4 - Power Plant Engineering PDF

Semester-VII
Power Plant
Engineering
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The aim of this publication is to supply information taken from sources believed to be valid and
reliable. This is not an attempt to render any type of professional advice or analysis, nor is it to
be treated as such. While much care has been taken to ensure the veracity and currency of the
information presented within, neither the publisher nor its authors bear any responsibility for
any damage arising from inadvertent omissions, negligence or inaccuracies (typographical or
factual) that may have found their way into this book.
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B.E./B.Tech. DEGREE EXAMINATION,

NOV/DEC 2013
Seventh Semester
Mechanical Engineering
POWER PLANT ENGINEERING
(Regulation 2008/2010)
(Common to PTME 2403 Power Plant Engineering for B.E.
(Part-Time) Seventh Semester Mechanical Engineering
Regulation 2009)
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks
Answer ALL questions

PART A (10 2 = 20 marks)
1. List out the major advantages of high pressure boilers in modern thermal
power plants.
2. What are types of fluidized bed boilers?
3. Define air standard cycle efficiency.
4. What the advantages of burning coal are in pulverized form?
5. Give the requirements of chain reaction.
6. What is the purpose of surge tank in a hydroelectric power plant?
7. What are the main units in a gas turbine power plant?
8. List out the inherent advantages of the combined power cycle.
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B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers
9. What are the types of geo thermal power plants?

10. Define flat rate tariff.
PART B (5 16 = 80 marks)
11. (a) Draw a schematic diagram of a hydro power plant and explain its
operation.
(16)
Or

(b) Explain the construction and working of any one High pressure
boiler with a layout.
(16)
12. (a) (i) Discuss the relative merits of different out plant coal handling.

(8)

(ii) Describe the hydraulic ash handling system.
(8)
Or

(b) Explain the principle of different types of electrostatic precipitator.

(16)
13. (a) Explain the construction and working of Nuclear power plant with a
layout.
(16)
Or

(b) Describe the classification of turbines used in hydro electric power

plants.
(16)
14. (a) (i) List the merits and demerits of the diesel electric power plants.

(8)

(ii) Explain the essential components of diesel electric power plants.

(8)
Or
(b) Explain the construction and working of Gas turbine power plant
with a layout.
(16)
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Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)
15. (a) Explain the construction and working of Geo thermal power plant.

(16)
Or

(b) Explain the analysis of a central receiver system.
(16)
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Solutions
Part A
1. Advantages of high-pressure boilers:

(i) The tendency of scale formation is eliminated due to high velocity of

water through the tubes
(ii) Due to use of forced circulation, there is more freedom in the

arrangement of surface, tubes and boiler components.
(iii) Efficiency of lower plant is increased upto 40 to 45%
2. Types of fluidized bed boilers:

Bubbling fluidized bed boilers [BFB]
Circulating fluidized bed boilers [CFB]
3. The air standard efficiency of an I.c. engine may be obtained from the
general expression for the air standard efficiency, i.e.,
ase = 1
1
r
r = Compression ratio
h = Ratio of specific heats
4. (i) Low excess air requirement

(ii) Less fan power
(iii) Higher boiler efficiency
(iv) fast response to load changes
(v) Less pressure losses and draught need.
5. (i) The neutrons emitted in fission must have adequate energy to cause
fission of other nuclei

(ii) The fission process must liberate the energy
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(iii) It must be possible to control the rate of energy liberation.
6. A surge tank is a small reservoir in which the water level rises or falls to
reduce the pressure swings so that they are not transmitted to the closed
conduit.
7. Main components of gas turbine are
Compressor
Combustion chamber
Turbine
8. (i) The efficiency of the combined cycle plant is better than simple gas
turbine cycle

(ii) It provides more flexibility of operation due to multiple units.
(iii) Combined cycle power plant minimizes visual impact on the

environment
(iv) The combined plant is more suitable for rapid start and shutdown.
9. Vapour dominated geothermal power plant. Liquid dominated geothermal

power plant

Petro thermal geothermal power plant Hybrid geothermal fossil fueled

power plants
10. The charging depends only on the connected load and fixed number
of hours of use per month or year. This can be given by the following
equation
E = Ax
x=3
E
x=2
x=1
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This rate expresses the change per unit of demand (KW) of the consumer.
Here, no metering equipments and man power are required for charging.
The unit energy cost decreases progressively with an increased energy
usage.
Part B
11. (a)
Essential elements of a hydroelectric power plant

Figure gives the flow diagram of a typical hydroelectric power
plant. The essential elements of such a plant are the following.
1. Catchment area
2. Reservoir
3. Dam
4. Spillways
5. Conduits
6. Surge tanks
7. Draft tubes
8. Powerhouse
9. Switch yard for transmission of power
Catchment Area
The whole area behind the dam draining into a steam or
river across which the dam has been constructed is called the
catchment area. The characteristics of the catchment include
its size, shape, surface, orientation, altitude, topography and
geology. The bigger the catchment, steeper is the slope, higher
is the altitude, and greater is the total runoff of water.
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Flow sheet of a hydroelectric power plant

Reservoir
Storage during times of plenty for subsequent use in times of
scarcity is fundamental to the efficient use of water resources.
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Spillways
When the water level in the reservoir basin rises, the stability
of the dam structure is endangered. To relieve the reservoir of
this excess water, a structure is called a spillway. It provides
structural stability to the dam under conditions of floods
without raising reservoir level above H.F.L. (high flood level).
Following are the various types of spillways.
1. Overall spillway
2. Chute or trough spillway
3. Side channel spillway
4. Saddle spillway
5. Shaft spillway
6. Siphon spillway
Conduits
A headrace is a channel which leads water to a turbine and a
tailrace is a channel which carries water from the turbine. The
conduit may be open or closed. Canals and flumes are open,
while tunnels, pipelines and penstock are closed.
A canal is an open waterway excavated in natural ground
following its contour. A flume is an open channel erected on
a surface above the ground supported on the trestle. A tunnel
is a closed channel excavated through an obstruction such as
a ridge of higher land between the dam and the powerhouse. A
pipeline is a closed conduit supported on or above the surface
of the ground. A penstock is a closed conduit for supplying
water under pressure from the head pond or the forebay to the
turbines. The penstocks are the pressure conduits, while the
non-pressure conduits are the canals and flumes.
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Combination of tunnel, flume and penstocks at a high head power plant

Surge Tanks
A surge tank is a small reservoir in which the water level rises or
falls to reduce the pressure swings so that they are not transmitted
to the closed conduit. If the power house is located within a short
distance of the headworks, surge tanks are not necessary. Thus for
run off plants and medium head schemes no surge tank is needed.
Surge tanks are required for high head plants where water is taken
to the power house through tunnels and penstocks. A typical
arrangement is shown in figure, where the surge tank is a vertical
standpipe connected to the penstock with no overflow of water.
(a) Surge tank on ground level, (b) Inclined surge tank
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Draft Tubes
The draft tube allows the turbine to be set above the tailrace
to facilitate inspection and maintenance and by diffuser action
regains the major portion of the kinetic energy or velocity head
at runner outlet, which would otherwise go waste as an exist
loss. The draft tube can be a straight conical tube (Figure (a))
or an elbow tube (Figure (b)). The conical type is used for low
power units, while the elbow type is more common. In the elbow
type energy is regained in the vertical portion which flatterns in
the elbow section to discharge water horizontally to the tailrace.
(a) Straight conical draft tube (b) Elbow type draft tube
Power house
A powerhouse should have a stable structure and its layout should
be such that adequate space is provided around the equipment
for convenient dismantling and repair. The equipment provided
in the powerhouse includes the following.
(i)
Hydraulic turbines
(ii)
Electric generators
(iii) Governors
(iv) Gate valves
(v)
Relief valves
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(vi) Water circulation pumps

(vii) Air duct
(viii) Switch board and instruments
(ix) Storage batteries
(x)
11. (b)
Cranes
Types of high pressure boilers:

Lamont Boiler
Introduction:
This boiler works on a forced circulation and the circulation
is maintained by a centrifugal pump. This centrifugal pump is
driven by a steam turbine using steam from the boiler.
Description:
The arrangement of water circulation and different components
are shown in figure.
(a) Steam separator drum:
It is placed outside the boiler assembly. The drum receives
mixture of steam and water from the evaporator tubes and feeds
water from the economizer. The water particles in the steam are
separated here.
(b) Water circulating pump:
The centrifugal pump is used to draw the water from the drum
through the down-comer. The pump circulates water by forced
circulation and equal to 8 to 10 times the weight of steam
evaporated which prevents the overheating of tubes.
(c) Disturbing header:
It is used to control the flow of water to the evaporator tubes.
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La-Mont Boiler
(d) Evaporator:
It is used to evaporate the water into steam.
(e) Convection superheater:
The steam produced in the boiler is in the state of saturated
condition. The moisture in the steam will affect the turbine
blades and cause corrosion. To avoid this, the super heated is
used. It is used to increase the temperature of steam and to
improve the efficiency.
(f) Economiser:
The main purpose of economizer in the boiler is to preheat the
feed water using the exhaust gases flowing out from the boiler
to the atmosphere. The preheated water requires only a small
amount of heat to be supplied in the boiler. This will increase
the efficiency of the boiler. In this, the feed water supplied by
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the feed pump is heated in the economizer on its way to the

steam separator drum.
(g) Air preheater:
It is used to preheat the air by using exhaust gases flowing out
from the boiler. The preheated air is supplied to the furnace for
combustion.
Working:
The feed water passes through the economizer to the drum,
from which it is drawn to the circulation pump. The pump
delivers the feed water to the tube evaporating section. The
circulating of water is about 8 to 10 times the steam evaporated
in the boiler. The steam in the drum is a mixture of steam and
water and the steam is drawn through a conversion superheater.
The superheated steam is supplied to the prime mover through
steam outlet. The superheated steam is drawn through a
convection superheater. The superheated steam is supplied to
the prime mover through steam outlet. The working pressure of
Lamont boiler is about 170 bar and capacity up to 50, 000 kg of
per hour at 500C temperature.
Advantages:
1. Its is forced circulation boiler.
2. High working pressure.
Disadvantages:
1. The salt and sediment are deposited on the inner surfaces of
water.
2. Danger of overheating of tubes.
12. (a) (i) Advantages of out plant coal handling:
Higher reliability
Less labor required
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Operation is easy and smooth

Economical for medium and large capacity plants
Losses in transport are minimised
Minimum labor is put to unhealthy condition
Can be easily started and can be economically adjusted
according to the need
With reduced labor, management and control of the plant
becomes easy and smooth
Its operation is smooth and clean
Coal being transferred is protected
Power consumption minimum
Large quantities of coal can be discharged quickly and
continuously
12. (a) (ii) Hydraulic ash handling system
In hydraulic systems, the ash is removed by using the water
through a channel and finally dumped to the sump. It can be
divided into two groups.
1. Low velocity system
2. High velocity system
The figure shows the high velocity system. The hoppers below
the boilers are fitted with nozzler, is used to quench the water
and side nozzle is used to force the ash. Finally, the queneches
ash at high velocity is collected on the sump.
Advantages:
1. Ash conveying capacity is high
2. The whole system is clean
3. Total system is enclosed
4. Discharge of ash is at considerable distance
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5. Working parts are not contact with ash.
Furnace
Waterjet
Casing
High pressure
water
Main sump
12. (b)
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR
In 1905 Dr. F.G. Cottrell, Professor of physical Chemistry at
the University of California, conducted a series of laboratory
experiments that resulted in the development of the first
commercial electrostatic precipitator. It was an immediate
success and the precipitator soon came to be widely used in
power plants, smelters, steel plants, paper mills and many other
industries.
The principal components of an electro static precipitator (ESP)
are two sets of electrodes insulated from each other. The first set
is composed of rows of electrically grounded vertical parallel
plates, called the collection electrodes, between which the dustladen gas flows. The second set of electrodes consists of wires,
called the discharge of emitting electrodes that are centrally
located between each pair of parallel plates. The wires carry
a unidirectional negatively charged high-voltage (between 20
and 100 kV) current from and external dc source. The applied
high voltage generates near the discharge electrodes. When that
voltage is high enough, a blue luminous glow, called a corona, is
produced around them. Electrical forces in the corona accelerate
the free electrons present in the gas so that they ionize the gas
molecules, thus forming more electrons and positive gas ions.
The new electrons create again more free electrons and positive
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gas ions. The new electrons create again more free electrons
and ions, which result in a chain reaction.
Basic elements of an electrostatic precipitator

The positive ions travel to the negatively charged electrodes,
but their velocity decreases as they move away from the corona
region around the wire electrodes toward the grounded plates.
Gas molecules capture the low velocity electrons and become
negative ions. As these ions move to the collecting electrode,
they collide with the fly ash particles in the gas stream and
give them negative charge. The negatively charged fly ash
particles are driven to the collecting plate by the force which
is proportional to the product of this charge and the strength of
the electric field.
When the particles collect on the grounded plates, they lose their
charge on the ground. The electrical resistivity of the particles,
however, cause only partial discharging, and the retained charge
tends to hold the particles of the plates. High resistivity cause
retention of most of the charge, which increases the forces
holding the particles to the plates and makes removal more
difficult. This can be rectified either by operating at high gas
temperature (before APH) or by superimposing a high voltage
pulse on the base voltage to enhance ESP performance during
operation under high-resistivity conditions.
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Vertical electrodes and grounded plates in an ESP showing four basic

operations
Collected particulate matter must be removed from the
collecting plates on a regular schedule by mechanical hammer
scrapping system. The vibration knocks the particulate matter
off the collecting plates and into a hopper at the bottom of the
precipitator.
An electrostatic precipitator, like a cyclone separator, has an
overall
collection
efficiency,
mass of all particles retained by collector (ESP)
h0 =
mass of all partiicles entering collector
It is easier to collect large particles than smaller particles. It can
be approximately estimated by the Deutsch equation as given
below
h0 =1 - exp (- AVmo/Q)
(1)
Where A = area of the collector plate, m2,
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Vmo = effective migration velocity of particles, m/s,

Q = flue gas volume flow rate for each plate, m3/s.
Arrangement of an electrostatic precipitator

13. (a)
Main components of a Nuclear Power Plant

The main components of nuclear power plants are
Nuclear reactor
Heat exchanger or stem generator
Steam turbine
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Condenser
Electric generator
Nuclear power plant

Figure shows a schematic diagram of nuclear power plant.
In nuclear power plants, the reactor function is similar to the
furnace of steam power plant. It contains pressure vessel, fuel
rods, moderator, shielding as shown in figure. There are various
types of reactors used in practice which will be discussed later.
The fuel elements are interested in the reactor core. The control
rods are introduced and positioned in the core to control the
chain reaction. Heavy water reactor acts as a moderator as well
as the coolant.
The heat liberated in the reactor as a result of nuclear fission of
the fuel is taken up by the coolant circulating through the reactor
core is then circulated through the tubes of steam generator to
generate the steam. The water coming out of the heat exchanger
is circulated by the pump to maintain the pressure in the circuit
in the range of 100 to 130 bar.
The steam so produced expands in the steam turbine for
producing work. Steam coming out of the turbine flows to the
condenser for condensation. The steam turbine in turn runs an
electric generator thereby producing electrical energy.
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Main components of a Nuclear Reactor

A nuclear reactor is similar to the furnace of a steam power plant
or combustion chamber of a gas turbine plant. In this nuclear
reactor heat is produced due to nuclear fission chain reaction.
Figure shows the various components of a nuclear reactor.
The nuclear reactor consists of the following principle parts
(i) Reactor core
(ii) Moderator
(iii) Control rods
(iv) Reflector
(v) Cooling system
(vi) Reactor vessel
(vii) Biological shielding
1. Reactor Core
It consists of nuclear fuel, the neutron moderator and space for
the coolant. The nuclear fuel is an element or isotope whose
nuclear undergo nuclear fission by nuclear bombardment and
produces a fission chain reaction. Nuclear fuel may be one
or all of the following U233, U235 and Pu239. Reactor core is
generally has a shape approximately a right circular cylinder
with diameter ranging from 0.5m to 15m.
2. Moderator
The process of slow down the neutrons from high velocity
without capturing them is known as moderation. Moderator is
a material which is used to slow down the neutrons form high
velocities without capturing them. The fast moving neutrons are
far less effective in causing the fission and try to escape from
the reactor.
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3. Control rods
The function of control rod is:
To control the rate of fission.
To start the nuclear chain reaction when reactor is started from
cold
To shut down the reactor under emergency condition.
To maintain the chain reaction at a steady state.
To prevent the melting of fuel rods.
Boron, Cadmium and Hafnium are mostly used as control rods.
These control rods are used to absorb the neutrons thereby
reducing the chain reaction. The control rods must be able to
absorb excess neutrons.
4. Reflector
Reflector material is placed round the core to reflect back some
of the neutrons that leak out from the surface of the core. The
reflected neutrons cause more fission and improve the neutrons
economy of the reactor.
5. Cooling System
The coolants are used to carry away heat produced inside the
reactor to the heat exchanger.
6. Reactor vessel
The reactor vessel encloses the reactor core, string walled
container to withstand high pressure.
7. biological shielding
Shielding is necessary to protect the walls of the reactor vessel
from radiation damage and also protect the operating personnel
from exposure to radiation.
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13. (b)
Water turbines
Hydraulic turbines are the machines which convert the energy of
flowing water into mechanical energy. The mechanical energy
developed by a turbine is used to run an electric generator
which is directly coupled to the shaft of the turbine. Thus, the
mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Hydraulic turbines may be classified according to several
considerations as follows.
(i) According to the action of the water flowing:
(a) Impulse turbine
e.g. Pelton wheel.
(b). Reaction turbine e.g. Fransis turbine, Kaplan turbine.

(ii) According to the main direction of flow of water;
(a) Tangential flow turbine
e.g. Pelton wheel.
(b) Radial flow turbine
e.g. Old Fracis turbine.
(c) Axial flow turbine
e.g. Kaplan turbine.
(d) Mixed flow turbine
e.g. Modern Francis turbine.
(iii) According to the head and quantity of water required;

(a) High head turbine (above 250m)
e.g. Pelton wheel.
(b) Medium head turbine (60m to 250m)turbine e.g. M o d e r n

Francis.
(c) Low head turbine (less then 60m)
e.g. Kaplan turbine.
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(iv) According to the specific speed:

(a) Low specific (10 to 35).
e.g. Pelton wheel
(b) Medium specific speed (60 to 400) e.g. Francis turbine.

