Types of Power Plant Equipment

It’s hard to imagine living without electricity since it’s the most convenient form of energy we have today. It can be transported from one place to another and can change into other energy forms such as heat, mechanical or work. Electric energy can be generated in a couple of ways, and one of these ways is using a power plant.

A power plant is a place some other energy form changes into electrical energy or power using individual machines. There are two main types of power plants: Thermal Power Plants (uses steam) and Hydropower plants (uses flowing water). In addition to these two, there are power plants that use other energy forms such as nuclear, solar, thermal and wind energy. In all these power plants, there are different equipment essential in the conversion from one energy source to electrical energy.

1. Nuclear reactor

It serves as the central part of a nuclear power plant. It controls and maintains nuclear chain reactions while taking advantage of the heat energy produced from nuclear fission inside the reactor. The nuclear reactor is in a reactor vessel that is built to withstand high pressure and high temperatures generated in the reactor. It also provides enough space that can safely contain both nuclear fuel and the chain reactions that produce energy. It is safe to say that a nuclear reactor is one of the most expensive power plant equipment in the market as they are few in the market because nuclear power plants are few too.

2. Steam generator for nuclear reactors

When nuclear fission inside the reactor core generated heat energy, it moves to the coolant in the primary loop. A steam generator located between the primary and secondary coolant loops and uses the heat generated between these two loops to make hot, high-pressure steam and delivers it to the turbines to produce electric energy.

Some critical parts of a steam generator include:

· Moisture separator – standard steam generator

· AS01 moisture separator – replacement heat generator

· Tube support plate (horizontal)

· Improved axial tube support plate – replacement heat generator

· Auxiliary feedwater system – standard steam generator

· Upper tube bundle supports

· Steam dryer

· Steam outlet nozzle – standard steam generator

3. Nuclear reactor coolant pump

It is a crucial part of the nuclear steam supply system and is in the primary system of the nuclear power plant. Using the large capacity vertical pump, the heat generated in the reactor core moves to the steam generator and must pass it through the high pressure and high-temperature coolant. The pump provides adequate electromotive force to run the coolant in the reactor coolant system. It gives the reactor coolant pressure boundary as well as the primary heating of reactor coolant. The pump should be operating optimally because when the RCP stops, the whole nuclear power plant cannot function.

4. Boiler

It burns fossil fuel such as oil or coal to produce steam that is used to power electricity generating machines. The steam has high temperatures and high pressure that enables it to move turbines that power the generators. Some valuable parts include:

· steam pressure vessel

· a circulation system

· a combustion unit where fossil fuel burns

· a ventilation unit where air for combustion enters and the exhaust gas leaves the system

· different types of auxiliary units

5. Turbines

There are two types of turbines: steam turbines and gas turbines. For the steam turbines, the steam generator or HRSG (Heat Recovery Steam Generator) generates hot, high-pressure steam; the steam turns the turbine blades that power the power generator with a powerful turning force. There are high, medium and low-pressure models.

For the gas turbines, the compressor produces pressurized air and mixes it with fossil fuel. It is then burnt, and the resulting hot gas moves the turbine. Gas turbines are in demand because of their high performance, reduced harmful emissions, fuel diversity and reliability. They are popular in combined cycle/ cogeneration power plants.

6. Generators

Being the most vital part of a power plant, it uses electromotive force when turbines deliver a turning force to produce electricity. Generators can have different electric output capacities from 30 MW to 1000 MW.

These are a few power plant equipment that might be useful to note although there are many more. In case you need plants for sale, look through dealers’ websites to locate one that is most reliable.