EEE 427/EEE 727

ELECTRIC POWER
PRINCIPLES
Dr Ogaga Oghorada
2022-2023
 Course Outline
• Electric power systems: electric utility systems, sources of electric power
and electric power plants and generation.
• AC voltage, current and Power: sources and power, resistors, inductors and
capacitors, voltage stability.
• Transmission lines.
• Transmission of electrical energy: principal components of a power
distribution system, types of power lines, components of an HV
transmission line, construction of a line, and the equivalent circuit of a line.
• Distribution of electrical energy: substation equipment, circuit breakers,
disconnecting switches, grounding switches, grounding transformers,
protection of medium voltage distribution systems and low voltage
distribution.
• Cost of electricity: tariffs systems, rate structures and power factor
correction.
 TEXTBOOKS
• Electric power principles sources, conversion,
distribution, and use by James L. Kirtley.
• Fundamentals of Electric Power Engineering - From
Electromagnetics to Power Systems by MASSIMO
CERAOLO, DAVIDE POLI.
• Electrical Machines, Drives and Power Systems by
Théodore Wildi.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
INTRODUCTION
• The dependence on electricity is so much that it has become a part
and parcel of our life.
• The ever increasing use of electric power for domestic, commercial
and industrial purposes necessitates to provide bulk electric power
economically.
• This is achieved with the help of suitable power producing units,
known as Power plants or Electric power generating stations.
• The design of a power plant should incorporate two important
aspects.
• Firstly, the selection and placing of necessary power-generating
equipment should be such so that a maximum of return will result
from a minimum of expenditure over the working life of the plant.
• Secondly, the operation of the plant should be such so as to
provide cheap, reliable and continuous service.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Generating Stations
• Bulk electric power is produced by special plants known as
generating stations or power plants.
• A generating station essentially employs a prime mover coupled to
an alternator for the production of electric power.
• The prime mover (e.g., steam turbine, water turbine etc.) converts
energy from some other form into mechanical energy.
• The alternator converts mechanical energy of the prime mover
into electrical energy.
• The electrical energy produced by the generating station is
transmitted and distributed with the help of conductors to various
consumers.
• It may be emphasised here that apart from prime mover-
alternator combination, a modern generating station employs
several auxiliary equipment and instruments to ensure cheap,
reliable and continuous service.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
• Depending upon the form of energy converted into electrical
energy, the generating stations are classified as under :
(i) Steam power stations
(ii) Hydroelectric power stations
(iii) Diesel power stations
(iv) Nuclear power stations.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
• A generating station which converts heat energy of coal
combustion into electrical energy is known as a steam power
station.
• A steam power station basically works on the Rankine cycle.
• The Rankine cycle is an idealized thermodynamic cycle describing the
process by which certain heat engines, such as steam turbines, allow
mechanical work to be extracted from a fluid as it moves between a heat
source and heat sink.
• Steam is produced in the boiler by utilising the heat of coal
combustion.
• The steam is then expanded in the prime mover (i.e., steam
turbine) and is condensed in a condenser to be fed into the boiler
again.
• The steam turbine drives the alternator which converts
mechanical energy of the turbine into electrical energy.
• This type of power station is suitable where coal and water are
available in abundance and a large amount of electric power is to
be generated.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
Advantages
• The fuel (i.e., coal) used is quite cheap.
• Less initial cost as compared to other generating stations.
• It can be installed at any place irrespective of the existence
of coal. The coal can be transported to the site of the plant
by rail or road.
• It requires less space as compared to the hydroelectric
power station.
• The cost of generation is lesser than that of the diesel power
station.
Disadvantages
• It pollutes the atmosphere due to the production of large
amount of smoke and fumes.
• It is costlier in running cost as compared to hydroelectric
plant.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
Schematic Arrangement of Steam Power Station
• steam power station simply involves the conversion of
heat of coal combustion into electrical energy, yet it
embraces many arrangements for proper working and
efficiency.
• The schematic arrangement of a modern steam power
station is shown in Fig. 1.
• The whole arrangement can be divided into the
following stages for the sake of simplicity :
• Coal and ash handling arrangement
• Steam generating plant
• Steam turbine
• Alternator
• Feed water
• Cooling arrangement
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)

Fig. 1 schematics of a steam turbine plant

 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
Coal and ash handling plant.
• The coal is transported to the power station by road or rail and is stored in the
coal storage plant.
• Storage of coal is primarily a matter of protection against coal strikes, failure of
transportation system and general coal shortages.
• From the coal storage plant, coal is delivered to the coal handling plant where it
is pulverised (i.e., crushed into small pieces) in order to increase its surface
exposure, thus promoting rapid combustion without using large quantity of
excess air.
• The pulverised coal is fed to the boiler by belt conveyors.
• The coal is burnt in the boiler and the ash produced after the complete
combustion of coal is removed to the ash handling plant and then delivered to
the ash storage plant for disposal.