(c) High specific speed (300 to 1000). e.g. Kaplan turbine.
Pelton wheel and Pelton turbine
The Pelton wheel is a tangential flow impulse turbine and now
in common use. Leston A Pelton, a American engineer during
1880, developers this turbine.
Figure shows the schematic arrangement of a Pelton wheel
consists of the following main parts.
1. Penstock
2. Spear and nozzle
3. Runner with buckets
4. Brake nozzle
5. Outer casing
6. Governing mechanism
1. Penstock
It is a large sized pipe which conveys water from the high level
reservoir to the turbine. Depending upon low head or high head
installation a penstock may be wood, concrete or steel. For the
regulation of water flow, the penstock is provided with control
valves.
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Pelton Wheel
2. Spear and nozzle:
At the downstream end of the penstock, it is fitted with an
efficient nozzle which converts whole hydraulic energy into
kinetic energy. Thus the nozzle delivers high-speed jet. To
regulate the water flow through the nozzle and to obtain a good
jet of water, a spear is arranged as shown in figure. The spear
can move forward or backward thereby decreasing or increasing
the annular area of the nozzle flow passage.
Spear and nozzle
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3. Runner with buckets:

The runner consists of a circular disc with a number of buckets
evenly spaced round its periphery. The runner is mounted on a
horizontal shaft supported in small thrust bearings. The buckets
have a shape of double semi-elliptical ridge known as splitter.
The buckets are so shaped that the angle at the outlet tip varies
from 10 to 20 so that the jet of water gets deflected through
160 to 170. The jet of water impinges on the splitter, which
divides the jet into two equal portions. After flowing round the
smooth inner surface of the bucket water leaves at its outer edge.
The advantage of having hemispherical double cup bucket is
that the bearings supporting the wheel shaft are not subjected to
any axial or end thrust.
4. Outer casing:
A casing is made of cast iron or fabricated steel plates. It has
no hydraulic function to perform. It is used to prevent the
splacing of water and discharge water to tailrace. It also acts as
a safeguard against accidents.
5. Brake nozzle:
When the nozzle is closed by moving the forward direction, the
amount of water striking on the buckets is reduced to zero. But
the number will revolve for long time due to inertia. To stop the
runner in a short time, a small nozzle is provided which directs
a jet of water on the back of the buckets. This jet of water is
called braking jet.
6. Governing mechanism:
Governing mechanism is used to regulate the water flow to the
turbine at constant level so that the speed of the turbine kept
constant. This automatically regulates the quantity of water
flowing through the runner in accordance with any variation
of load.
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Francis turbine:
Francis turbine is an inward flow reaction turbine. It is developed
by an American engineer James B. Francis. In the earlier stages,
Francis turbine had a purely radial flow runner. But the modern
Francis turbine is a mixed flow reaction turbine in which the
water enters the runner radially at its outer periphery and
leaves axially at its centre. This arrangement provides a larger
discharge area with the prescribed diameter of the runner.
Figure shows a schematic diagram of Francis turbine. The main
parts of the turbine are
1. Penstock:
It is a large sized conduit which conveys water from the
upstream of the dam to the turbine runner. Penstock required
for a Francis turbine is lager than that of pelton wheel.
2. Scroll or Spiral casing:
The water from the penstock enters a scroll casing which
completely surround the runner. The cross-sectional area of
the scroll casing decreases along the flow directions, the area
is maximum at inlet and nearly zero at exit. The purpose of
casing is to provide an even distribution of water around
the circumference of the turbine runner maintaining the
approximately constant velocity for the water so distributed.
The casing is made of cast steel, plate steel, concrete depending
upon the pressure/head to which it is subjected.
3. Speed ring or stay ring:
From scroll casing the water passes through a speed ring or stay
ring or stay ring. This consists of an upper and a lower ring held
together by series of fixed vanes called stay ring. The number of
stay vanes is usually taken as half the number of guide vanes the
function of stay vane is to direct the water from the scroll casing
to the guide vanes and also it resists the load imposed upon it. It
may be made of cast iron or cast steel.
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Francis turbine
4. Guide vanes or Wicket gates:
From the speed ring the water passes through a series of guide
vanes or wicket gates. Thus gates are provided all around the
periphery of the turbine the guide vanes direct the water on to
the runner at an appropriate angle as per design. Also it is used
to regulate the quantity of water supplied to the runner. The
guide vanes are airfoil shaped and they may be made of cast
steel, stainless steel or plate steel. The guide vanes are operated
either by means of a wheel or automatically by a governor.
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5. Runner and runner blades:

It is circular wheel on which a series of radial curves vanes
are fixed. The vanes are so shaped that water enters the runner
radially at outer periphery and leaves it axially at the inner
periphery. The runners are made of cast steel, cast iron or
stainless steel. They are keyed to the shaft. The driving force
on the runner is both due to impulse (deviation in the direction
of flow) and reaction (change in pressure and velocity energy)
effects the number of runner blades usually varies from16 to 24.
6. Draft tube:
After passing through the runner, the water is discharged
to the tailrace through a gradually expending tube called the
draft tube. Therefore simply a draft tube is a pipe or passage
of gradually increasing cross-sectional area which connects the
runner to the tailrace.
14. (a) (i) Merits of diesel power plant:
Diesel power plants are cheaper.
It occupies less space.
Plant layout is simple.
Design and installation are very simple.
Location of the plant is near to the load center.
It is quick starting and easy pick-up of loads.
It requires less quantity of water for cooling purposes.
Skilled manpower is not required
The diesel plants are more efficient than steam power
plants in the range of 150mH capacity.
Fuel handling is easier and no problem of ash disposal.
Effficiency does not fall so much as that of a steam plant
during pasts loads.
It has no stand by losses.
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Demerits:
The repair and maintenance costs are high
Plant capacity is limited to about 50mH of power
Life of the diesel plants is low when compared to thermal
plants.
14. (a) (ii) Components of Diesel power plant:
The essential components of diesel power plant are
Engine
Air intake system
Engine starting system
Fuel system
Exhaust system
Cooling system
Lubricating system
Engine: Engine is the main component of the plant which
develops required power. This is the main component of a
diesel power plant. The pasts of the engine are classified into
two stroke engine and four stroke engines. Engine is generally
directly coupled to the generator for developing power. In
diesel engines, air admitted into the cylinder is compressed,
the compression ratio being 12 to 20. The shaft of the engine
is directly coupled to the generator. After the combustion, the
burned gases are exhausted to the atmosphere.
Air intake system:
It removes the dust from the atmospheric air and supplies the
fresh air to the engine super charger, if filled is generally driven
by the engine itself and it auguments the power output of the
engine.
The air system begins with an intake located outside the building
provided with a filter to catch dirt which would otherwise cause
excessive wear in the engine.
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Layout of Diesel power plant

Engine starting system: This system includes air compressor
and starting air tank. It is used to start the engine in cold
condition by supplying the air.
Lubrication system:
It includes oil pumps, oil tanks, filters, coolers and pipes. It is
used to reduce the friction of moving parts and reduce wear and
tear of the engine.
The various lubrication system used in IC engines may be
classified as follows.
Wet sump lubrication system
Dry sump lubrication system
Mist lubrication system
Cooling system:
The temperature of burning fuel inside the combustion
chamber is 1500C to 2000C. To maintain the temperature as a
reasonable level, water is circulated around the engine in water
4/27/2014 3:15:21 PM
33
jackets which is passed through the cylinder, piston, combustion

chamber. Hot water leaving the jacket is sent to heat exchanger.
Exhaust system:
The purpose of the exhaust system is to discharge the engine
exhaust to the atmosphere outside the building It includes
silencers and connecting ducts. The exhaust gas has high
temperature and so it is used to preheat the oil and air. The
exhaust pipe should be short in length with minimum number
of bends and should have one or two flexible tubing sections
which take up the effects of expansion, and isolate, the system
from the engine vibration.
Fuel system:
It includes the storage tank, fuel pump, fuel transfer pump,
strainers and heaters. The fuel is supplied to the engine
according to the load variation.
14. (b) (i) OPEN CYCLE GAS TURBINE POWER PLANT
A simple open cycle gas turbine consists of a compressor,
combustion chamber and a turbine as shown in Figure. The
compressor takes in ambient air and raises its pressure. Heat is
added to the air in combustion chamber by burning the fuel and
raises its temperature.
The heated gases coming out of combustion chamber are
then passed to the turbine where it expands doing mechanical
work. Part of the power developed by the turbine is utilized in
driving the compressor and other accessories and remaining
is used for power generation. Since ambient air enters into the
compressor and gases coming out of turbine are exhausted
into the atmosphere, the working medium must be replaced
continuously. This type of cycle is known as open cycle gas
turbine plant and is mainly used in majority of gas turbine
power plants as it has many inherent advantages.
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34
Open cycle gas turbine

Advantages:
1. Warm-up time
Once the turbine is brought up to the rated speed by the
starting motor and the fuel is ignited, the gas turbine will
be accelerated from cold start to full load without warm-up
time.
2. Low weight and size

The weight in kg per kW developed is less.
3. Fuels
Almost any hydrocarbon fuel from high-octane gasoline to
heavy diesel oils can be used in the combustion chamber.
4. Open cycle plants occupy comparatively little space.
4/27/2014 3:15:21 PM
35
5. The stipulation of a quick start and take-up of load

frequently are the points in favour of open cycle plant when
the plant is used as peak load plant.
6. Component or auxiliary refinements can usually be varied
to improve the thermal efficiency and give the most
economical overall cost for the plant load factors and other
operating conditions envisaged.
7. Open-cycle gas turbine power plant, except those having
an intercooler, does not require cooling water. Therefore,
the plant is independent of cooling medium and becomes
self-contained.

(ii) CLOSED CYCLE GAS TURBINE POWER PLANT

Closed cycle gas turbine plant was originated and developed
in Switzerland. In the year 1935, J. Ackeret and C. Keller first
proposed this type of machine and first plant was completed in
Zurich in 1944.
It is used air as working medium and had a useful output of 2mW.
Since then, a number of closed cycle gas turbine plants have
been built all over the world and largest of 17mW capacity is at
Gelsenkirchen, Germany and has been successfully operating
since 1967. In closed cycle gas turbine plant, the working fluid
(air or any other suitable gas) coming out from compressor is
heated in a heater by an external source at constant pressure.
The high temperature and high-pressure air coming out from
the external heater is passed through the gas turbine. The fluid
coming out from the turbine is cooled to its original temperature
in the cooler using external cooling source before passing to
the compressor. The working fluid is continuously used in the
system without its change of phase and the required heat is
given to the working fluid in the heat exchanger.
The arrangement of the components of the closed cycle gas
turbine plant is shown in figure.
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36
Closed Cycle Gas Turbine plant

Advantages:
1. The inherent disadvantage of open cycle gas turbine is
the atmospheric backpressure at the turbine exhaust. With
closed cycle gas turbine plants, the backpressure can be
increased. Due to the control on backpressure, unit rating
can be increased about in proportion to the backpressure.
Therefore the machine can be smaller and cheaper than the
machine used to develop the same power using open cycle
plant.
2. The closed cycle avoids erosion of the turbine blades
due to the contaminated gases and fouling of compressor
blades due to dust. Therefore, it is practically free from
4/27/2014 3:15:21 PM
37
deterioration of efficiency in service. The absence of

corrosion and abrasion of the interiors of the compressor
and turbine extends the life of the plant and maintains the
efficiency of the plant constant throughout its life as they
are kept free from the products of combustion.
3. The need for filtration of the incoming air which is a severe
problem in open cycle plant is completely eliminated
4. Load variation is usually obtained by varying the absolute
pressure and mass flow of the circulating medium, while
the pressure ratio, the temperatures and the air velocities
remain almost constant. This result in velocity ratio in the
compressor and turbine independent of the load and full
load thermal efficiency maintained over the full range of
operating loads.
15. (a)
Hot spring system structure

Geothermal sources
The categories of geothermal sources are
1. Hydrothermal convective systems
2. Geopressure resources
4/27/2014 3:15:21 PM
38
3. Petro-thermal or hot dry rocks

4. Magma resources
5. Volcanoes
1. Hydrothermal convective system:
Hydrothermal convective systems are classified into
(a) Vapour-dominated or dry steam fields.
(b) Liquid-dominated or wet stream fields.
(c) Hot-water fields.
(a) Vapour-dominated or dry steam fields:
If dry steam is available in the geothermal source, the field is
called vapour dominated or dry steam field.
(b) Liquid-dominated or wet steam fields:
The hot water deposits without much steam content are called
liquid dominated or wet steam fields. The temperature of water
in such deposits is usually in the range of 100C to 310C.
(c) Hot water field:
Hot water geothermal energy deposits are present in several
locations around the earth. Underground water collects heat
from surrounding hot rocks. Such hot water reserves are with
small content of steam.
2. Geo-pressure sources:
These are hydro-geothermal resources at greater depths 3 km
to 10 km. The water is stored in underground cavities. Geopressure deposits are located at different levels and at different
places. The stored water is at relatively low temperature (about
170C) and at very high pressure (about 135 kg/cm2).
4/27/2014 3:15:21 PM
39
3. Petro-thermal or hot dry rocks:

The hard rock surrounding the magma is at high temperature.
The known temperatures of hot rocks, at useful depths upto
3000m, are between 150C to 290C. The extraction of thermal
energy from dry hard rock is shown in figure.
4. Magma Resources:
The magma in the temperature ranges from 1250C to 1500C.
The liquid magma in the upper mantle approaches earths
surface at some points resulting in higher thermal gradients and
higher heat flows through surface of the earth.
5. Volcanoes:
Eruption of geothermal energy in large quantities releasing hot
lava, rocks, ash, mud, forming a typical conical hill or mountain.
Extraction of petro-geothermal energy through hot dry rock (HDR)
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40
Geothermal fluids for electrical power plants:

The types of geothermal fluids and corresponding type of
turbine are listed below
Geothermal fluid
Type of turbine cycle
1. Dry steam
Steam-turbine cycle
2. Hot water, temperature < 150C
Binary-cycle
3. Hot water, temperature > 180C
Steam-turbine cycle
4. Hot brine (Pressurised)
Binary cycle
5. Hot brine (flashed)
Special turbines
Impact turbine
Screw expander
Bladless turbine
Application of geothermal energy:
The geothermal energy is being used for many electrical power
generation and non-electrical applications.
The non-electrical applications include
1. Space heating
2. Green house heating
3. Medical therapy
4. Air conditioning
5. Process heat
6. Mineral extraction
Geothermal water is used for heating green houses, heating
houses, agricultural water, aquaculture water, mineral
extraction, desalination plants etc.
4/27/2014 3:15:22 PM
15. (b)
41
1. Central receiver system:

The central receiver a the top of the tower has a heat absorbing
surface by which the heat-transport fluid is heated. There are
two basic receiver configurations have been proposed. They are
(a) Cavity receiver type
(b) External receiver pipe type
In the Cavity type, pipe line, the solar radiation reflected by the
heliostats enters through an aperture at the bottom of the cavity.
In the external receive pipe type, the absorber surfaces are on
the exterior of a roughly cylindrical structure.
2. Heat conversion sub system:
Liquid water under pressure enters the receiver, absorbs
heat energy, and leaves as superheated steam. Typical steam
conditions might be a temperature of 500C and a pressure
of about 100atm. The steam is piped to ground level where it
drives a conventional turbine generator system.
3. The heat storage device:
Short team storage of heat can be provided by fire bricks,
ceramic oxides, fused salts, sulphur. The choice of a conventional
storage material is determined by its energy density, thermal
conductivity, corrosion characteristic, cost and convenience
of use, as well as by the operating temperature of the working
fluid.
4. Mirrors:
The flat mirror surface can be manufactured by metallization of
float glass or flexible plastic sheets. The mirror must be steerable.
The glass mirrors would not be capable of withstanding the
wind loads that often occur in arid lands without any supporting
structure.
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42
Working:
The incoming solar radiation is focused to a central receiver
or a boiler mounted on a tall tower using thousands of plane
reflectors which are steerable about two axes and are called
heliostats.
Figure shows a schematic view of an electric power plant using
gas turbine or gas turbine power plant working on Brayton
cycle. The mirrors are installed on the ground are oriented so as
to reflect the direct beam radiation into an absorber or receiver
which is mounted on the top of a tower located near the center
of the field of mirrors to produce high temperature.
Schematic arrangement of central receiver heliostat array

Beam radiation incident in boiler absorbed by black pipes in
which working fluid circulates and is heated. The working fluid
is allowed to drive a turbine and produce mechanical energy.
The turbine which is coupled to an alternator produces electrical
energy. Suitable heat storage is also provided to supply the heat
energy during the period of cloudiness.
Figure shows the electric power generator using thermal storage.
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43
Schematic of a central Tower receiver system
Electric power generation using thermal stroage

Analysis of a central receiver system:
The mirror field in a central receiver system is to be laid such
that both in winter season and summer season. There is no shade
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44
of one mirror on the other mirror. Therefore, the heliostats are

put apart and only a fraction of the ground (f) is covered.
The value f is calculated by f =
NAm
Ag
Where N = No. of mirrors (Heliostats)

Am = Area of each mirror
Ag = Total ground area used around the tower.
The total ground are, Ag =
4H 2
tan 2 qr
Where, H = Tower height

qr = Rim half angle
The energy absorbed by the receiver is = qa
Qa = I b Ag 0
Where, Ib = beam radiation incident on Ag
= Mirror utilization factor
= 0.78 in mid summer
= 0.2 in winter afternoon
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45
h0 = Fraction of solar radiation

a = Absorbtance of the receiver.
The concentration ratio is defined as
C=
NAm f Ag
=
Ar
Ar
Where, Ar = Receiver surface area

Now, the expression for the useful energy is given as
qu = qa + ql
Where ql = Ar r (Tr4 Ta4 )
\
qu = I b Ag 0 Ar r (Tr4 Ta4 )
Where, er = emittance of the receiver surface at the radiating

temperature.
4/27/2014 3:15:23 PM

MAY/JUNE 2013
Seventh Semester
(Regulation 2008)
(Common to PTME 2403-Power Plant Engineering for
B.E.(Part-Time) Seventh Semester
Mechanical Engineering)
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. What is the significance of load curve?
2. What are the accessories used in a boiler?
3. What do you understand by the term boiler draught?
4. What is the function of a cooling tower in a power plant?
5. Why is shielding of a nuclear reactor necessary?
6. What is hydrograph?
7. Name the various types of diesel engine used for diesel power plants.
8. What are the applications of gas turbine plant?
9. Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy.
10. Define demand factor and load factor.
4/27/2014 3:15:23 PM
Power Plant Engineering (May/June 2013)
47
11. (a) Draw a general layout of a thermal power plant and explain the
working of various circuits in it.
(16)
Or

(b) (i) Draw a neat diagram of LaMont boiler and explain its working.
(8)
(ii) In the view of performance and safety compare steam, hydro,
nuclear power plant.
(8)
12. (a) (i) List down the advantages of burning the fuels in pulverized form.

