Types of Power Plants & Their Operations

Power plants are where electricity is generated. Simply put, these plants take lumps of coal and drops of oil and convert them into electric current that not only helps you charge your phone but also powers huge industries. Everything we do and consume today is directly or indirectly created due to these huge energy factories that burn fossil fuels, like coal, natural gas, and oil, into electric power.

The first energy plant was set-up in 1882 by Thomas Edison. Fast forward to today, where multiple of these plants generate over 1000 Watts of electricity daily, using different methods. The most recent trend is using solar power to generate energy, which takes us a step closer to generating electricity in a clean and green way. But, that is a relatively new tactic, which is still in its development stages. Till then, we have different types of power plant operations that are responsible for keeping our schools, hospitals, and offices warm, buzzing, and full of life.

In this article, we have covered types of power plant operations that are commonly found:

Types of Power Plants

Thermal Power Plants

This is the most common type of power plant operation, wherein energy is created by burning fuel to release heat. Due to this, these plants are known as thermal power plants. Coal and oil are used to burn fuel with oxygen, which is then used to release heat energy. This energy boils water and drives a steam turbine. Through the turbine, electricity is generated. This basic design is sometimes referred to as a simple cycle.
Natural Gas Plants

A natural gas plant works in a slightly different manner compared to thermal power plants. Instead of created steam, these plants burn a steady stream of gas, which is then used to drive a gas turbine. The motion of the gas turbine is used to generate electricity.
Combined Designs

This is a relatively new type of power plant that is built with the focus of getting as much usable electricity from the fuel as possible. The power plant operations here involve utilizing the hot exhaust gases coming from a gas turbine and using it to power a steam turbine as well. This is known as a combined cycle. Using this approach, up to 50% more electricity can be generated compared to an ordinary natural gas or thermal power plant operations. Another commonly used tactic in these plants is passed waste gasses through a heat exchanger to heat water. This process is known as cogeneration and is become one of the most prominent types of power plant operations.
Nuclear Power Plants

A nuclear power plant works similarly as a coal or oil plant. The only prominent difference is that instead of burning fuel, these plants smash atoms together, to release heat energy. This energy is then used to boil water, generate steam, and then power a steam turbine the usual way.

While there are many more types of power plants, these are the most common ones. With solar plants making their presence felt, we are sure that these plants will soon be adopting more eco-friendly approaches to generate electricity!

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