• The removal of the ash from the boiler furnace is necessary for proper burning
of coal.
• It is worthwhile to give a passing reference to the amount of coal burnt and ash
produced in a modern thermal power station.
• A 100 MW station operating at 50% load factor may burn about 20,000 tons of
coal per month and ash produced may be to the tune of 10% to 15% of coal
fired i.e., 2,000 to 3,000 tons.
• In fact, in a thermal station, about 50% to 60% of the total operating cost
consists of fuel purchasing and its handling.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
Steam generating plant
• The steam generating plant consists of a boiler for the production of steam and other auxiliary
equipment for the utilisation of flue gases.
Boiler:
• the heat of combustion of coal in the boiler is utilised to convert water into steam at high
temperature and pressure.
• The flue gases from the boiler make their journey through superheater, economiser, air pre-
heater and are finally exhausted to atmosphere through the chimney.
Superheater
• The steam produced in the boiler is wet and is passed through a superheater where it is dried
and superheated (i.e., steam temperature increased above that of boiling point of water) by the
flue gases on their way to chimney.
• Superheating provides two principal benefits. Firstly, the overall efficiency is increased. Secondly,
too much condensation in the last stages of turbine (which would cause blade corrosion) is
avoided.
• The superheated steam from the superheater is fed to steam turbine through the main valve.
Economiser
• An economiser is essentially a feed water heater and derives heat from the flue gases for this
purpose.
• The feed water is fed to the economiser before supplying to the boiler.
• The economiser extracts a part of heat of flue gases to increase the feed water temperature.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
Air preheater
• An air preheater increases the temperature of the
air supplied for coal burning by deriving heat from
flue gases.
• Air is drawn from the atmosphere by a forced
draught fan and is passed through air preheater
before supplying to the boiler furnace.
• The air preheater extracts heat from flue gases and
increases the temperature of air used for coal
combustion.
• The principal benefits of preheating the air are :
increased thermal efficiency and increased steam
capacity per square metre of boiler surface.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
Steam turbine
• The dry and superheated steam from the superheater is fed to the
steam turbine through main valve.
• The heat energy of steam when passing over the blades of turbine is
converted into mechanical energy.
• After giving heat energy to the turbine, the steam is exhausted to the
condenser which condenses the exhausted steam by means of cold
water circulation.
Alternator.
• The steam turbine is coupled to an alternator.
• The alternator converts mechanical energy of turbine into electrical
energy. The electrical output from the alternator is delivered to the bus
bars through transformer, circuit breakers and isolators.
Feed water.
• The condensate from the condenser is used as feed water to the boiler.
• Some water may be lost in the cycle which is suitably made up from
external source.
• The feed water on its way to the boiler is heated by water heaters and
economiser. This helps in raising the overall efficiency of the plant.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
Cooling arrangement.
• In order to improve the efficiency of the plant, the steam
exhausted from the turbine is condensed* by means of a
condenser.
• Water is drawn from a natural source of supply such as a
river, canal or lake and is circulated through the condenser.
• The circulating water takes up the heat of the exhausted
steam and itself becomes hot. This hot water coming out
from the condenser is discharged at a suitable location
down the river.
• In case the availability of water from the source of supply is
not assured throughout the year, cooling towers are used.
• During the scarcity of water in the river, hot water from the
condenser is passed on to the cooling towers where it is
cooled. The cold water from the cooling tower is reused in
the condenser.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Steam Power Station (Thermal Station)
Choice of Site for Steam Power Stations
In order to achieve overall economy, the following points should be considered while selecting a site for
a steam power station :
• Supply of fuel: The steam power station should be located near the coal mines so that the
transportation cost of fuel is minimum. However, if such a plant is to be installed at a place
where coal is not available, then care should be taken that adequate facilities exist for the
transportation of coal.
• Availability of water: As a huge amount of water is required for the condenser, therefore, such a
plant should be located at the bank of a river or near a canal to ensure a continuous supply of
water.
• Transportation facilities: A modern steam power station often requires the transportation of
material and machinery. Therefore, adequate transportation facilities must exist i.e., the plant
should be well connected to other parts of the country by rail, or road. etc.
• Cost and type of land: The steam power station should be located at a place where land is cheap
and further extension, if necessary, is possible. Moreover, the bearing capacity of the ground
should be adequate so that heavy equipment could be installed.
• Nearness to load centres: In order to reduce the transmission cost, the plant should be located
near the centre of the load. This is particularly important if d.c. supply system is adopted.
However, if a.c. supply system is adopted, this factor becomes relatively less important. It is
because a.c. power can be transmitted at high voltages with consequent reduced transmission
cost. Therefore, it is possible to install the plant away from the load centres, provided other
conditions are favourable.