(8)

(ii) Explain with the help of a diagram, the working of a cyclone

separator.
(8)
Or
(b) (i) List the advantages and disadvantages of surface condensers.(8)
(ii) Describe with a neat sketch the operation of a hyperbolic cooling

tower.
(8)
13. (a) (i) Explain the principal parts of nuclear reactor in brief.

(8)
(ii) Explain the neat sketch the working of CANDU type reactor.(8)
Or
(b) (i) Explain the factors that should be considered while selecting the
site for hydro power plant.
(8)
(ii) Explain the working of Pelton turbine with a neat diagram. (8)
14. (a) List and explain the function of the essential components of a diesel
power plant.
(16)
Or
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48
(b) (i) With an aid of a block diagram, explain the working principle of
a closed cycle gas turbine plant.
(8)
(ii) Write short note on combined cycle plant.
15. (a) (i) Describe the working of a double basin tidal power plant.

(8)
(8)
(ii) Explain with a neat sketch the operation of a solar thermal power
plant.
(8)
Or
(b) (i) Explain briefly the various methods used to calculate the
depreciation cost.
(8)
(ii) Elucidate the objectives and requirements of tariff and general

form of tariff.
(8)
4/27/2014 3:15:23 PM
Solutions
Part A
1. Significance of Load Curve:
Load curve shared by thermal
pump storage plant
Power supplied
by pump
(Es)
Bane load taken

by thermal
palnts
(Ea)
Power used to t
he water from l
ower beam
2. Accessories used in the boiler: Steam separator drum, water circulating

pump, distributing header, exporator, convection super heater,
economizer, air pure- heater.
3. Boiler draught is defined as the moment of air through fuel bed and
produces a flow of hot gases through the boiler and chimney requires a
pressure difference between gas pressure and atmospheric pressure.
4. Cooling tower is used to control the temperature of water required for the
plant. It reduces the water consumption of the plant.
5. A reactor must have special shielding around it technicians, and other
reactor personnel in a popular class of research reactors.
6. Hydrograph is defined as a graph sharing discharge of flowing water
with respect to time for a specified time.
7. Two stroke and fair stroke engines

Dual stroke engine
8. Gas turbine plant is used in jet aircraft, ships.

Stand by plants hydro electric power plants.
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50
9. Renewable sources of energy are neither command nor connected into

something else.

E.g.: Hydel, solar, nind.
Non-renewable sources of energy are exhaustible.
E.g.: coal, natural gas, nuclear fuel.
10. Demand factor =

Load factor =
Maximum demand

Connectedload
Average load
Maximum demand
Part-B
11. (a) Steam and thermal power plant is using steam as working
fluid.
Steam is produced in a boiler using coal as fuel and used to
drive prime mover (Steam turbine).
The heat energy is converted into mechanical energy by the
steam turbine and that mechanical energy is used for generating
power with the help of generator.
The layout of the steam power consists of four main circuits.
They are
1. Coal and ash circuit
2. Air and flue gas circuit.
3. Water and steam circuit
4. Cooling water circuit.
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51
1. Coal and ash circuit;

This circuit consists of cool storage, ash storage, coal handling
and ash handling systems. The handling system consists of belt
conveyors, screw conveyors etc. Coal from the storage yard
is transferred to the boiler furnace by means of coal handling
equipment. Ash resulting from the combustion of coal in the
boiler furnace is removed to ash storage through ash handling.
The Indian coal contains 30 to 40% of ash and power plant of
100 MW produces normally 20 to 25 tones of hot ash per hour.
2. Air and flue gas circuit:
This circuit of air filter, air preheater, dust collector and chimney.
Air is taken the atmosphere to the air preheater, the dust from
the air removed by means of using air filter. Then the waste heat
of the flue gas is passed to the chimney for preheating the air
in the preheater.
Layout of steam of thermal power plant
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52
After combustion in the flue gas which has sufficient quantity of

heat is passed around the boiler tubes, dust collector, economizer
and preheater before being exhausted to the atmosphere through
the chimney. By passing the flue gas around the economizer and
in preheater, the water and air preheated before going to the
boiler.
3. Feed water and steam circuit
This circuit consists of boiler feed pump, boiler, and feed
heaters. The steam generated in the boiler passes through
super heater and is supplied to the steam turbine. The steam is
expanded in the steam turbine then is passed to the condenser
where is condensed.
The condensate is heated in the HP and. LP heaters using the
steam tapped from different points of the turbine. The feed water
is passing through the economizer, the feed water is heated by
the feed water heaters and then it is fed into the boiler.
Part of the steam and water are lost while passing through
different components of the system. So, feed water is supplies
from the external source to the compensate losses.
4. Cooling water circuit;
This circuit consists of circulating water pump, condenser,
cooling water pumps and cooling tower. Abundant quantity of
water is required for condensing the steam in the condenser.
Adequate water supply is available from various sources like
river or lake. If adequate quantity of water is not available at
plant sites, the warm water coming out from the condenser is
cooled in the cooling tower and it is recirculated again and again
11. (b) (i) Lamont Boiler
Introduction:
This boiler works in the forces circulation and the circulation
is maintained by a centrifugal pump. This centrifugal pump is
driven by a steam turbine using steam from the boiler.
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53
Description:
The arrangement of water circulation and different components
are shown in the figure
(a) Steam separator drum:
It is placed outside the boiler assembly. The drum receives
mixture of steam and water from the evaporator tubes and feeds
water from the economizer. The water particles in the steam are
separated here.
(b) Water circulating pump;
The centrifugal pump is used to draw the water from the drum
through the down-comer. The pump circulates water by forced
circulation and equal to 8 to 10 times the weight of the steam
evaporated which prevents the overheating of tubes.
La-Mont Boiler
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54
(c) Distributing header:

It is used to control the flow of water to the evaporator tubes
(d) Evaporator:
It is used to evaporate the water into steam.
(e) Convection in superheater:
The steam produces in the boiler is in the state of saturated
condition. The moisture in the steam will affect the turbine
blades and cause corrosion. To avoid this, the super heater is
used. It is used to increase the temperature of steam and to
improve the efficiency.
(f) Economizer:
The main purpose of economizer in the boiler is to preheat the
feed water using the exhaust gases flowing out from the boiler
to the atmosphere. The preheated water requires only a small
amount of heat to be supplied in the boiler. This will increase
the efficiency of the boiler. In this, the feed water supplied by
the feed pump is heated in the economizer on its way to the
steam separator on its way to the steam separator drum.
(g) Air preheater:
It is used to preheat the air by using exhaust gases flowing out
from the boiler. The preheated air is supplied to the furnace for
combustion.
Working:
The feed water passes through the economizer to the drum,
from which it is drawn to the circulation pump. The pump
delivers the feed water to the tube evaporating section. The
circulating of water is about 8 to 10 times the steam evaporates
in the boiler. The steam in the drum is a mixture of steam and
water and the steam is drawn through a convection super heater
the superheated steam is supplied to the prime mover through
4/27/2014 3:15:24 PM
55
steam outlet. The working pressure of Lamont boiler is about

170 bar and capacity up to 50,000kg of steam per hour at 500C
temperature.
Advantages:
1. It is forced circulation boiler.
2. High working pressure.
Disadvantages:
1. The salt and sediment are deposited on the inner surfaces of
water.
2. Sanger of overheating of tubes.
11. (b) (ii)
S.No
Hydro power
plant
Steam
power plant
Nuclear power plant
Initial cost is
high
Capital cost
is high
Capital cost is less

when size of plant
is increased
Operating cost
is high
Operating
cost is high
Operating cost is
less
Steam
power plant
efficiency is
less
Steam
power plant
efficiency
is = 20 to
30 %
Nuclear power plant

h = 30 to 32 %
Fuel
transportation
is less
Large
quantity
of fuel is
required
Less quantity of
fuel required
Space
requirement is
high
Space
requirement
is high
Space requirement
is less
4/27/2014 3:15:24 PM
56
Fuel storage is
required
Fuel
storage
space is
required
No fuel storage
space
Suitable for
peak load plant
Not suitable
where water
and coal
resources
are not
available
No such constraints
12. (a) (i) Advantages of pulverized coal firing

1. Any grade of coal can be used since coal is powdered
before use.
2. The rate of feed of the fuel can be regulated properly
resulting in fuel economy.
3. Since, there is almost complete combustion of the fuel
where is increased rate of evaporation and higher boiler
efficiency.
4. Greater capacity to meet peak loads.
5. The system is practically free from sagging and clinkering
troubles.
6. No standby losses due to banked problems.
7. Practically no ash handling problems.
8. No moving part in the furnace is subjected to high
temperatures.
9. This system works successfully with or in combination
with gas and oil.
10. Much smaller quantity of air is required as compared to
that of stoker firing.
11. Practically free from clinker troubles.
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57
12. (a) (ii) Cyclone separators

Cyclone separators are gas cleaning devices that utilize the
centrifugal force created by a spinning gas stream to separate
particles from a gas. A standard tangential inlet vertical cyclone
separator is shown. The gas flow is forced to follow the curved
geometry of the cyclone, while the inertia of particles in the
flow causes them to move toward the outer wall, where they
collide and are collected. A particle of mass mp moving in a
circular path of radius r with a tangential velocity vq is acted
upon by a centrifugal force.
fe =
m p vq 2
. At a typical velocity of vq = 10 m/s, r = 0.5m,

r
Fc = 200 mp. Whereas the gravity force Fg = mp.g = 9.81 mp.
Thus, the centrifugal force is 204 times the gravity force on the
same particle.
A tangential inlet vertical cyclone separator

In a cyclone the particles in the spinning gas stream move
progressively closer to the outer wall as they flow through the
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58
device, the gas stream may execute several complete turns as it

flows from one end of the device to the other.
The particle laden gas is entered tangentially to the cyclone.
The particles are forced to the wall by centrifugal forces and
then fall down in the wall by gravity. At the bottom of the
cyclone the gas flow reverse to from the inner core that leaves
at the top of the unit.
Out of m kg of particles entering the cyclone with the gas stream,
if mi kg (fines) leave with the gas at the top and is collected ,say,
in a bag filter, then (m - m1) kg of particles are separated by the
cyclone from the gas solid mixture,
m m1
and the expression

100 is called the collection
m
efficiency of the cyclone. The cyclone collection efficiency

increases with increasing (a) particle size, (b) particle density,
(c) inlet gas velocity, (d) cyclone body length, (e) number of gas
revolutions, and (f) smoothness of cyclone walls. The collection
efficiency decreases with increasing (s) cyclone diameter, (b)
gas outlet duct diameter, and (c) gas inlet area.
For any specific cyclone whose ratio of dimensions is fixed
the collection efficiency increases as the cyclone diameter
is decreased. The design of a cyclone separator represents a
compromise among collection efficiency, pressure drop, and
size. Higher efficiency requires higher pressure drops (i.e., inlet
gas velocity) and larger sizes. (i.e., body length)
12. (b) (i) Advantages of surface condense
1. Slightly better vacuum can be obtained.
2. Condensate can be reused for boiler feed water.
3. Low pumping power required.
4. Cooling water of even poor quality can be used because the
cooling water does not come in direct contact with steam.
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59
5. There is no need to treat the condensate chemically before

being supplied to the boiler.
Disadvantages:
1. High initial cost
2. Requires large floor area.
3. High maintenance cost.
4. Mox head is necessary in order to obtain sufficient head on
hot well pump.
12. (b) (ii) Hyperbolic cooling water:
The hyperbolic cooling tower is a steel reinforced concrete
structure and the bottom 10m above the air-intake contains
packing over which warm water flows. The operation of the
hyperbolic cooling tower is similar to that of other natural
draft cooling towers. Similar to that of natural cooling tower in
hyperbolic cooling tower, there is no fan used to supply the air.
the airflow is created by the chimney action only.
Hyperbolic cooling tower
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60
Advantages of this tower:

1. Flow of air is created by chimney itself.
2. No fans are needed, so power consumption is less.
3. It is self supported structure.
4. Less ground area required.
Disadvantages
1. Performance varies with seasonal changes.
2. Initial cost is high.
13. (a) (i) Essential components of Nuclear Reactor
The essential components of a nuclear reactor are as follows:
1. Reactor core
2. Reflector
3. Control mechanism
4. Moderator
5. Coolants
6. Measuring instruments
7. Shielding
1. Reactor core:
The reactor core is that part of nuclear power plant where fission
chain reaction is made to occur and where fission energy is
liberated in the form of heat for operating power conversion
equipment. The core of the reactor consists. of an assemblage
of fuel elements, control rods, coolant and moderator. Reactor
cores generally have a shape approximating to aright circular
cylinder with diameters ranging from 0.5 m to 15 m. the pressure
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61
vessels which houses the reactor core is also considered a part

of the core. The fuel elements are made of plates or rods of
uranium metal. These plates or rods are usually clod in a thin
sheath of stainless steel, zirconium or aluminum to provide
corrosion resistance, retention of radioactivity and in some
cases, structural support enough space is provided between
individual plates or rods to allow free passage of the coolant.
Nuclear reactor
2. Reflector:
A reflector is usually placed round the core to reflect back some
of the neutrons. That leak out from the surface of the core. It is
generally made of the same material as the moderator
3. Control mechanism:
It is essential part of a reactor and serves the following purposes:
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62
(i) For starting the reactor i.e., to bring the reactor up to its
normal operating level.
(ii) For maintaining at that level i.e., keep power production at
a steady state.
(iii) For shutting the reactor down under normal or emergency
conditions.
The control system is also necessary to prevent the chain reaction
from becoming violent and consequently damaging the reactor.
The effective multiplication factor of the reactor is always kept
greater than unity in order that the number of neutrons keeps on
increasing in successive generations. As the number of neutrons
and hence the neutron flux density increases, the temperature
also increases. Unless the growth is checked at some point, the
rector is likely to be damaged as a result of too rapid liberation
of energy.
Note. The control system works on the simple principle of
absorbing the excess neutrons with the help pf control rods either
made of boron steel or cadium strips. Both these materials have
very large cross-section for thermal neutrons i.e., they are very
good absorbers of slow neutrons and also have the advantage of
non becoming radioactive sue to neutron capture. By pushing
these rods deeper into the central core, any amount of excess
neutrons can be absorbed. Once the reactor has reached predetermined power level, these control rods serve to keep the
value of K = 1 so that there is no further increase in the number
of neutrons from one generation to another. If, at some stage,
it is desired to increase the neutron flux density and hence the
power level, the rods are partially pulled out thereby allowing K
to exceed unity. For shutting down the reactor the control rods
are inserted to considerable depth so that K becomes less than
unity and the chain-reaction can be no longer be maintained. To
start up the reactor, all that is necessary is to carefully withdraw
the control rods and then adjust them till required output level
is attained. Movement of control rods can be manual or made
automatic with the help of carefully designed servomechanism.
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4. Moderator:
In a nuclear reactor the function of moderator is:
(i) To slow down the neutrons from the high velocities and
hence high energy level, which they have on being released
from the fission process. Neutrons are slowed down most
effectively in scattering collisions with nuclei of the light
elements, such as hydrogen, graphite, beryllium etc.
(ii) To slow down the neutrons but not absorb them
The desirable properties of a moderator in a reactor are:
1. High slowing down power.
2. Low parasite capture.
3. Non-corrosiveness (or corrosiveness resistance).
4. Machinability (if solid).
5. High melting point for solids and low melting point for
liquids.
6. Chemical and radiation stability.
7. High thermal conductivity.
8. Abundance in pure form.
H2O, D2O (heavy water), He (gas), Be and C (graphite) are the
commonly used moderators.
As a moderator D2O is the best material available, (moderating
ratio of D2O is 12000 as compared to 72 for H2O and 170 for
carbon) because (i) it has excellent neutrons slowing properties
(ii). it had very small cross-section for neutron capture. (iii) it
can be used as a coolant as well. Its disadvantages are: (i). it
has low boiling point so that it necessitates pressurization (ii)
it is very expensive. But, the advantages of D2O as moderator
coolant outweigh its high cost.
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Cooling systems: (a) Indirect cooling; (b) Direct cooling

5. Coolant:
The function of coolant is to remove the intense heat produced
in the reactor and to bring out for being utilized.
The desirable characteristics for a reactor coolant are:
1. Low parasite capture.
2. Low melting point.
3. High boiling point.
4. Chemical and radiation stability.
5. Low viscosity.
6. Non - toxicity.
7. Non corrosiveness.
8. Minimum induces activity (short half lives, low energy
emission).
9. High specific heat (reduces pumping power and thermal
stresses).
10. High density (reduces pumping power and physical plant
size).
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Commonly used coolants: Santiwax R (organic, Hg, He, CO2)

