage of the
condenser is that the steam condensed may be recovered to provide a source of good pure feed
water to the boiler and reduce the water softening capacity to a considerable extent. A
condenser is one of the essential components of a power plant.
Cooling Tower
The importance of the cooling tower is felt when the cooling water from the condenser has to
be cooled. The cooling water after condensing the steam becomes hot and it has to be cooled
as it belongs to a closed system. The Cooling towers do the job of decreasing the temperature
of the cooling water after condensing the steam in the condenser.
The type of cooling tower used in the Columbia Power Plant was an Inline Induced Draft Cross
Flow Tower. This tower provides a horizontal air flow as the water falls down the tower in the
form of small droplets. The fan centered at the top of units draws air through two cells that are
paired to a suction chamber partitioned beneath the fan. The outstanding feature of this tower
is lower air static pressure loss as there is less resistance to air flow. The evaporation and
effective cooling of air is greater when the air outside is warmer and dryer than when it is cold
and already saturated.
Superheater
The superheater consists of a superheater header and superheater elements. Steam from the
main steam pipe arrives at the saturated steam chamber of the superheater header and is fed
into the superheater elements. Superheated steam arrives back at the superheated steam
chamber of the superheater header and is fed into the steam pipe to the cylinders. Superheated
steam is more expansive.
Reheater
The reheater functions similar to the superheater in that it serves to elevate the steam
temperature. Primary steam is supplied to the high-pressure turbine. After passing through the
high-pressure turbine, the steam is returned to the steam generator for reheating (in a reheater)
after which it is sent to the low-pressure turbine. A second reheat cycle may also be provided.

Questions:
1. How can we increase the efficiency of the Rankine cycle? Explain.
2. Draw layout of modern thermal power plant.
3. Explain various site selection criteria required to consider for steam power plant.
4. Write short notes on
a. Superheater,
b. Economizer,
c. Air Preheater,
d. Reheater, and
e. Soot Blower.

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