• Distance from the populated area: As huge amount of coal is burnt in a steam power station,
therefore, smoke and fumes pollute the surrounding area. This necessitates that the plant
should be located at a considerable distance from the populated areas.
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Efficiency of Steam Power Station
• The overall efficiency of a steam power station is quite low
(about 29%) due mainly to two reasons.
• Firstly, a huge amount of heat is lost in the condenser and
secondly heat losses occur at various stages of the plant.
• The heat lost in the condenser cannot be avoided. It is because
heat energy cannot be converted into mechanical energy
without temperature difference.
• The greater the temperature difference, the greater is the
heat energy converted* into mechanical energy.
• This necessitates to keep the steam in the condenser at the
lowest temperature. But we know that greater the
temperature difference, greater is the amount of heat lost.
• This explains for the low efficiency of such plants.
Thermal efficiency :The ratio of heat equivalent of mechanical
energy transmitted to the turbine shaft to the heat of combustion
of coal is known as thermal efficiency of steam power station.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Efficiency of Steam Power Station
• The thermal efficiency of a modern steam power station is
about 30%. It means that if 100 calories of heat is supplied
by coal combustion, then mechanical energy equivalent of 30
calories will be available at the turbine shaft and rest is lost.
• It may be important to note that more than 50% of total
heat of combustion is lost in the condenser. The other heat
losses occur in flue gases, radiation, ash etc.
Overall efficiency: The ratio of heat equivalent of electrical
output to the heat of combustion of coal is known as overall
efficiency of steam power station i.e.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Efficiency of Steam Power Station
• The overall efficiency of a steam power station is about
29%.
• It may be seen that overall efficiency is less than the
thermal efficiency. This is expected since some losses (about
1%) occur in the alternator. The following relation exists
among the various efficiencies. Overall efficiency = Thermal
efficiency × Electrical efficiency
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Equipment of Steam Power Station
• A modern steam power station is highly complex
and has numerous equipment and auxiliaries.
However, the most important constituents of a
steam power station are :
• Steam generating equipment
• Condenser
• Prime mover
• Water treatment plant
• Electrical equipment.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Equipment of Steam Power Station
Steam generating equipment.
• This is an important part of steam power station. It is
concerned with the generation of superheated steam
and includes such items as boiler, boiler furnace,
superheater, economiser, air pre-heater and other heat
reclaiming devices.
Condensers.
• A condenser is a device which condenses the steam at
the exhaust of turbine. It serves two important
functions. Firstly, it creates a very low *pressure at the
exhaust of turbine, thus permitting expansion of the
steam in the prime mover to a very low pressure. This
helps in converting heat energy of steam into
mechanical energy in the prime mover. Secondly, the
condensed steam can be used as feed water to the
boiler. There are two types of condensers, namely : (i)
Jet condenser (ii) Surface condenser
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Equipment of Steam Power Station
Prime movers.
• The prime mover converts steam energy into
mechanical energy. There are two types of steam
prime movers viz., steam engines and steam
turbines. A steam turbine has several advantages
over a steam engine as a prime mover viz., high
efficiency, simple construction, higher speed, less
floor area requirement and low maintenance cost.
Therefore, all modern steam power stations
employ steam turbines as prime movers. Steam
turbines are generally classified into two types
according to the action of steam on moving blades
viz. (i) Impulse turbines (ii) Reactions turbines
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Equipment of Steam Power Station
Water treatment plant.
• Boilers require clean and soft water for longer life and
better efficiency. However, the source of boiler feed water is
generally a river or lake which may contain suspended and
dissolved impurities, dissolved gases etc.
• Therefore, it is very important that water is first purified
and softened by chemical treatment and then delivered to
the boiler.
• The water from the source of supply is stored in storage
tanks. The suspended impurities are removed through
sedimentation, coagulation and filtration.
• Dissolved gases are removed by aeration and
degasification. The water is then ‘softened’ by removing
temporary and permanent hardness through different
chemical processes.
• The pure and soft water thus available is fed to the boiler
for steam generation.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Equipment of Steam Power Station
Electrical equipment.
• A modern power station contains numerous electrical equipment.
• However, the most important items are :
• Alternators. Each alternator is coupled to a steam turbine and
converts mechanical energy of the turbine into electrical energy.
The alternator may be hydrogen or air cooled. The necessary
excitation is provided by means of main and pilot exciters directly
coupled to the alternator shaft.
• Transformers. A generating station has different types of
transformers, viz., (a) main step-up transformers which step-up
the generation voltage for transmission of power. (b) station
transformers which are used for general service (e.g., lighting) in
the power station. (c) auxiliary transformers which supply to
individual unit-auxiliaries.
• Switchgear. It houses such equipment which locates the fault on
the system and isolate the faulty part from the healthy section. It
contains circuit breakers, relays, switches and other control
devices.
 Electrical Power Generating Stations
Equipment of Steam Power Station
Electrical Power Generating Stations