The most widely used gaseous coolant is CO2 particularly in
large- power reactors. It is (i). Cheap (ii) does not attack metals
at reasonable temperatures and (iii) has small cross section
for neutron capture.
13. (a) (ii) Description of CANDU reactor
Reactor vessel and core. The reactor vessel is a steel cylinder
with a horizontal axis; the length and diameter of atypical
cylinder being 6 m and 8 m respectively the vessel is penetrated
by some 380 horizontal channels called pressure tubes because
they are designed to withstand a high internal pressure. The
channels contain the fuel elements and the pressurized coolant
flows along the channels and around the fuel elements remove
the heat generated by fission. Coolant flows in the opposite
directions adjacent channels.
The high pressure (10 MPa) and high temperature (370 C)
coolant leaving the reactor core enfetters the steam generator.
About 5% of fission heat is generated by fast neutrons escaping
into the moderator, and this is removed by circulation through a
separate heat exchanger.
CANDU reactor
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66
Fuel
In a CNADU reactor the fuel is normal (i.e., unenriched)
uranium oxide as small cylinder pellets. The pellets are packed
in a corrosion resistance zirconium alloy tube, nearly 0.5 long
and 1.3 cm diameter, to form a fuel rod. The relatively short
rods are combined in bundles 0f 37 rods, and 12 bundles are
places end to end in each tube. The total mass of fuel in the
core is about 97,000 Kg. The CANDU reactor is unusual in that
refueling is conducted while the reactor is operating.
Control and protection system
There are the various types of vertical control system
incorporated in the CANDU reactor
A number of strong neutron absorber rods of cadmium
which are used mainly for reactor shut-down and start-up.
In addition to the above there are other less strongly,
absorbing rods of control power variations during reactor
operation and to produce an approximately uniform heat
(power) distribution throughout the core.
In an emergency situation, the shut-down rods would
immediately drop into the core, followed, if necessary by the
injection of a gadolinium nitrate solution into the moderator.
Steam system. Steam system is discussed below;
The respective ends of the pressure tubes are connected
into inlet and the outlet headers.
The high temperature coolant leaving the reactor passes out
the outlet header to a steam generator of the conventional
inverted U-tube and is then pumped back into the reactor
by way of the inlet header.
Steam is generated at a temperature of about 265C.
There are two coolant outlet (and inlet) headers, one at each end
of the reactor vessel corresponding to the opposite directions of
coolant flow through the core. Each inlet (and outlet) header is
connected to a separate steam generator and pump loop. A single
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pressurizer (of the type used in the pressurized water reactors)

maintains an essentially constant coolant system pressure.
The reactor vessel and the stem generator system are enclosed
by concrete containment structure. A water spray in the
containment would condense the steam and reduces the pressure
that would result from a large break in the coolant circuit.
13. (b) (i) Selection of site for a Hydro electric plant
The following factors should be considered while selecting the
site for hydroelectric power plant.
1. Availability of water
2. Water storage capacity
3. Available water head
4. Accessibility of the site
5. Distance from the load centre
6. Type of land of site
1. Availability of water: The design and capacity of the hydroplant greatly depends on the amount of water available at
the site. The run-off data along with precipitation at the
proposed site with maximum and minimum quantity of
water available in a year should be made available to
(a) decide the capacity of the plant
(b) set up the peak load plant such as steam, diesel or gas
turbine plant,
(c) provide adequate spillways to gate relief during flood period.
2. Water storage capacity: Since there is a wide variation in
rainfall all round the year, it is always necessary to store
the water for continuous generation of power. The storage
capacity can be estimated with the help of mass curve.
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3. Available water head: In order to generate the desired

quantity of power it is necessary that a large quantity of
water at a sufficient head should be available. An increase
in effective head, for a given output, reduces the quantity of
water required to be supplied to the turbines.
4. Accessibility of site: The site should be accessible by
rail and road an inaccessible terrain will jeoparasize the
movement of men and material.
5. Distance from the load centre: If the site is close to
the load centre, the cost of transmission lines and the
transmission losses will be reduced.
6. Type of land of the site: The land of the site should be
cheap and rocky The dam constructed at the site should
have large catchments area to store water at high head. The
foundation rocks of the masonry dam should be strong
enough to withstand the stresses in the structure and the
thrust of water when the reservoir is full.
13. (b) (ii) Impulse Turbines
Pelton wheel, among the various impulse turbines that have
been designed and utilized, is by far the important. The Pelton
wheel or Pelton turbine is tangential flow impulse turbine.
It consists of a rotor, at the periphery of which is mounted
equally spaced double-hemispherical or double ellipsoidal
buckets. Water is transferred from the high head source through
penstock pipes. A branch pipe from each penstock pipe ends
in a nozzle, through which the water flows out as a high speed
jet. A needle or spear moving inside the nozzle controls the
water flow through the muzzle and at the same time provides
a smooth flow with negligible energy loss. All the available
potential energy is thus converted into kinetic energy before
the jet strikes the buckets. The pressure all over the wheel is
constant and equal to atmosphere, so that energy transfer
occurs due to purely impulse action
The figure (a) shows the schematic diagram of a Pelton wheel
while Figure(b) shows two views of its bucket.
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69
The jet emerging from the nozzle hits the splitter symmetrically
and is equally distributed into two halves of hemispherical bucket
as shown. The bucket centre-line cannot be like a mathematically
cusp, partly because of manufacturing difficulties and partly
because the jet striking the cusp invariably carries particles of
sand and other abrasive materials which tend to wear it down.
The inlet angle of the jet is therefore between 1 and 3, but
it always assumed to be zero in all calculations. Theoretically,
if the bucket were exactly hemispherical, it would defect the
jet through, 180. Then, the relative velocity of the jet leaving
the bucket, Cr2, would be opposite in direction to the relative
velocity entering jet Cr1 This cannot be achieved in practice
since the jet leaving the bucket would then strike the back of the
succeeding bucket to cause splashing and interference so that
the overall turbine efficiency would fall to low values. Hence, in
practice, the angular deflection of the jet in the bucket is limited
to about 165 or 170, and the bucket is therefore
Pelton wheel
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70
The bucket dimensions

L
D
T
= 2.5 2.8, = 14 16, = 0.95, Notch ( width ) = 1.1d + 5mm
d
d
d
14. (a)
Schematic arrangement of a diesel engine power plant
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71
1. Engine:
I t is the main component of the plant and its directly coupled to
the generator.
2. Air intake system:
I t conveys fresh air through louvers and air filter that removes
dirt, etc. causing wear of the engine. Supercharger, if fitted, is
generally driven by the engine itself and it augments the power
output of the engine.
3. Exhaust System:
It discharges the engine exhaust to the atmosphere. The exhaust
manifold connects the engine cylinder exhaust outlets to the
exhaust pipe which is provided with muffler or silencer to
reduce pressure on the exhaust line and eliminate the most
of the noise which may result if gases are discharged directly
to the atmosphere. The exhaust pipe should have flexible
tubing system to take up the effects of expansion due to high
temperature and also isolate the exhaust system from the engine
vibration.
There is scope of waste heat utilization from the diesel
engine exhaust by installing a waste heat boiler to raise low
pressure steam which can be used for any process purpose or
for generating electricity which can be in the form of a water
in a gas-to-water heat exchanger which can be in the form of
water coil installed in the exhaust muffler. It can be used for air
heating where the exhaust pipe is surrounded by cold air jacket.
4. Fuel system:
Fuel oil may be delivered at the plant side by trucks, railway
wagon and barges and oil tankers. an unloading facility delivers
oil to the main storage tanks from where oil is pumped to small
service storage tanks known as engine day tanks, which store oil
for approximately eight hours of operation coils heated by hot
water or steam reduce oil viscosity to reduce pumping power.
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The fuel injection system is the heart of a diesel engine. Engine

driving electric generators have lower speeds and simple
combustion chambers that promote good mixing of fuel and
air. The fuel injection system performs the following functions.
(a) Filter the fuel
(b) Meter the correct quantity of the fuel to be injected.
(c) Time the injection process.
(d) Regulate the fuel supply.
(e) Secure the fine atomizes of fuel oil.
(f) Distribute the atomized fuel properly in the combustion
chamber.
5. Cooling system:
he temperature of the gases inside the cylinder may be as high
T
as 2750C. If there is no external cooling, the cylinder walls and
piston will tend to assume the average temperature of the gases
which may be of the order of 1000 to 1500C. the cooling of
the engine is necessary for the following reasons.
(a) The lubricating oil are used determines the maximum
engine temperature that can be used. This temperature
varies from 160C to 200C. Above these temperatures the
lubricating oil deteriorates very rapidly and may evaporate
due to overheating may also occur.
(b) The strength of materials used for various engine parts
decreases with increase in temperature. Local thermal
stresses can develop due to uneven expansion of various
parts, often resulting in cracking.
(c) High engine temperatures may result in very hot exhaust
valve giving rise to pre-ignition and detonation or knocking.
(d) Due to high cylinder head temperature, the volumetric
efficiency and hence power put of the engine are reduced.
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73
Following are the two methods of cooling the engine.

(i) Air cooling
(ii) Water cooling.
6. Lubricating system:
Lubrication is the flow of oil between two surfaces having
relative motion. The following are the important functions of
lubricating system.
(a) Lubricating: To keep moving parts sliding freely past each
other, thus reducing engine friction and wear.
(b) Cooling: To keep the surfaces cool by taking away the part
of the heat caused by friction.
(c) Cleaning: To keep the bearings and piston rings clean of the
products of the wear as well as of combustion by washing
them away.
(d) sealing: To form a good seal between the piston rings and
cylinder walls.
(e) Reducing noise: To reduce the noise of the engine by
absorbing vibration.
Various lubrication systems used for IC engine may be classified
in the following manner.
(a) Mist lubrication system
(b) Wet sump lubricating system
(c) Dry sump lubricating system
7. Starting of engine:
Following are the three common methods of starting an engine.
(i) By an auxiliary engine, which is mounted close to the main
engine and drives the latter through a clutch and gears.
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74
(ii) By using an electric motor, in which a storage battery of 12

to 36 volts is used to supply power to an electric motor that
drives the engine.
(iii) By compressed air system, in which compressed air at
about 17 bar supplied for an air tank is admitted to a few engine
cylinders making them work like reciprocating cylinders and
ignited in the normal way causing the engine to start. The
compressed air system is commonly used for starting large
diesel engines employed for stationary power pant service.
14. (b) (i) Working of Closed Cycle Gas Turbines
Closed cycle gas turbine

It consists of compressor, combustion chamber, gas turbine and
pre cooler. The schematic diagram of a closed cycle gas turbine
plant is shown in the figure.
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In a closed cycle gas turbine, the air is compressed in air

compressor isentropically to a required pressure and then
passed through a combustion chamber where fuel injects to
the air and ignited. The high temperature air from combustion
chamber expands through a gas turbine where the heat energy
is converted into mechanical energy. Then the exhaust gas
from the gas turbine is pass through a pre-cooler where it is
cooled at constant pressure with the help of circulating water
to its original pressure. Then the same air is passed through the
compressor again and again.
It is thus obvious, in a closes cycle gas turbine, the same air is
continuously circulated repeatedly throughout the system.
14. (b) (ii)
Fuel
Chimney
Steam
CC
T
Gas turbine
Boiler
Pump
Steam turbine
Fuel
A considerable amount of heat energy goes as a water with

the exhaust of the gas turbine. This energy must be utilized.
The complete use of the energy available to a system is called
the total energy approach. The objective of this approach is to
use all of the heat energy in a power system at the different
temperature levels at which it becomes available to produce
work, or the heating of air or stem or water. the best approach
is the use of the combined cycles depending upon the place or
country requirements. Even nuclear power plant may be used in
the combines cycles.
The exhaust of gas turbine which has high content is used
as the inlet gas to the steam generator where the combustion
of additional fuel takes place. The combination of an open
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76
cycle gas turbine and the steam turbine allows nearer equality
between the power outputs of the two units than is obtained with
the simple recuperative heat exchanger. In a given total power
output is about one-fourth of that of steam turbine. In efficiency
the grater disadvantages include the complexity of the plant,
different fuel requirements and possible loss of flexibility and
reliability. In the field of co-generation developed in USA
utilizes the gaseous fuel in the combustion chambers produced
by the gasification of low quality of coal which is efficient.
15. (a) (i)
General arrangement of tidal power plant
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77
Double basin arrangement of Tidal power plant

In a single basin arrangement power can be generated only
intermittently. In this arrangement only one basin interacts
with the sea. The two are separated by a dam or dyke and the
flow between them is through sluice ways located conveniently
along the dam. The rise and fall of tidal water levels provide the
potential head.
Tidal power plant-doube basin operation

Figure shows a general arrangement of single basin tidal
power plant (double cycle system). Such plants generally use
reversible water turbines so that power is generated on low tide
as well high tide. The operation of the plant is as follows:
When the incoming tide sea level and tidal-basin level are
equal, the turbine conduit is closed. When the sea level rises,
and about half way to high tide the turbine valves are opened
and the sea water flows into the basin through the turbine runner
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78
generating power. This also raises the level of water basin. The
turbine continues to generate power until the tide through its
high point and begins to drop. The water head then quickly
diminishes till is not enough to supply the no-load losses. By
pass valve then quickly opens to let water into the basin to gain
maximum water level. When sea and basin water level are again
equal the valves are closed as well as the turbines conduit. The
basin level then stays constant while the tide continues to go
out. After sufficient head has developed, the turbine valves are
again opened and water now flows from basin to the sea, thereby
generating power. The plant continues to generate power till the
tide reaches its lower level.
A single basin plant cannot generate power continuously,
through it might do so by using pumped storage plant if the
load it supplies fluctuates considerably. A double basin scheme
can provide power continuously or on demand, which is a great
advantage. The drawback is that the civil works become more
extensive. In the simple double-basin scheme there must be
dam between each basin and the sea and also a dam between
the basins, containing the power house. In basin is maintained
always at a lower level than the other. The lower reservoir
empties at low tide; the upper reservoir is replinshed at high
tide. If the generating capacity is to be large, the reservoir must
be large which means that long dams would be required.
15. (a) (ii) A solar thermal power plant in principle works no differently
than a conventional steam power plant. No harm is done to the
environment by burning coal, oil, natural gas or by splitting
uranium to produce stem. It is produced by the energy that
comes from the sun.
In order to achieve the high temperature required, solar radiation
must be concentrated. Parabolic troughs collection represents
the most advanced technology. These troughs are more than
1,300 feet in length and are made up of parabolically shaped
mirror segments. The troughs track the sun over the course of
the day and focus the resulting radiation along the caustic line
of the mirrors on to specially coated, evacuated absorber tube
receivers.
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79
Solar power Towers power plant: The first solar power tower
design which uses thousands of sun-tracking reflectors or
heliostats to direct and concentrate solar radiation on to a boiler
located at the top of a lower. The temperature in the boiler rises
to 500 - 700C and the steam raised can be used to drive a.
turbine, which in turn drives electricity producing turbine. They
are also called central receiver solar power plants. It can be
divided into solar plant and conventional steam power plant.
Solar power tower power plant

Depreciation rates D are determined by the life expectancy of
the equipment the method used for calculating depreciation.
The power plant and equipment in the station will have a certain
period of useful life. After years of use, the equipment loses
its efficiency or becomes absolute and needs replacement.
Sometimes, equipment may have to be changed even when
fairly new, if more efficient equipment has come in to the
market. To enable this to be done when necessary, some money
is put aside annually, and is known as the depreciation funs.
There are two methods of accumulating the money for the
depreciation fund.
1. Straight-line method
2. Sinking-fund method
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80
The straight-line method is based on the assumption that

depreciation occurs informly every year according to a straightline law. The money saved neglects any interest. If A is the
capital cost of the equipment and G is its salvage value after N
useful years, then the depreciation charge per year is
D = (A - G) / N
Figure illustrates this simple, straight-line method of
accumulating the depreciation reserve. It is seen that the valve
of the equipment, which is 100%initially, depreciates to only
15% at the end of its 100% useful years of life. The straight-line
BE indicates the depreciation and the slope of the line indicates
the rate at which the plant depreciates. The depreciation at the
end of 50% of useful life is FG, and the total depreciation at
the end of 100% of useful life is CE. The line AD represents
the depreciation reserve to be accumulated so that at the end of
useful life the total is DJ, which is equal to the total depreciation
CE.
Straight-line method
In the sinking-fund method, a sum of money is set aside every
year for N years and invested to earn compound interest. Let us
suppose P is the annual deposit and is the interest compound
annually when the deposit is invested. At the end of the first
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81
year, Rs. P is deposited. After (N-1) years this will be worth

(compounded annually)
Rs. P (1+i)N-1
At the end of the second year, Rs. P is deposited. After (N-2)
years this will be worth
At the end of (N-1) years, Rs. P is deposited. After 1 year this
will be worth
Rs. P (1 + i)
At the end of Nth year, Rs, P is deposited and this will be worth
Rs. P
At the end of N years, the value of all the sums deposited will be
P (1 + i) N-1 +P (1 + i) N-2 + + P (1 + i) + P
=P + P (1 + i) +P (1 + i) 2 + + P (1 + i) N-1
This is a geometric progression with a common ratio of r = 1
+ i.
Therefore the sum is
(1 + i ) N1
i
s sum is equal to A = A - G = capital cost -salvage value
s=P
P=
A i

(1 + i ) N 1
(1)
The sinking-fund method can also be represented by a diagram

as shown in the figure. The curve AHD shows the sinking fund
accumulating at a certain rate compound interest. The total
amount at the end of the useful life is given by JD which is
the initial cost of the plant minus its salvage value. The rate at
which the sum is saved annually is not; however, the same as
in the straight-line method, as the final sum consists of annual
instalments plus the compound interest on all installments at the
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82
end of the whole period JD = CE. The depreciation at the end

of 50% of useful life is shown by FG, while the sinking-d saved
at the end of 50% of useful is shown by HI.
The amount which should be set aside annually is given by
equation (1)
P = annual payment to sinking fund
i
(1 + i ) N 1
Where i is the annual rate of compound interest and N is the
number of years over which the total amount of depreciation is
to be saved.
= (Initial value - salvage value)
Sinking fund method
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NOV/DEC 2012
Seventh Semester
(Regulation 2008)
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. Why is a surge tank important in a hydro-plant?
2. Define supercritical boilers.
3. What are the requirements of good coal handling plant?
4. What are the different types of draught systems used in steam power
plants?
5. What are fission fragments and fission products?
6. What is a nuclear reactor?
7. What are the applications of diesel power plant?
8. What are the disadvantages of gas turbine plant?
9. How is the load duration curve constructed?
10. What are the fixed costs of power plants?
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1.84
11. (a) (i) Describe the pumped storage power plant. What are the
advantages of it?
(8)

(ii) Draw the layout of a high pressure boiler.
(8)
Or

(b) (i) Describe the principle of bubbling fluidized bed boilers.
(ii) What are the advantages of combined cycle power plant?
(8)
(8)
12. (a) (i) Draw a line diagram of hydraulic ash handling system used for
modem capacity power plant. Discuss its merits with other
systems.
(8)

(ii) Explain the working of electrostatic precipitator with neat

diagram and list out its outstanding features over other collectors.

(8)
Or
(b) (i) With the help of neat sketches, explain the working of different
types of cooling towers.
(8)
(ii) Discuss the various pollutants from steam power plants.
(8)
13. (a) (i) Describe with the help of a neat sketch the working of a
pressurised water reactor. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of it?
(8)

(ii) Explain the safety measures and waste disposal methods of

nuclear power plant.
(8)
Or
(b) (i) Draw the layout of nuclear power plant. What are the advantages
of it?
(8)
(ii) Explain with a neat sketch the principle of fast breeder reactor.
(8)
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14. (a) (i) Draw the layout of a diesel engine power plant.

1.85
(8)
(ii) What are the factors to be considered while selecting the site for
diesel engine power plant?
(8)
Or
(b) (i) Describe a closed cycle gas turbine plant. What are the
applications of closed cycle?
(8)
(ii) What are the advantages and disadvantages of gas turbine power
plant?
(8)
15. (a) (i) Explain the various load curves terms applied to power system.

