Modern society cannot function without a reliable power system.

We need energy for all our

activities, and we utilize this energy in various forms such as thermal, electrical, mechanical
etc. However, electrical energy can be considered as the most important of these since we
can generate, transmit, distribute, convert and utilize it efficiently and economically.

The generation aspect is at the foremost of the chain and it is realized with the help of
power plants. A set of equipments utilized to produce electrical power in large quantities
(usually hundreds - thousands of MW) is called a generating station or a power plant. Such
a power plant will convert one form of energy (nuclear, thermal, hydro, solar etc.) to
electrical energy.

On the basis of this form of energy conversion, power plants are broadly classified as
follows:
1. Thermal Power Station (Steam power plant)
2. Hydroelectric Power Station
3. Nuclear Power Station

There are other plants too, such as:

 Solar Power Plant

 Wind Power Plant
 Tidal Power Plant
 Geothermal Power Plant
 Diesel Power Plant

However, they represent only a small part of the global scheme in terms of capacity and
utilization.
Thermal Power Hydroelectric Nuclear Power
Station Power Plant Plant
Principle of operation: It Principle of Principle of
works on Modified Ranking operation: Potential energy operation: Thermonuclear
Cycle. of water is converted to fission.
Kinetic energy and used to
rotate a turbine.
Location: It is located at a Location: Located where a Location: Located away
site where coal, water and large amount of water can from heavily populated
transportation facilities are be collected easily in a areas.
available easily. It is located reservoir by constructing a
near load centers. dam. Usually in a hilly area
at high altitude.
Requirement of Requirement of Requirement of
Space: Need a large space Space: Very large space Space: Requires minimum
due to coal storage, turbine, required. A dam is huge. space compared to other
boiler and other auxiliaries. plants of the same capacity.
Efficiency: Overall Efficiency: As high as 85% Efficiency: Higher than
efficiency is least compared to 90% Thermal Power Station.
to other plants. (30%-32%) About 55%
Fuel Used: Coal (mostly) or Fuel Used: Water Fuel Used: Uranium (U235)
oil. and other radioactive metals.
Availability of Fuel: Coal Availability of Availability of
reserves are present all over Fuel: Availability of water is Fuel: Deposits of nuclear
the world. However, coal is unreliable because it fuel are present all over the
non-renewable and limited. depends on the weather world. Also, uranium can be
(rainfall.) extracted from sea water,
but it’s a complicated and
complex process.
Cost of Fuel: High. Coal is Cost of Fuel: Water is free. Cost of Fuel: Fuel (uranium)
heavy and has to be itself isn’t too costly.
transported to the plant. However, if enriched
uranium is used, then the
cost of fuel increases
considerably. A small
amount of fuel is used, so
transportation costs are less.
Initial Cost of Plant: Lower Initial Cost of
than Hydroelectric and Initial Cost of Plant: Very Plant: Highest. A nuclear
Nuclear power plants. high. Construction of a dam reactor is complex and
and reservoir is expensive. requires the most skilled
engineers
Running Costs: Higher than Running Costs: Zero,
Hydroelectric and Nuclear because no fuel is needed. Running Costs: Small
power plants. amount of fuel used, so
running cost is low.
Maintenance Costs: High. Maintenance Costs: Low. Maintenance Costs: Very
Skilled engineers and staff high. Skilled personnel are
are needed. needed
Transmission and Transmission and Transmission and
Distribution Cost: Low. It is Distribution Cost: High. It is Distribution Cost: Quite
usually located near load located in remote areas, low. Such plants can be
centers. away from load centers located near the load
centers.
Start-up Power: About 10% Start-up Power: 0.5% to 1%
of unit capacity. of unit capacity. Start-up Power: 7% to 10%
of unit capacity
Starting time: Large Starting time: Low. Can be Starting time: Less than
started instantly TPS. Can be started easily.
Standby Losses: More than Standby Losses: None. Standby Losses: Less.
hydroelectric and nuclear
power plants. Boiler flame
has to be kept burning, so
some amount of coal is used
constantly, even when the
turbine is not in operation.
Cleanliness: Less clean. Cleanliness: Clean. Cleanliness: Radioactive
Smoke and ash are waste is produced. Less
produced clean than HPS
Environmental Environmental Environmental
Considerations: Air Considerations: Affects Considerations: Disposal of
pollution occurs and leads to marine life. People in the radioactive wastes may
acid rain. Greenhouse gases region have to be relocated. affect the environment,
are also produced. especially if it is buried
underground. Underwater
contamination may occur.
Life Time: 30 - 40 years. Life Time: Large (50 to 100 Life Time: 40-60 years
years.)