(8)

(ii) What do you understand by power plant economics? Explain the

fixed and operating cost of a power station.
(8)
Or
(b) (i) Describe the different types of load curves.
(8)
(ii) What are the requirements of a tariff? Explain the two part tariff.

(8)
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MAY/JUNE 2012
Seventh Semester
(Regulation 2008)
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. Give the sketch of gas turbine power plant with inter cooling.
2. What is super critical boiler?
3. How the combustion equipment for burning coal is classified?
4. What are the functions of a draught system?
5. How the nuclear waste will be disposed?
6. Write a short note on micro Hydel plant.
7. What are the applications of diesel power plants?
8. What type of fuel used for gas turbine?
9. What type of geothermal system used in commercial?
10. How can the cost of power generation be reduced?
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87
11. (a) What are the advantages of combined cycle power generation?
Explain briefly.
Or

(b) What are the advantages of high pressure boiler? Draw and explain
the working of Benson boiler? And its advantage.
12. (a) Explain with neat sketch of (i) Chain Grate Stoker:
Or

(b) What is the advantages and disadvantages of pulverized coal firing?

And explain the working of central bin system with a neat sketch.
Bin or Central System:
13. (a) What is the difference between fission and fusion? And explain the
working of a pressurized water reactor and its advantages and
disadvantages.
Or

(b) How the hydro power plants are classified? And what is the difference
between high head power plants and pumped storage power plants/
explain with a neat sketch.
14. (a) (i) Explain with a neat sketch working of thermo-syphon and
thermostat cooling system of a diesel power plant.

(ii) What are the method of starting diesel engines? Explain. Various
Diesel Engine Starting Systems:
Or
(b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of open cycle and closed
cycle gas turbine power plant? Explain.
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88
I5. (a) What is the difference between Geothermal and tidal energy? Explain
with a neat sketch.
Or

(b) Explain briefly various types of tariffs for electrical energy and how
the cost of electrical energy is determined? Explain. TYPES OF
TARIFFS
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Solutions
PART A
1. Gas turbine power plant with intercooler

2. The critical boiler operating steam parameter 221.12 bar and
375 centigrade. The pressure and temperature can rise above the critical
point. That is called super critical boiler.
3. 1. Hand firing
2. Mechanical firing (stokers)
4. Due to the emission of large amount of fuel gases and other materials,
environment is polluted. Thus to decrease the environmental pollution
some techniques and equipments are used. Generally electrostatic
precipitators and draught system is used by coal gas plants to decrease
the environment pollution.
5. The method to dispose nuclear waste is to bury it in the ground and
hope it doesnt leak out. More specifically, to identify stable geological
foundations this can host the material for 10,000 years.
6. Micro hydel plants are renewable, non polluting away of harnessing
energy from falling water, such as steep mountain rivers. Small scale of
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90
the river system can generate power for homes, hospitals, schools and
workshops.
7. 1. Systems consisting of railroads, ships, automobiles and aeroplanes.
2. They can be used as standby power plants
3. They can be used as peak load plants for some other types of power
plants
4. They are quite suitable for mobile power generation and are widely
used in transportation
5. They can be used for electrical power generation from 100 to
5000 H.P
8. Gas turbines have been constructed to work on the following Oil, natural
gas, coal gas and producer gas, blast furnace and pulverized coal.
9. To develop electricity from geothermal resources, wells are drilled into
a geothermal reservoir. The wells bring the geothermal water to the
surface, where its heat energy is converted into electricity at a geothermal
power plant.
10. Cheap, high quality biomass for power generation may become scarce
as it is also used for heat production and in the pulp and paper industry.
New resources based on energy crops have larger potential but are more
expensive.
PART B
11. (a) A considerable amount of heat energy goes as a waste with the exhaust
of the gas turbine. This energy must be utilized. The complete use of
the energy available to a system is called the total energy approach.
The objective of this approach is to use all of the heat energy in a
power system at the different temperature levels at which it becomes
available to produce work, or the heating of air or steam or water,
thereby rejecting a minimum of energy waste. The best approach
is the use of combined cycles where various combinations of the
combined cycles depending upon the place or country requirements.
Even nuclear power plant may be used in the combined cycles.
The exhaust of gas turbine which has high oxygen content is used
as the inlet gas to the steam generator where the combustion of
additional fuel takes place. The combination of an open cycle gas
turbine and steam turbine allows nearer equality between the power
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91
outputs of the two units than is obtained with the simple recuperative
heat exchanges. On a given total power output the energy input
is reduced and the installed cost of gas turbine per unit of power
output is about one-fourth of that of steam turbine. In other words,
the combination cycles exhibit higher efficiency. The greater
disadvantages include the complexity of the plant, different fuel
requirements and possible loss of flexibility and reliability. In the
field of cogeneration developed in USA utilizes the gaseous fuel in
the combustion chambers produced by the gasification of low quality
of coal which is efficient.
Fuel
Chimney
Steam
CC
T
Gas turbine
Boiler
Pump
Steam turbine
Fuel
Steam Turbine
11. (b) Advantages of high pressure boilers.

1. In high pressure boilers pumps are used to maintain forced

circulation of water through the tubes of the boiler. This ensures
positive circulation of water and increases evaporative capacity of
the boiler and less number of steam drums will be required.
2. The heat of combustion is utilized more efficiently by the use of

small diameter tubes in large number and in multiple circuits.
3. Pressurized combustion is used which increases rate of fixing of

fuel thus increasing the rate of heat release.
4. Due to compactness less floor space is required.
5. The tendency of scale formation is eliminated due to high velocity

of water through the tubes.
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6. All the parts are uniformly heated, therefore, the danger

of overheating is reduced and thermal stress problem is
simplified.
7. The differential expansion is reduced due to uniform temperature

and this reduces the possibility of gas and air leakages.
8. The components can be arranged horizontally as high head

required for natural circulation is eliminated using forced
circulation. There is a greater flexibility in the components
arrangement.
9. The steam can be raised quickly to meet the variable load

requirements without the use of complicated control devices.
10. The efficiency of plant is

increased upto 40 to 42 percent
by using high pressure and high temperature steam.
11. A very rapid start from cold is possible if an external supply of
power is available. Hence the boiler can be used for carrying peak
loads or standby purposes with hydraulic station.
12. Use of high pressure and high temperature steam is economical.
Benson Boiler:
The first high pressure Benson boiler was put into operation in 1927
in West Germany. This boiler too makes use of forced circulation and
uses oil as fuel. Its chief novel principle is that it eliminates the latent
heat of water by first compressing the feed to a pressure of 235 bar,
it is then above the critical pressure and its latent heat is Zero.
This boiler does not use any drum. The feed water after circulation
through the economic tubes flows through the radiant parallel
tube section where this evaporate partly. The steam water mixture
produced then moves to the transit section where this mixture
is converted into steam. The steam is now passed through the
convection super heater and finally supplied to the prime mover.
Boilers having as high as 650C temperature of steam had been put
into service. The maximum working pressure obtained so far from
commercial Benson boiler is 500 atm. The Benson boilers of 150
tonnes/h generating capacity are in use.
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93
Benson Boiler
Advantages of a Benson Boiler:
1. It can be erected in a comparatively smaller floor area.
2. It can be started very quickly because of welded joints.
3. The total weight of a Benson boiler is 20% less than other boilers,
since there are no drums. This also reduces the cost of the boiler.
4. Natural convection boilers require expansion joints but these are
not required for Benson boiler as the pipes are welded.
5. The furnace walls of the boiler can be more efficiently protected
by using smaller diameter and closed pitched tubes.
6. The transfer of parts of the boiler is easy as no drums are required
and majority of the parts are carried to the site without preassembly.
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7. It can be operated most economically by varying the temperature

and pressure at part loads and overloads. The desired temperature
can also be maintained constant at any pressure.
8. The blow-down losses of the boiler are hardly 4% of natural
circulation boiler of the same capacity.
9. Explosion hazards are not severe as it consists of tubes of small
diameter and has very little storage capacity.
10. The super heater in a Benson boiler is an integral part of forced
circulation system, therefore, no special starting arrangement
for superheater is required.
12. (a) A chain grate stoker consists of flexible endless chain which forms a
support for the fuel bed. The chain travels over two sprocket wheels
one at the front and one at the rear of furnace. The front sprocket is
connected to a variable speed drive mechanism. The speed of the
stroker is 15 cm to 50 cm per minute.
The coal bed thickness is shown for all times by an index plate. This
can be regulated either by adjusting the opening of fuel grate or by
the speed control of the stoker driving motor.
The air is admitted from the underside of the grate which is divided
into several compartments each connected to an air duct. The grate
should be saved from being overheated. For this, coal should have
sufficient ash content which will form a layer on the grate.
Since there is practically no agitation of the fuel bed, non-coking
coals are best suited for chain grate stokers.
The rate of burning with this stoker is 200 to 300 Kg per m2 per hour
when forced draught is used.

Advantages of chain grate stoker:
1. Simple in construction
2. Initial cost low
3. Maintenance charges low
4. Self-cleaning stoker
5. Gives high release rates per unit volume of the furnace
6. Heat release rates can be controlled just by controlling the speed

of chain.
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Chain Grate Stoker

Disadvantages:
1. Preheated air temperatures are limited to 1800 C maximum.
2. The clinker troubles are very common.
3. There is always some loss of coal in the form of fine particles

through ridings.
4. Ignition arches are required.
5. This cannot be used for high capacity boilers (200 tonnes / hr or

more)
12. (b) Advantages of pulverized coal firing:

1. Any grade of coal can be used since coal is powdered before use.
2. The rate of feed of the fuel can be regulated properly resulting in

fuel economy.
3. Since there is almost complete combustion of the fuel there is

increased rate of evaporation and higher boiler efficiency.
4. Greater capacity to meet peak loads.
5. The system is practically free from sagging and clinkering

troubles.
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96
6. No standby losses due to banded fires.
7. Practically no ash handling problems.
8. No moving part in the furnace is subjected to high temperatures.
9. This system works successfully with or in combination with gas

and oil.
10. Much smaller quantity of air is required as compared to that of

stoker firing
11. Practically free from clinker troubles.
12. The external heating surfaces are free from corrosion.
13. The furnace volume required is considerably less.
Disadvantages:
1. High capital cost.
2. Lot of fly-ash in the exhaust, which makes the removing of fine

dust uneconomical.
3. The possibility of explosion is more as coal burns like gas.
4. The maintenance of furnace brickwork is costly.
5. Special equipment is needed to start this system.
6. The skilled operators are required.
7. A separate coal preparation plant is necessary.
8. High furnace temperatures cause rapid deterioration of the

refractory surfaces of the furnace.
9. Nuisance is created by the emission of very fine particles of grit

and dust.
10. Fine regular grinding of fuel and proper distribution to burners

is usually difficult to achieve.
Central system or bin system:
A central pulverized system employs a limited number of large

capacity pulverisers at a central point to prepare coal for all the
burners. Driers, if required, are conveniently installed at this point.
From the pulverisers the coal is transported to a central storage bin
where it is deposited and its transporting air vented from the bin
through a cyclone. This bin may contain from 12 to 24 hours
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supply of pulverized coal. From the bin the coal is metered to the
burners by motor-driven feeders of varied design. Primary air, added
at the feeders, floats the coal to the burners.
Central Bin System

13. (a) Working of pressurized water reactor:
A pressurized water reactor is a light water cooled and moderated
thermal reactor having an unusual core design, using both natural
and highly enriched fuel. The principal parts of the reactor are:

1. Pressure vessel
2. Reactor thermal shield
3. Fuel elements
4. Control rods
5. Reactor containment
6. Reactor pressurizer
The components of the secondary system of pressurized water plant

are similar to those in a normal steam station.
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Fission
Fusion
1. When heavy unstable

nucleon is bombarded with
neutrons, the nucleus splits
into fragments of equal
mass and energy is released.
Some light elements fuse

together with the release of
energy.
2. About one thousandth of

the mass is converted into
energy.
It is possible to have four

thousandths of mass converted
into energy.
3. Nuclear reaction residual

problem is great.
Residual problem is much less.
4. Because of higher
radioactive material, health
hazards is high in case of
accidents.
Because of lesser radioactive

material, health hazards is
much less.
5. It is possible to construct

self-sustained fission
reactors and have positive
energy release.
It is extremely difficult to
construct controlled fusion
reactors.
6. Manageable temperatures
are obtained.
7. Raw fissionable material is

not available in plenty.
8. Amount of radioactive
material in a fission reactor
is high.
Need unmanageable
temperatures like 30 million
degrees for fusion process to
occur.
Reserves of deuterium, fusion
element, is available in great
quantity.
A possible advantage is that
the total amount of radioactive
material in a working fusion
reactor is likely to be very
much less than that in a fission
reactor.
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Refer figure on PWR , there are two circuits of water, one primary
circuit which passes through the fuel core and is radioactive. This
primary circuit then produces steam in a secondary circuit which
consists of heat exchanger or the boiler and the turbine. As such the
steam in the turbine is not radioactive and need not be shielded. The
pressure in the primary circuit should be high so that the boiling of
water takes place at high pressure. A pressurizing tank keeps the water
at about 100 kgs/cm2 so that it will not boil. Electric heating coils in
the pressurizer boil some of the water to form steam that collects
in the dome. As more steam is forced into the dome by boiling, its
pressure rises and pressurizes the entire circuit. The pressure may be
reduced by providing cooling coils or spraying water on the steam.
Water acts both as coolant as well as moderator. Either heavy water
or the light water may be used for the above purpose.
A pressurized water reactor can produce only saturated steam. By
providing a separate furnace, the steam formed from the reactor
could be super-heated. (Refer figure at the back ).

Advantages of PWR:
1. Water used in reactor (as coolant, moderator and reflector) is

cheap and easily available.
2. The reactor is compact and power density is high.
3. Fission products remain contained in the reactor and are not

circulated.
4. A small number of control rods is required.
5. There is a complete freedom to inspect and maintain the turbine,

feed heaters and condenser during operation.
6. This reactor allows to reduce the fuel cost extracting more energy
per unit weight of fuel as it is ideally suited to the utilization of
fuel designed for higher burn-ups.
Disadvanatages:
1. Capital cost is high as high primary circuit requires strong

pressure vessel.
2. In the secondary circuit, the thermodynamic efficiency of this

plant is quite low.
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100
3. Fuel suffers radiation damage, and therefore its reprocessing is

difficult.
4. Severe corrosion problems.
5. Fuel element fabrication is expensive.
6. It is imperative to shut down the reactor for fuel charging which
requires a couple of months time.
7. Low volume ratio of moderator to fuel makes fuel element design

and insertion of control rods difficult.
Pressurized Water Reactor

13. (b) Classification of hydro-electric power plants:

A. According to availability of head
1. High head power plants
2. Medium head power plants
3. Low head power plants.
B. According to the nature of load
1. Base load plants
2. Peak load plants
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C. According to the quantity of water available
1. Run-of-river plant without pondage
2. Run-of-river plant with pondage
3. Storage type plants
4. Pump storage plants
5. Mini and micro-hydel plants
High head power plants:
101
These types of plants work under heads 100 m and above. Water is
usually stored up in lakes on high mountains during the rainy season
or during the season when the snow melts. The rate of flow should
be such that water can last throughout the year.
Fig. shows high head power plant layout. Surplus water discharged
by the spillway cannot endanger the stability of the main dam by
erosion because they are separated. The tunnel through the mountain
has a surge chamber excavated near the exit. Flow is controlled by
head gates at the tunnel intake, butterfly valves at the top of the
penstocks, and gate valves at the turbines. This type of site might
also be suitable for an underground station. The pelton wheel is the
common primemover used in high head power plants.
High Head Power Plant
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102
Pumped storage plants:
Pumped storage plants are employed at the places where the quantity
of water available for power generation is inadequate. Here the water
passing through the turbines is stored in tail race pond. During
low load periods this water is pumped back to the head reservoir
using the extra energy available. This water can be again used for
generating power during peak load periods. Pumping of water may
be done seasonally or daily depending upon the conditions of the
site and the nature of the load on the plant.
Pumped Storauie Plant

Such plants are usually interconnected with steam or diesel engine
plants so that off peak capacity of interconnecting stations is used
in pumping water and the same is used during peak load periods
ofcourse, the energy available from the quantity of water pumped
by the plant is less than the energy input during pumped operation.
Again while using pumped water the power available is reduced on
account of losses occurring in primemovers.
14. (a) (i) Thermosyphon cooling:
The fact in thermosyphon cooling is that water becomes light
on heating. The top of radiator is connected to the top of water
jacket by a pipe and bottom of the radiator to the bottom of the
water jacket. Water travels down the radiator across which air
is passed to cool it. The air flow can take place due to vehicle
motion or a fan can be provided for the purpose. This system has
the advantage that it is quite simple and automatic and is without
any water pump unless there is leak, there is nothing to get out of
order.
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The major shortcoming of this system is that cooling depends

only on the temperature and is independent of the engine speed.
The rate of circulation is slow and insufficient. The circulation of
water starts only after the engine has become hot enough to cause
thermo-syphon action.
Thermo Syphon Cooling System

Thermostat cooling system:
The forced circulation cooling system consists of pump, water

jacket in the cylinder, radiator, fan and a thermostat. The
coolant may be water or synthetic coolant is circulated through
the cylinder jacket with the help of a pump, which is usually
a centrifugal type, and driven by the engine. The function of
thermostat, which is fitted in the upper hose connection initially,
prevents the circulation of water below a certain temperature
usually upto 85C through the radiation so that water gets heated
up quickly.
Diesel power plants upto 200 WA use this type of cooling. In the
case of bigger plant, the hot water is cooled in a cooling tower and
recirculated again. There is a need of small quantity of cooling
make up water.
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104
Thermo Stat cooling System

14. (a) (ii) Method of starting Engines:

1. As prescribed by the manufacturers all necessary checks for

fuel, lubricating oil and cooling water should be made.
2. Increase the engine speed gradually till it synchronizes with

the station bus-bar.
3. Connect the generator to the bus-bar when it is in synchronism

and increase the engine speed till it begins to share the desired
load.
4. In case of electric meter, starting check the condition of

storage battery. If compressed air system is used, then air
pressure may be checked first and the air system inspected
for possible leakage.
5. Crank the engine after ensuring that all load is put off and
decompression device is in use, and then let it start.
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Various Diesel engine starting systems:
1. Starting by an auxiliary engine
2. Use of electric motors or self starters
3. Compressed air system
Starting by an auxiliary engine:
105
In this method a small petrol engine is connected to the main

engine through clutch and gear arrangements. Firstly, the clutch
is disengaged and petrol engine is started by hand. Then clutch
is gradually engaged and the main engine is cranked for starting.
Automatic disengagement of clutch takes place after the main
engine has started.

Use of electric motors or self starters:
Electric starting arrangement consists of an electric motor which

a drives pinion which engages a toothed rim on engine flywheel.
Electric power supply for the motor is made available by a small
electric generator driven from the engine. In case of small plants
a storage battery of 12 to 36 volts is used to supply power to the
electric motor.
The electric motor disengages automatically after the engine has
started. The advantages of electric starting are its simplicity and
effectiveness.

Compressed air system:
The compressed air system is commonly used for starting large

diesel engines employed for stationary power plant service.
Compressed air at about 17 bar supplied from an air tank or
bottle is admitted to a few of the engine cylinders making them
work like reciprocating air motors to run the engine shaft. Fuel
is admitted to the remaining cylinders and ignites in the normal
way causing the engine to start.
14. (b) Open cycle gas turbine power plant

Advantages:
1. Warm up time: Once the turbine is brought up to the rated speed

by the starting motor and the fuel is ignited, the gas turbine will
be accelerated from cold start to full load without warm up time.
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106
2. Low weight and size. The weight in Kg per M developed is less
3. Fuels. Almost any hydrocarbon fuel from high octane gasoline to

heavy diesel oils can be used in combustion chamber.
4. Open cycle plants occupy comparatively little space.
5. The plant is independent of costing medium and becomes self

contained.
6. The stipulation of a quick start and take up of load frequently are

the points in favour of open cycle plant when the plant is used as
peak load plant.
Disadvantages:
1. The system is sensitive to the component efficiency particularly

that of compressor. The open cycle plant is sensitive to changes
in the atmospheric air, temperature, pressure and humidity.
2. The past load efficiency of the open cycle plant decreases rapidly
as the considerable percentage of power developed by the turbine
is used to drive the compressor.
3. The open cycle gas turbine plant has high air rate compared to
other cycles. Hence it results in increased loss of heat in the
exhaust gases and large diameter ductwork is necessary.
Closed cycle gas turbine power plants.
Advantages:

problem in open cycle plant is completely eliminated.
2. The density of the working medium can be maintained high by

increasing internal pressure range, therefore the compressor and
turbine are smaller for their rated output. The high density of the
working fluid further increases the heat transfer properties in the
heat exchanger.
3. The maintenance cost is low and reliability is high due to longer

useful life.
4. Starting of plane is simplified by reducing the pressure to

atmospheric or even below atmosphere so that the power required
for starting purposes reduced considerably.
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107
5. The thermal efficiency increases as the pressure ratio decreases.

Appreciable higher thermal efficiencies are obtainable with
closed cycle for the same maximum and minimum temperature
limits as with the open cycle plant.
6. With closed cycle gas turbine plants, the back pressure can be
increases, the rating can also be increased about in proportion
to the backpressure. Therefore the machine can be smaller and
cheaper.
Disadvantages:
1. The response to the load variations is poor compared to the open

cycle plant.
2. The system is dependent on external means as considerable

quantity of cooling water is required in the precooler.
3. The higher internal pressures involve complicated design of all

components and high quality material is required which increases
the cost of the plant.
4. It requires very big heat exchangers as the heating of workings

fluid is done indirectly. The full heat of the fuel is also not used in
this plant.
15. (a) Geothermal energy is the generation of energy from the earth heating
pressurized water underground. Tidal energy is electricity generated
by the coming in and going out of the tide. Both utilize water and
natural processes to create renewable energy, but they are very
different methods of generation.

Geothermal energy:
Geothermal energy is primarily energy from the earths own interior,

it is classified as renewable because the earths interior is and will
continue in the process of cooling for the indefinite future. Hence, the
geothermal energy from the earths interior is almost inexhaustible as
solar or wind energy, so long as its sources are actively sought and
economically tapped. Geothermal energy can be used for heat and
power generation. Geothermal energy is present over the entire extent
of earths surface except that it is nearer to the surface in the volcanic
areas. Heat transfer from the earths interior is by these primary means.
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108
Direct heat conduction:
Rapid infection of ballistic magma along natural rifts penetrating

deep into earths mantle and bubble like magma that buoys upwards
towards the surface.
Hot spring system structure shows how hot springs are produced
through hot magma (molten mass), the fractured crystalline rocks,
the permeable rocks and percolating ground water. As we travel
down earths surface radially, there exists a temperature gradient
of 0.03C per metre. Thus a 30C increase in temperature can be
obtained per kilometer depth from the earths crust. There are many
local hot spots just below the surface where the temperatures are
much higher than expected.
Crust
Mantle
Outer core
Inner
core
Tidal energy:
The rise and fall of the sea level can power electric generating
equipment. The gearing of the equipment is tremendous to turn the
very slow motion of the tide into enough displacement to produce
energy. Tidal barrages built across suitable estuaries, are designed
to extract energy from the rise and fall of the tides, using turbines
located in water passages in the barrages. The potential energy, due
to the difference in water levels across the barrages, is converted
into kinetic energy in the form of fast moving water passing through
the turbines. This, in turn, is converted into rotational kinetic energy
by the blades of the turbine, the spinning turbine then driving a
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109
generator to produce electricity. The diagram demonstrates power

generation cycle of a tidal power.
The available head is highest at extreme low tide and extreme high tide.
The highest output is achieved from hydroelectric turbines by operating
when the available head is highest. Periods are two hours in length, but
there is little change in water level during the half hour preceding and
the half hour after each of the extreme lows and highs. By including
these 30 minute shoulder periods, a 3 hour generation period is
achieved twice per tidal cycle. Thus ----- can effectively generate at
optimum levels for roughly half of each tidal cycle. Unfortunately, tidal
cycles do not correspond daily cycles of demand for electricity.
Air back in
Air out
Turbine
Generator
15. (b) (i)

Various types of tariffs:
1. Flat demand rate
2. Straight meter rate
3. Block meter rate
4. Hopkinson demand rate (Two-port tariff)
5. Doherty rate (Three-part tariff)
6. Weight demand rate
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110
Flat demand rate:
The flat demand rate is expressed as
Z = ax
The bill depends only on the maximum demand irrespective of the

amount of energy consumed. It is based on the customers installation
of energy consuming devices which is generally denoted by so many
KW per month or per year. It is based upon the total number of lamps
installed and a fixed number of hours of use per year. Hence the rate
could be expressed as a price per lamp or unit of installed capacity.
The use of this tariff is restricted to signal system, street lighting etc,
where the number of hours are fixed and energy consumption can
be easily predicted. Its use is very common to suppliers to irrigation
tubewells, since the number of hours for which the tubewells feeders
are switched on are fixed. The charge is made according to horse
power of the motor installed.
Flat demand rate
x=4
x=3
z
x=2
x=1
Straight meter rate:
The straight meter rate can be expressed in the form:
Z =b y
This is the simplest form of tariff. Here the charge per unit is constant.
The charges depend on the energy used. This tariff is sometimes
used for residential and commercial consumer. The variation of bill
according to the variation of energy consumed.
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111
Straight demand rate
Block meter rate:
According to this tariff a certain price per units (KWh) is charged

for all or any part of block of each unit and for succeeding blocks of
energy the corresponding unit charges decrease. It is expressed by
the expression
Y = E1 Z1 + E2 Z 2 + E3 Z3 + demand and energy consumed. It is
expressed as Y = D X + EZ
A separate meter is required to record the maximum demand. This
tariff is used for industrial loads.
Block meter rate
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112
Hopkinson demand rate (Two part tariff)
This method charges the consumer according to his maximum

demand and energy consumption which can be expressed as
Z = a + by
This method requires two meters to record the maximum demand
and energy consumption of the consumer. The variation of Z with
respect to y taking x as parameter.
Hopkinson demand rate (two-part tariff)
x=3
x=2
x=1
z
Doherty rate (three part tariff):
When the Hopkinson demand rate is modified by the addition of a

customer charge, it becomes a three charge rate or Doherty rate. It
consists of a customer or meter charge, plus a demand charge plus
any energy charge which can be expressed as
y = ax + by + c
The Doherty rate is modified by specifying the minimum demand
and the minimum energy consumption that must be paid for, if
they are less than the minimum values specified. Thus the customer
charge is incorporated with the demand and energy component.
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113
Doherty rate (Three-part tariff)
x=3
x=2
x=1
z
Weight demand rate:
This rate intensifies the inducement by lowering both the demand

and energy for a reduction in maximum demand or in other words
an improvement in load faster. This rate is usually specified for
industrial consumers who have some measure of control over their
maximum demands.
The cost of generation of electrical energy consists of fixed cost and
running cost. Since the electricity generated is to be supplied to the
consumers, the total cost has to be recovered from the consumers.
It is desirable to charge the consumer according to the maximum
demand (KW) and the energy consumer (KWh).
15. (b) (ii)

Objectives and Requirements of tariff
Objectives of tarieff
1. Recovery of cost of capital investment in generating equipment,

transmission and distribution system.
2. Recovery of the cost of operation, supplies and maintenance of

the equipment.
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3. Recovery of the cost of material, equipment, billing and collection

cost as well as for miscellaneous services.
4. A net return on the total capital investment must be ensured.
Requirements of tariff:

1. It should be easier to understand.
2. It should provide low rates for high consumption.
3. It should be uniform over large population.
4. It should be encourage the consumers having high load factors.
5. It should take into account maximum demand charges and

energy charges.
6. It should provide incentive for using power during off-peak

hours.
7. It should provide less charges for power connection than lighting.
8. It should have a provision of penalty for low power factors.
9. It should have a provision for higher demand charges for high
loads demanded at system peaks.
10. It should apporation equitably the cost of service to the different
categories of consumers.
General tariff form
A large number of tariffs have been proposed from time to time and
are in use. They are all derived from the following eneral equation:

z=ax+by+c
where,
z = Total amount of bill for the period considered,
x = Maximum demand in kW,
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y = Energy consumed in kWh during the period considered,
a = Rate per kW of maximum demand, and
n = Energy rate per kWh.
c = Constant amount charged to the consumer during each billing

period. This charge is independent of demand or total energy
because a consumer that remains connecated to the line incurs
expenses even if he does not use energy.
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NOV/DEC 2011
Third Semester
(Regulation 2009)
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. What do you understand by MHD?

2. State the importance of load curves.
3. What are the various methods of obtaining draught controls?
4. What is cooling tower? State its applications.
5. How are the nuclear reactors classified?
6. What are the function of surge tank and forebay?
7. What are the different types of engine used in power generation? State
their application domain.
8. What are the pollutants present in the gas turbine exhaust?
9. What are the different methods of producing electricity with tides?
10. How the tariff for electrical energy is arrived?
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11. (a) (i) Explain the working of a steam power plant with a schematic
diagram.

(ii) Explain the advantages and working of a MHD power plant.

Or
11. (b) (i) Describe the working of a high pressure boiler with super heater.

(ii) Explain the working of a fluidized bed boiler with a sketch.

What are the advantages of it?
12. (a) (i) Explain the fuel and ash handling in a thermal power plant.

(ii) Explain the need for and working of electrostatic precipitator.

Or
12. (b) (i) Explain different type of draught systems with sketches.

(ii) Write a short note on surface condenser.
13. (a) (i) Explain the working of pressurized water reactor.

(ii) Explain the controls and safety measure adopted in nuclear

power plant control and safety measures for Nuclear power
plants.
Or
13. (b) (i) What are the elements of hydel power plants?

(ii) Write notes on the development in micro hydel plant.
14. (a) (i) Give the layout of diesel power plant and describe its working.

(ii) State the purpose of reheating, regeneration and intercooling in

gas turbine power plant.
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Or
14. (b) (i) What are the advantages, limitations and application of open and
close cycle gas turbine power plant?

(ii) Discuss the working of combined cycle power plant.
15. (a) (i) Explain the working of solar thermal power plant.

(ii) Write short notes on geothermal and tidal power plant.

Or
15. (b) (i) What are the fixed and operating cost of steam power plant?
How are they accounted for fixing cost of electricity?
15. (b) (ii) A power gernerating station has a maximum demand of 100 KW
and the daily load on the station is as follows:
Period
KW
6 am to 8 am
3500
8 am to 12 noon
8000
12 noon to 1 pm
3000
1 pm to 5 pm
7500
5 pm to 7 pm
8500
7 pm to 9 pm
1000
9 pm to 11 pm
4500
11 pm to 6 am
2000
1. Draw the load curve and load duration curve.
2.Calculated the load factor, plant capacity tested and plant use
factor of the power station.
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Solutions
PART A
1. MHD generator is a highly efficient heat engine which directly converts
thermal energy in to electricity. The conventional power stations are
having the efficiency of only 45% by using the MHD generator; we are
able to get the efficiency about 60%.
2. The load curve represents the rearrangement of all load elements of load
curve in order of decreasing magnitude. This curve is derived from load
curve.
3.
Natural draught
Artificial draught
4. A cooling tower is a heat rejection device, which extracts waste heat to the
atmosphere though the cooling of a water stream to a lower temperature.
5. (a) According to neutron energy
1. Fast reactors

2. Intermediate reactors
3. Slow reactors
(b) According to moderator

Water, graphite, beryllium, hydrides

(c) According to fuel
1. Solid
2. Liquid
3. Gas
6. Surge tank: The surge tank is a temporary storage safety reservoir fitted
to the penstock that is in between dam and power house to keep the back
pressure minimum by avoiding sudden pressure in the penstock.
Forebay: It serves as a temporary regulating reservoir which is used to
store water when the load on the plant is reduced and provides water for
initial increment of an increasing load while water in the canal is being
accelerated.
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7. On the basis of applications, diesel engines are classified into the
following:

1. Peak load plant
2. Mobile plants
3. Stand by units
4. Emergency plant
5. Nursery station
8. The exhaust gas produced by gas turbines contains nitrogen oxides (NOx),
which primarily consist of nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen di oxide
(NO2). Nitrogen oxides are air pollutants by themselves and precursors
to formation of ozone and acid rain.
9. Kinetic energy: kinetic energy is the energy that is created from water
moving in rivers and the regular incoming/outgoing ocean tides. For this,
underwater tidal generators must be build or submerged to allow the
currents created by the moving tides to power underwater turbines that
power electric generator.
Potential energy: Potential energy in tides comes from the differences in
water height between low and high tides. This is often referred to head
or head differentiation.
To harness, those tidal differences into electricity, the difference between
the high and low tides must be at least five meters, or at least 16 feet.
There are really only about 40 sites on the earth with tidal ranges of this
magnitude.
10. Rates are the different methods of charging the consumers for the
consumption of electricity. It is desirable to change the consumer
according to his maximum demand (KW) and the energy consumed
(KWh). The tariff chosen should recover the fixed cost, operating cost
and profit etc., incurred in generating electrical energy.
PART B
11. (a) (i) A thermal power station is a power plant in which the prime
mover is steam driven. Water is heated, turns into steam and
spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator. After it
passes through the turbine, the steam is sondesned in a condenser
and recycled to where it was heated; this is known as a Rankine
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Cycle. A steam power plant converts the chemical energy of the

fossil fuels into mechanical electrical energy.
The layout of a modern steam power plant comprises of the
following four circuits:

1. Cool and ash circuit
2. Air and gas circuit
3. Feed water and steam flow circuit
4. Cooling water circuit
Coal and ash circuit:

Coal arrives at the storage yard and after necessary handling,
passes on to furnaces through the fuel feeding device. Ash
resulting from combustion of coal collects at the back of the
boiler and is removed to the ash storage yard through ash handling
equipment.
Air and gas circuit:
Air from the atmosphere is directed into the furnace through
the air preheated y the action of a forced draught fan or induced
draught fan. The dust from the air is removed before it enters
the combustion chamber of the thermal power plant layout.
The exhaust gases from the combustion heat the air, which
goes through a heat exchanger and is finally let off into the
environment.
Feed water and steam flow circuit:
The steam produced in the boiler is supplied to the turbines to
generate power. The steam that is expelled by the prime mover in
the thermal power plan layout is then condensed in a condenser
for reuse in the boiler. The condensed water is forced through
a pump into the feed water heaters where it is heated using the
steam form different points in the turbine. To make up for the lost
steam and water while passing through the various components
of the thermal power plant layout, feed water is supplied through
external sources. Feed water is purified in a purifying plant to
reduce the dissolve salts that could scale the boiler tubes.

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Cooling water circuit:

The coding water supply to the condenser helps in maintaining a
low pressure in it. The water may be taken from a natural source
such as river, lake or sea or the same water may be cooled and
circulated over again. In the later case, the cooling arrangement
is made through spray pond or cooling tower.
Layout of steam power plant

11. (a) (ii) Magneto Hydrodynamic Power (MHD) generation has been
studied as a novel commercial power plant due to its inherent
advantage of high efficiency with high working temperatures.
The principle of an MHD power generation is based on Faradays
electromagnetic induction law. In an MHD generator, electrically
conductive fluid is moving across magnetic field as an armature
coil is rotating in magnetic field in the rotating generator. It is
obvious that power generation is an energy conversion process.
If electric power is extracted in an MHD generator, Lorentz force
of output Current and applied magnetic field acts to decelerate
the working plasma, and therefore, the working plasma loses
its enthalpy which is converted into electric power in the MHD
generator.
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Advantages:
1. Simple structure
2. Working at high temperatures
3. High carrot cycle efficiency
4. Easy to realize combined cycle with other systems
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123
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MHD power generation

11. (b) (i) Working of a high pressure boiler with super heater

LaMont Boiler:
This boiler works on a forced circulation and the circulation is

maintained by a centrifugal pump, driven by a steam turbine
using steam from the boiler. For emergency an electrically driven
pump is also fitted.
The feed water passes through the economiser to the drum from
which it is drawn to the circulation pump. The pump delivers
the feed water to the tube evaporating section which in turn
sends a mixture of steam and water to the drum. The steam
in the drum is then drawn through the super heater. The super
heated steam so obtained is then supplied to the prime mover.
These boilers have been built to generate of 45 to 50 tonnes of
super heated steam at a pressure of 130 bar and at a temperature of
500C.
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Lamont boiler
11. (b) (ii) A fluidized bed may be defined as the bed of solid particles
behaving as a fluid.
The principle of FBC-System is given below: when a gas is
passed through a packed bed of finely divided solid particles,
it experiences a pressure drop across the bed. At low gas
velocities, this pressure drop is small and does not disturb the
particles. When particles are suspended in the gas stream and
the packed bed becomes a fluidised bed. With further increase
in gas velocity, the bed becomes turbulent and rapid mixing of
particles occurs. The behavior of this mixture of solid particles
and gas is like a fluid. Burning of a fuel in such a state is known
as a fluidised bed combustion.
On the distribution plate are fed the fuel and inert material
dolomite and from its bottom air is supplied. The high velocity
of air keeps the solid feed material in suspending condition
during burning. The generated heat is transferred to the water
passing through the tubes immersed in the bed and generated
steam is taken out. During the burning sulphur dioxide formed is
absorbed by the dolomite and prevents it escape with the exhaust
gases. The molten slag is tapped from the top surface of the bed.
The primary object of using the inert material is to control the
bed temperature, it accounts for 90% of the bed volume. The
inert material should not disintegrate coal, the parent material of
the bed.
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Fluidised bed boiler

Advantages:
1. Pollution is controlled and combustion of high-sulphur coal is

possible
2. Combustion temperature can be controlled accurately
3. As a result of better heat transfer, the unit size and hence the
capital costs are reduced
4. Since combustion temperatures are low the fouling and

corrosion of tubes is reduced considerably
5. FBC system can use solid, liquid or gaseous fuel or mix as

well as domestic and industrial waste. Any variety of coal can
be used successfully
12. (a) (i) Ash handling in a thermal power plant:

They are classified into
1. Mechanical handling system
2. Hydraulic system
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126
3. Pneumatic system
4. Steam jet system
Mechanical handling system:

This system is generally employed for low capacity power plants using
coal as fuel. The hot ash released from the boiler furnaces is made to fall
over the belt conveyor after cooling it through water seal. This cooled ash
is transported to an ash bunker through the belt conveyor. From ash bunker
the ash is removed to the dumping site through trucks.
Mechnaical handling system

Hydraulic system:
In this system, ash is carried with the flow of water with high velocity
through a channel and finally dumped in the sump. It is subdivided in to
low pressure system and high pressure system.

Pneumatic system:
This system can handle abrasive ash as well as fine dusty materials such as
fly-ash and soot. It is preferable for the boiler plants from which ash and
soot must be transported some for off distance for final disposal.
The separator workings on the cyclone principle removes dust and ash
which pass out into the ash hopper at the bottom while clean air is a
discharged from the top.
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Pneumatic system

Coal Handling system:
Mechanical handling of coal is preferred over Manual handling.
The following steps involved in handling the coal:
1. Coal delivery
2. Unloading
3. Preparation
4. Transfer
5. Storage of coal
6. Inplant handling
7. Weighing and measuring
8. Furnace firing
Coal delivery:
From the supply point the coal may be delivered to power stations thought
rail, road, river or sea.

Plant situated near the river or sea may make use of navigation facilities
Station which cannot make use of navigation facilities may be supplied

coal either by rail or trucks. Transportation of coal by trucks is usually,
used in case the mines are not far off.
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Unloading:
When the coal is transported by sea, the unloading equipment normally

used is given below:
i. Portable conveyors
ii. Coal accelerators

iii. Coal towers
iv. Unloading bridges

v. Self-unloading boats

Preparation:
If the coal when delivered is in the form of lumps, the coal preparation
may be carried out by
i. Breakers
ii. Crushers

iii. Sizers
iv. Dryers
v. Magnetic separators

Transfer:
Transfer means the handling of coal between the unloading point and
the final storage point from where it is discharged to the firing equipment.
The equipment may be used for transfer of coal are
i. Belt conveyors
ii. Screw conveyors
iii. Vee bucket elevator
iv. Pivoted bucket conveyor and conveyor
v. Grab bucket conveyor
vi. Flight conveyors
vii. Skip hoists

viii. Mass flow conveyor
ix. Chutes
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Storage of coal:
It is very essential that adequate quantity of coal should be stored. Storage
of coal gives protection against the interruption of coal supplies when
there is delay in transportation of coal or due to strikes in coal mines.
Inplant Handling:
i. Coal handling between the final storage and the firing equipment.
ii. A conveying system to feed coal from any tanker section to any firing
unit and to move coal from one bunker section to another.

iii. Inplant handling may mean no more than chutes to direct flow in to
individual firing units and gates or valves to control the flow.
Weighing and measuring:
To weigh the quantity of coal the following equipment is used:
i. Weigh bridge
ii. High lorry

iii. Belt scale
iv. Automatic scale

12. (a) (ii) Electrostatic precipitators is also called as Cottrell precipitators,
works effectively on the finer flue dusts, the basic elements of an
electrostatic precipitator are
i. Source of high voltage
ii. Ionizing and collecting electrodes

iii. Dust-removal mechanism
iv. Shell to house the elements

The precipitator has two sets of electrodes, insulated from
each other, that maintain an electrostatic field between them at
high voltage. The field ionires dust particles that pass through
it, attracting them to the electrodes of opposite charge. The
high voltage system maintains a negative potential of 30,000
to 60,000 volts with the collecting electrodes grounded. The
collecting electrodes have a large contact surface. Accumulated
dust falls of the electrode when it is rapped mechanically.
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130
A wet type of this unit removes dust by a water film flowing

down on the inner side of the collecting electrode. These units
have collection efficiency of the order of 90%.
Electrostatic precipitator
12. (b) (i) The various types of draught systems are
i. Mechanical draught

ii. Steam jet draught
Most boilers now depend on mechanical draught equipment

rather than natural draught. This is because natural draught is
subject to outside air conditions and temperature of flue gages
leaving the furnance as well as the chimney height. All these
factors make proper draught hard to attain and therefore make
mechanical draught equipment much more economical.

These are three type of mechanical draught.
i. Included draught
ii. Forced draught

iii. Balanced draught
Induced draught:
A fan or blower is located at or near the base of the chimney. The

pressure over fuel bed is reduced below that of the atmosphere.
By creating a partial vacuum in the furnace and fuels, the product
of combustion are drawn from the main flue and they pass up the
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chimney. This draught is used usually when economisers and air

preheaters are incorporated in the system.

Forced draught:
The draught is produced by a fan. In a forced draught system,

a blower or a fan is installed near or at the base of the boiler to
force the air through the coal bed and other passages through
the furnace, flues, air preheater, economiser etc. it is a positive
pressure draught. The enclosure for the furnace etc has to be very
highly sealed so that gases from the furnace do not leak out in the
boiler house.

Balance draught:
It is a combination of the forced and induced draught system. In

this system, the forced draught fan overcomes the resistance in
the air preheater and chain grate stoker while the induced draught
fan overcomes draught losses through boiler, economiser, air
preheater and connecting flues.
12. (b) (ii) Surface condenser:
In surface condensers, the exhaust steam and water do not come
into direct contract. The steam passes over the outer surface of
tubes through which a supply of cooling water is maintained.
There may be single pass or double pass. A surface condenser
is most commonly used because the condensate obtained is not
thrown as a waste but returned to the boiler.

It may be classified as
Down-flow type
Central flow type
Inverted-flow type
Regenerative type
Evaporative type
Down flow type:

The longitudinal section view of down flow condenser is shown.
Steam enters at the top and flows downward. The water flowing
through the tubes in one direction lower half comes out in the
opposite direction in the upper half.
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Down flow type

Central flow type:
The suction pipe of the air extraction pump is located in the
centre of the tubes which results in radial flow of the steam. The
better contact between the outer surface of the tubes and steam
is ensured; due to large passages the pressure drop of steam is
reduced.
Inverted flow type:
This type of condenser has the air suction at the top, the steam
after entering at the bottom rises up and then again flows down to
the bottom of the condenser, by following a path near the outer
surface of the condenser. The condensate extraction pump is at
the bottom.

Regenerative type:
This is applied to condensers adopting a regenerative method

of heating of the condensate. After leaving the tube nest, the
condensate is passed through the entering exhaust steam from
the steam engine or turbine thus raising the temperature of the
condensate, for use as feed water for the boiler.
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Evaporative type:
The principle of this condenser is that when a limited quantity of

water is available, its quantity needed to condense the steam can
be reduced by causing the circulating water to evaporate under a
small partial pressure.
Central flow type
Evaporative type
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13. (a) (i) A pressurized water reactor, is a light water cooled and moderated
thermal reactor having an unusual core design, using both natural
and highly enriched fuel. The principal parts of the reactor are

1. Pressure vessel
2. Reactor thermal shield
3. Fuel elements
4. Control rods
5. Reactor containment
6. Reactor pressuriser
In PHR, there are two circuits of water, one primary circuit which
passes through the fuel core and is radioactive. This primary
circuit produces steam in a secondary circuit consists of heat
exchanger or the boiler and the turbine. The pressure in the
primary circuit should be high so that the boiling of water takes
place at high pressure. A pressuring tank keeps the water at about
100 kgf/cm2 so that is will not boil. Electric heating coils in the
pressuriser oil some of the water to form steam that collects in
the dome. As more steam is forced into the dome by boiling, its
pressure rises and pressurises the entire circuit. The pressure may
be reduced by providing cooling coils.
Pressurized water reactor

Water acts both as coolant as well as moderator. Either heavy
water or the light water may be used for the purpose.
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A pressurized water reactor can produce only saturated steam. By

providing a separate furnace, the steam formed from the reactor
could be super-heated.
13. (a) (ii) In nuclear power plants, the three main sources of radioactive
contamination of the air are
i. Fission of nuclei of nuclear fuels
ii. The effect of neutron fluxes on the heat carries in the primary
cooling system and on the ambient air

iii. Damage of shell of fuel elements
The contamination of air can cause health hazard to workers and

community and negative effect on surrounding forests. Some of
the safety measures for a nuclear power plant are listed below:
i. Waste water from nuclear power plant should be purified
ii. There must be periodic checks to ensure that radioactivity
does not exceed the permissible value in the environment

iii. The nuclear power plant must be provided with such a safety
system which should safely shut down the plant as and when
necessity arises
iv. The materials to be used for the construction of a nuclear

power plant should be of required standards
v. A nuclear power plant should be constructed away from
human habitation. An exclusion zone of 106 KM radius
around the plant should be provided where no public
habitation is permitted

vi. While disposing off the wastes from the nuclear plants it
should be ensured that there is a no pollution of water of
river or sea where these wastes are disposed
13. (b) (i) The essential elements of hydro-electric power plant are

1. Catchment area
2. Reservoir
3. Dam
4. Spillways
5. Conduits
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6. Surge tanks
7. Prime movers
8. Draft tubes
9. Power house and equipment
Catchment Area:
The whole area behind the dam draining into a stream or river
across which the dam has been built at a suitable place, is called
catchment area.

Dam:
A dam is a barrier to confine or raise water for storage or diversion

to create a hydraulic head. An hydro-electric dam diverts the flow
from the river to the turbines and usually increases the head.
Conduits:
A head race is a channel which leads water to a turbine and a
tailrace is a channel which conducts water from the wheels. It
may be open or close.

Open conduits Canals and flumes
Closed conduits Tunnels and pipelines
Surge tanks:
It is a small reservoir in which the water level rises or falls to
reduce the pressure swings so that they are not transmitted in full
to a closed circuit.
Draft tubes:
It allows the turbine to be set above tail-water level, without
loss of head, to facilitate inspection and maintenance. Also, it
regains by diffuser action, the major portion of the kinetic energy
delivered to it from the runner.
Reservoir:
The water reservoir is employed to store water which is further
utilised to generate power by running the hydraulic turbines also
it is classified into natural and artificial reservoir.
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Spill ways:
When the water enters the reservoir basin, the level of water
in basin rises. This rise is arranged to be of temporary nature
because excess accumulation of water endangers the stability of
dam structure. This safeguarding structure is called a spillway.
13. (b) (ii) Micro hydro plant is defined as the plant between 10KW and
200KW is the most mature of the modern small scale decentralized
energy supply technologies used in developing countries. Hydro
power is energy form water sources such as the ocean, rivers and
waterfalls. Micro hydro means which can apply to sites ranging
from a tiny scheme to electrify a single home, to a few hundred
kilowatts for selling in to the national grid. It is one of the cost
effective and reliable energy technologies to the considered for
providing clean electricity generation.
Micro hydel plant
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138
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is

encouraging both public and private organisations to set up small/
micro hydel power plants.
In our country nearly 120 micro/mini small hydelschemes (upto
3MW capacity) with a total capacity of about 86 MW are in
operation. The potential of small hydro power plants (upto 5MW
capacity) is estimated to be around 5000 MW.
14. (a) (i) Diesel power plants produce power from a diesel engine. Diesel
electric plants in th range of 2 to 50 MW capacities are used as
central stations for small electric supply networks and used as
a standby to hydroelectric or thermal plants where continuous
power supply is needed. Diesel power plant is not economical
compared to other power plants.
The diesel power plants are cheaply used in the fields mentioned
below.
Mobile electric plants, standby units emergency power plants,
starting stations of existing plants central power station etc.

The manor components of the plant are
(a) Engine:
Engine is the heart of a diesel power plant. Engine is directly

connected through a gear bon to the generator. Generally two
stroke engines are used for power generation. Nowadays,
advanced turbo charged high speed engines are available for
power production.

(b) Air supply system:
Air inlet is arranged outside the engine room. Air from

the atmosphere is filtered by air filter and conveyed to the
inlet manifold of engine. In large plants super charger/turbo
charger is used for increasing the pressure of input air which
increases the power output

(c)Exhaust system:
This includes the silencers and connecting ducts. The heat

content of the exhaust gas is utilized in a turbine in a turbo
charger to compress the air input to the engine.
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139
Diesel power plant

(d)Fuel system:
Fuel is stored in a tank from where it flows to the fuel pump

through a filter. Fuel is injected to the engine as per the load
requirement.

(e)Cooling system:
This system includes water circulating pumps, cooling

towers, water filter etc. Cooling water is circulated through
the engine block to keep the temperature of the engine in the
safe range.

(f)Lubricating system:
Lubricating system includes the air pumps, oil tanks, filters,

coolers, and pipe lines. Lubricant is given to reduce friction
of moving parts and reduce the wear and tear of the engine
parts.

(g)Starting system:
There are there commonly used starting systems namely
i. A petrol driven auxiliary engine

ii. Use of electric motors

iii. Use of compressed air from an air compressor at a

pressure of 20 kg/cm2
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140
(h)Governing system:
The function of a governing system is to maintain the speed

of the engine constant irrespective of load on the plant. This
is done by varying fuel supply to the engine according to
load.
14. (a) (ii) Reheating:
The output of a gas turbine can be improved by expanding the
gases with a reheater between the two turbines. The H.P. turbine
drives the compressor and the . p turbine provides the useful
power output. The corresponding T-s diagram is shown in the
following diagram. The line 4 - represents the expansion
in the H.P. turbine if reheating is not employed. Neglecting
mechanical losses the work output of the 4.p. turbine must be
exactly equal to the work input required for the compressor.
Gas turbine power plant with reheating

Regeneration:
The exhaust gases from a gas turbine carry a large quantity of

heat with them since their temperature is far above the ambient
temperature. They can be used to heat the air coming from
the compressor thereby reducing the mass of fuel supplied in
the combustion chamber. In the T-s diagram, 2-3 represents
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141
the heat flow into the compressed air during its passage through
the heat exchanger and 3 - 4 represents the heat taken in from the
combustion of fuel. Point 6 represents the temperature exhaust
gases at discharge from the heat exchanger. The effectiveness of
the heat exchanger is given by
Effectiveness ==

Increase in enthalpy per kg of air

Available increase inenthalpy per kg of air
Intercooling:
A compressor in a gas turbine cycle utilises the major percentage

of power developed by the gas turbine. The work required by the
compressor can be reduced by compressing the air in two stages
and intercooler between them. The actual presses take place as
follows.
Gas turbine power plant with regeneration
4/27/2014 3:15:34 PM
142
Gas turbine power plant with intercoller

12: . p. compression (low pressure)
23: Intercooling
34: H.P (High pressure) compression
45: C.C (Combustion chamber)- heating
56: T (Turbine) expansion
14. (b) (i) Open cycle gas turbine power plant

Advantages:
1. Warm up time: once the turbine is brought up to the rated

speed by the starting motor and the fuel ignited, the gas
turbine will be accelerated from cold start to full load without
warm up time
2. Low weight and size. The weight is Kg Per M developed is

less
3. Fuels: Almost any hydrocarbon fuel from high octane gasoline

to heavy diesel oils. Can be used in combustion chamber
4. Open cycle plants occupy comparatively little space
5. The plant is independent of cooling medium and becomes self

contained
4/27/2014 3:15:34 PM
143
6. The stipulation of a quick start and take up of load frequently

are the points in favour of open cycle plant when the plant is
used as peak load plant
Disadvantages:
1. The system is sensitive to the component efficiency,

particularly that of compressor. The open cycle plant is
sensitive to change in the atmospheric air temperature,
pressure and humidity
2. The part load efficiency of the open cycle plant decreases

rapidly as the considerable percentage of power developed by
the turbine is used to drive the compressor
3. The open cycle gas turbine plant has high air rate compared
to other cycles, hence it results in increased loss of heat in the
exhaust gases and large diameter ductwork is necessary
Closed cycle gas turbine power plant:
Advantages:

problem in open cycle plant is completely eliminated
2. The density of the working medium can be maintained

high by increasing internal pressure range, therefore the
compressor and turbine are smaller for their rated output. The
high density of the working fluid further increases the heat
transfer properties in the heat exchanger
3. The maintenance cost is low and reliability is high due to

longer useful life
4. Starting of plane is simplified by reducing the pressure to

atmospheric or even below atmosphere so that the power
required for starting purpose reduced considerably
5. The thermal efficiency increases as the pressure ratio

decreases. Appreciable higher thermal efficiencies are
obtainable with closed cycle for the same maximum and
minimum temperature limits as with the open cycle plant
6. With closed cycle gas turbine plants, the back pressure can be
increases, the rating can also be increased about in proportion
4/27/2014 3:15:34 PM
144
to the backpressure. Therefore the machine can be smaller

and cheaper

Disadvantages:
1. The response to the load variations is poor compared to the

open cycle plant
2. The system is dependent on external means as considerable

quantity of cooling water is required in the precooler
3. The higher internal pressures involve complicated design of

all components and high quality material is required which
increases the cost of the plant
4. It requires very big heat exchargers as the heating of workings

fluid is done indirectly. The full heat of the fuel is also not
used in this plant
14. (b) (ii) A considerable amount of heat energy goes as a waste with
the exhaust of the gas turbine. This energy must be utilised.
Thecomplete use of the energy available to a system is called
the total energy approach. The objective of this approach is to
use all of the heat energy in a power system at the different
temperature levels at which it becomes available to produce
work, or the heating of air or steam or water, thereby rejecting
a minimum of energy waste. The best approach is the use of
combined cycles where various combinations of the combined
cycles depending upon the place or country requirements. Even
nuclear power plant may be used in the combined cycles.
The exhaust of gas turbine which has high oxygen content is used
as the inlet gas to the steam generator where the combustion of
additional fuel takes place. The combination of an open cycle
gas turbine and steam turbine allows nearer equality between the
power outputs of the two units than is obtained with the simple
recuperative heat exchanger in a given total power outputs the
energy inputs is reduced and the installed cost of gas turbine per
unit of power outputs is about one fourth of that of steam turbine.
In other words the combination cycles exhibit higher efficiency.
The greater disadvantages include the complexity of the plant,
different fuel requirements and possible loss of flexibility and
4/27/2014 3:15:34 PM
145
reliability. In the field of co-generation developed in USA

utilised the gaseous fuel in the combustion chambers produced
by the gasification of low quality of coal, which is efficient.
fuel
steam
chimney
T
c
cc
Boiler
pump
gas turbine
fuel
steam turbine
15. (a) (i) A solar thermal power plant in principle works no differently
than a conventional steam power plant. No harm is done to the
environment by burning coal, oil, natural gas or by splitting
uranium to produce steam. It is produced by the energy that
comes from the sun.
In order to achieve the high temperature required, solar radiation
must be concentrated. Parabolic trough collection represent
the most advanced technology. These troughs are more than
11300 feet in length and are made up of parabolically shaped
mirror segments. The troughs track the sun over the course of
the day and focus the resulting radiation along the caustic line
of the mirror in to specially coated, evacuated absorber tube
receivers.

Solar Power Tower power plant:
The first solar power tower design which uses thousands of

sun tracking reflectors or heliostats to direct and concentrate
solar radiation on to a boiler located a the top of a tower. The
temperature in the boiler rises to 500700 C and the steam raised
can be used to drive a turbine, which in turn drives an electricity
producing turbine. They are also called central receiver solar
power plants. It can be divided in to solar plant and conventional
steam power plant.
4/27/2014 3:15:34 PM
146
Beam Radiation
Central Receiver
ST
Tower
Heliostat field
Solar power tower power plant
15. (a) (ii) Geothermal energy is the generation of energy from the earth
heating pressurized water underground. Tidal energy is electricity
generated by the coming in and going out of the tide. Both utilize
water and natural processes to create renewable energy, but they
are very different methods of generation.

Geothermal Energy:
Geothermal energy is primarily energy from the earths own

interior, it is classified as renewable because the earths interior
is and will continue in the process of cooling for the indefinite
future. Hence the geothermal energy from the earth interior is
almost inexhaustible as solar or wind energy, so long as its sources
are actively sought and economically tapped. Geothermal energy
can be used for heat and power generation. Geothermal energy
is present over the entire extent of earth surface except that it is
nearer to the surface in the volcanic area. Heat transfer from the
earths interior is by three primary means:

Direct heat conduction:
Rapid injection of ballistic magma along natural rifts penetrating

deep in to earths mantle and bubble like magma that buoys
upwards towards the surface.
Hot spring system structure shows how hot springs are produced
through hot magma (Molten mass), the fractured crystalline
rocks, the permeable rocks and percolating ground water. As we
travel down earths surface radially, there exists a temperature
4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM
147
gradient of 0.03C per metre. Thus a 30C increase in temperature

can be obtained per kilometre depth from the earths crust.
There are many local hot spots just below the surface where the
temperatures are much higher than expected.
Crust
Mantle
Outer core
Inner
core
Tidel energy:
The rise and fall of the sea level can power electric generating
equipment. The gearing of the equipment is tremendous to turn
the very slow motion of the tide in to enough displacement to
produce energy. Tidal barrages, built across suitable estuaries,
are designed to extract energy from the rise and fall of the tides,
using turbines located in water passages in the barrages. The
potential energy, due to the difference in water levels across
the barrages, is converted in to kinetic energy in the form of
fast moving water passing through the turbines. This in turn is
converted in to rotational kinetic energy by the blades of the
turbine, the spinning turbine then driving a generator to produce
electricity. The diagram demonstrates power generation cycle of
a tidal power.
The available head is highest at extreme low tide and extreme
high tide. The highest output is achieved form hydroelectric
turbines by operating when the available head is highest period
are two hours in length, but there is little change in water level
4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM
148
during the half hours preceding and the half hour after each
of the extreme lows and highs. By including these 30 Minutes
shoulder periods, a 3 hours generation period is achieved twice
per tidal cycle. Thus, one can effectively generate at optimum
levels for roughly half of each tidal cycle. Unfortunately, tidal
cycles do not correspond daily cycles of demand for electricity.
Air back in
Air out
Turbine
Generator
15. (b) (i) The cost of a power plant depends upon, when a new power plant
is to set up or an existing plant is to be replaced or plant to be
extended. The cost analysis includes.

Fixed cost:
Its includes initial cost of the plant, rate of interest, depreciation

cost, taxes and insurance.

Operational cost:
Its includes fuel cost, operating labour cost, maintenance cost,

supplies, supervision, operating taxes.

Initial cost:
The initial cost of a power station includes land cost, building

cost, equipment cost and installation cost It is observed that
larger capacity power plant can utiline the thermal energy more
efficiently than the smaller capacity plant. In the design of a
thermal power station future availability of coal and its price has
to be taken into account.
4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM
149
15. (b) (ii)

10,000
Load in kkl
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
6
10 12 2
10 12 2
Period Load Curve
Energy generated = Area under load curve

= (3500 2) + (8000 4) + (3000 1) + (7500 4)
+ (8500 2) + (1000 2) + ( 45000 2)

+ ( 2000 7)
= 121000 KWh

Average used =
121000
= 5.041 KW
24
Maximum load = 8500 KW

Average load
Max. load
5041
=
8500
= 0.59
Load factor =

4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM
150
Energy generated
Capacity of the plant operating hours
121000
=
1000 24
= 5.04.
Plant capacity factor =
Utilisation factor =

Max. load
Rated capacity of the plant
8500
1000
= 8.5 KW.
=
4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM

MAY/JUNE 2009
Seventh Semester
(Regulation 2008)
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. List out the conventional power plants.
2. What are the purposes of a hydro project?
3. What is meant by over feed and under feed principles of firing coal?
4. What is the role played by cooling towers in steam power plant?
5. What is a chain reaction? How is it controlled?
6. List the various parts of a nuclear reactor.
7. What is the main objective of supercharging?
8. What are the applications of gas turbine?
9. What is the difference between demand factor and diversity factor?
10. What is meant by load curve?
4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM
152
11. (a) (i) Discuss the essential features of a water-power plant.

(8)
(ii) Discuss the factors considered in selecting a prime-mover for a

hydro-electric power plant.
(8)
(b) (i) Describe, giving a neat sketch, the construction and working of a
Lamont boiler.
(8)
(ii) Discuss combined steam and gas turbine power plant.
(8)
12. (a) (i) Make neat sketch and explain the working of Chain grate stoker.

(8)

(ii) State the advantages and disadvantages of pulverised fuel firing.

(8)
Or
(b) (i) Describe the operation of a balanced draught system.
(8)
(ii) Discuss the advantages, disadvantages and requirements of a

surface condenser.
(8)
13. (a) (i) Discuss the various factors to be considered white selecting the
site for nuclear power station.
(8)

(ii) Describe a fast breeder reactor.
(8)
Or

(b) (i) What is meant by uranium enrichment? Describe some methods

of Uranium enrichment.
(8)
(ii) Discuss the factors which go in favour of nuclear power plant as

compared to other types of power plants.
(8)
4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM
14. (a) (i) Write a note on fuel system of diesel power plant.

153
(8)
(ii) List the main functions of a lubricant and the properties of a good
lubricant.
(8)
Or
(b) (i) Write a note on the gas turbine starter.
(ii) Explain how reheating improves the thermal efficiency of a

simple open cycle gas turbine plant.
(8)
15. (a) (i) Define depreciation and explain its significance.

(8)
(8)
(ii) A hydro power plant is to be used as peak load plant at an annual

load factor of 30%. The electrical energy obtained during the
year is 750 105 kWh. Determine the maximum demand. If the
plant capacity factor is 24% find reserve capacity of the plant.

(8)
Or
(b) (i) Discuss the requirements of tariff.
(6)
(ii) A steam power station has an installed capacity of 120 MW and

a maximum demand of 100 MW. The coal consumption is
0.4 kg per kWh and cost of coal is Es. 80 per tonne. The annual
expenses on salary bill of staff and other overhead charges
excluding cost of coal are Rs. 50 105. The power station works
at a load factor of 0.5 and the capital cost of the power station is
Rs. 4 105. If the rate of interest and depreciation is 10%
determine the cost of generating per kWh.
(10)
4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM

NOV/DEC 2008
Seventh Semester
(Regulation 2008)
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. What do you understand by water hammer?
2. What are the advantages of combined cycles?
3. What is the use of electrostatic precipitator?
4. What is the mechanism of pulverized fuel firing system?
5. Explain the term nuclear fission.
6. What is the function of moderator and give examples?
7. What is the use of regenerator?
8. What is meant by reheating combustion chamber?
9. What are the various types of load?
10. What are the elements of fixed and operating costs?
4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM
155
11. (a) Describe the working of a pumped storage plant and discuss its
importance as a peak load plant.
Or

(b) What are auxiliaries of a hydro-power plant, and what methods of

drives are employed for these? Discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of each method.
12. (a) Name the various methods of ash handling. Describe the pneumatic
system of ash handling. Why it is essential to quench the ash before
handling?
Or

(b) Draw the neat diagram of hyperbolic cooling tower and discuss its
merits and demerits.
13. (a) How are nuclear reactor classified? Describe some common types of
reactors used for electric power plants. Discuss fast breeder reactor.
Or

(b) How waste is disposed off in a nuclear power station? What are the
main difficulties in handling radioactive waste?
14. (a) Draw a neat sketch of a diesel power plant showing all the systems.
Or

(b) What are the fuels used in gas turbine plants and what fuel
characteristics suit such plants best? Discuss the recent trends to use
solid fuels in such plants.
15. (a) Enumerate various types of tariff and explain any two of them.
Or
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156
(b) The annual peak load on a 30MW power station is 25 MW.The power
station supplied loads having maximum demands of 10 MW, 8.5MW,
5 MW and 4.5 MW. The annual load factor is 45%. Find
(i) Average load

(ii) Energy supplied by year

(iv) Diversity factor
(iv) Demand factor.
4/27/2014 3:15:35 PM

APRIL/MAY 2008
Seventh Semester
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. What is the use of load curves in power plant?
2. Mention any two drawbacks of a stationary gas turbine power plant for
generation of electricity.
3. State the advantage and disadvantages of pulverized coal firing.
4. What is the function of the cooling tower?
5. What are the micro hydel plants? Why are they important nowadays?
6. Explain the function of nuclear reactor?
7. What are the components present in the diesel electric power plants?
8. What is the difference between open cycle and closed cycle gas turbine
plant?
9. Mention the advantages and disadvantages of the OTEC power plant.
10. What are the major factors that decide the economics of power

plants?
1 1. (a) (i) Sketch the layout of a diesel engine power plant.

(ii)What are the essential components of a diesel electric power
plant?
M04_ME_Ch04(1).indd 3
8/1/2012 4:29:20 PM
4.4
(iii) Write down the applications of diesel electric power plants.

Or
(b) (i) Draw the layout of combined cycle power plant and explain its
working with the help of T s diagram.
(ii) Describe the advantages and limitations of MHD power
plant.
12. (a) (i) Sketch and explain the construction and operation of super
critical boiler.
(ii) Discuss the various methods adopted in power plant cycle
improvement for increasing the performance of modern steam
power plant.
Or
(b) (i) Sketch and explain the working of bubbling fluidized bed
boiler.
(ii) Write a brief note on the principles of waste heat recovery.
13. (a) Describe different type of over feed strokers and discuss the merits
and demerits of each over others.
Or
(b) (i) Explain different types of draught and give neat sketch for
anyone of them.
(ii) Sketch and explain the two pool tidal power plant.
14. (a) (i) Describe the boiling water reactor with the help of neat sketch
and explain its chief characteristics.
(ii) Discuss the salient features of the nuclear waste disposal.
Or
(b) (i) Enlist the merits and demerits of the hydraulic power stations.
(ii) Sketch a layout of a hydraulic power plant suitable for high
head. Indicate the essential elements in that power plant and
explain their functions.
1 5. (a) (i) Sketch and explain the two pool tidal power plant.
(ii) Describe, with a help of neat sketch, the working of a solar
thermal receiver system plant and enumerate the advantage and
disadvantage of concentrating collectors over flat collectors.
Or
8/1/2012 4:29:20 PM
Power Plant Engineering (April/May 2008)
4.5
(b) (i) What are the elements which contribute to the cost of the
electricity? And how can the cost of power generation be
reduced?
(ii) Draw the layout of a coal based thermal power station of
200MW capacity showing all necessary components and its
function.
8/1/2012 4:29:21 PM
Solutions
PART A
1. It gives full information about the incoming load and helps to decide
the installed capacity of the power station. It is also useful to decide the
economical sizes of various generating units.
2. Starting of the plant is difficult.
Combustion efficiency is less.
Require high quality of fuels.

Part load efficiency decreases rapidly as the considerable
percentage of power developed by the turbine is used to drive the
compressor.
3. Advantages
Low grade coal can also be used.
Free form clinker troubles.
High rate of combustion so increases the thermal efficiency.
Require less percentage of excess air.
Disadvantages
Lot of fly ash in the exhaust which makes the removing of the dust
uneconomical.
The possibilities of explosion are more as coal burns like a gas.

High capital cost, and special equipment is needed to start this
system.
4. Cooling tower is used to control the temperature of water required for the
plant. It reduces the consumption of the power plant.
5. Micro-hydel plants makes use of standardized bulb sets with unit output
ranging from 100 to 1000kW working under heads between 1.5m to
10meters.
6. Nuclear reactor is produced heat due to nuclear fission and chain reaction.
In other words, the reactor is an apparatus in which controllable energy
is produced by nuclear chain reaction.
8/1/2012 4:29:21 PM
4.7
7. Components of diesel power plant

Engine, Air intake system, Engine starting system, Fuel feed system,
Exhaust system, cooling system and Lubrication systems.
8.
Open cycle
Closed cycle
No pre cooler is required

because of burned gas from
gas turbine exhausted to
atmosphere.
Separate pre cooler arrangement is necessary
The size and weight are less for

same power developed.
Size and weight are more
Initial cost and maintenance

cost is less.
Initial and maintenance cost is

more.
Combustion efficiency is more.
Combustion efficiency is less.
9. Advantages of OTEC
Clean form of energy conversion
It does not occupy land area
It can be steady source of energy since the temperature are almost
steady
Disadvantages

The materials used will have to with stand the highly corrosive
atmosphere and working fluid.
Construction of floating power plant is difficult.

Plant size is limited to about 100MW due to large size of
components.
Very high investment is required.
1 0. Factors that decide the economics of power plant.
Load factor, Utility factor, Plant operating factor, Plant capacity factor,
Demand factor, Diversity factor, Load curve, Load duration curve, Plant
use factor.
8/1/2012 4:29:21 PM
4.8
PART B
11. (a) (i)
Air filter
Day tank
Design engine
Silencer
Fuel
injection
Filter pump
Air
compressor
Pump
Fuel storage tank
Lubricating
oil tank
Oil cooler
Oil
pump
Coolant
Filter
Starting
air tank
Jacket
water
pump
Cooling
tower
Heat
exchanger
Raw water
pump
Layout of diesel engine power plant

11. (a) (ii) The essential components of a diesel electric plant are:

Engine

Engine air intake system

Engine Fuel system

Engine exhaust system

Engine cooling system

Engine lubrication system

11. (a) (iii) Applications

Peak load plant

Mobile plants

Standby units

Emergency plants

Nursery station

Starting station

Central stations where capacity required is small (5 to 10mw)
Industrial concerns where power requirements is small by plants become
of 500kw, diesel power plants become more economical due to their
higher overall efficiency.
8/1/2012 4:29:21 PM
4.9
11. (b)(i)A combined cycle power plant combines the Rankine Cycle
(steam turbine) and Brayton Cycle (gas turbine) thermodynamic cycles
by using waste heat recovery boilers to capture the energy in the gas
turbine exhaust gases for steam production to supply a steam turbine as
shown in the figure below.
Process steam can be also provided for industrial purposes.
Fossil fuel-fired (central) power plants use either steam or combustion
turbines to provide the mechanical power to electrical generators.
Pressurized high temperature steam or gas expands through various
stages of a turbine, transferring energy to the rotating turbine blades. The
turbines mechanically coupled to a generator, which produced electricity.
Cooling tower
Exhaust
Condenser
Electricity
Steam turbine
Steam
Water
pump
Fuel
Combustor
Heat recover
steam generator
Gas turbine
Electricity
Generator
Compressor
Turbine
Intake air
11. (b) (ii) The advantages of LMMHD include

The ability to tailor a system to any temperature range through the choice of
the working fluids, thus offering the potential to serve many special needs
at higher efficiencies that alternatives. Thus the concept was originally
proposed for space where a high radiator temperature is essential for
compact systems, and later modified for ground-based applications. For
example, both gas cycle and vapor cycle versions are possible.

The almost-constant-temperature expansion of the working fluid
in accelerating or pumping the liquid, leading thermodynamically
to higher cycle efficiency. This corresponds to infinite reheat in a
conventional Rankine cycle.
The high electrical conductivity of the liquid metal (as compared to
the plasmas used in other MHD systems).
8/1/2012 4:29:21 PM
4.10
The disadvantage is the losses associated with pumping or accelerating

the liquid metal.(The pumping process, which can occur inside the
generator or in a separate nozzle, effectively replaces the turbines in a
conventional power plant.) These losses may show up as pump power,
increase pressure drop of the working fluid, etc.
These are:
Mixer losses, pressure drops and poor mixing. In this cycle vaporization
of the liquid occurs partly or completely in the mixer.
Slip losses in the nozzle or generator, where the vapor moves faster
than the liquid.
Poor heart transfer between the two phases, impacting the desired
almost-constant-temperature expansion.
Separation losses of two types, friction on the impact surface, and
incomplete separation (some liquid goes with the vapor, some vapor
stays as bubbles in the liquid). These are significant because of the
impact on other components, such as extra heat loss in the reject heat
exchanger and the next item.
Diffuser losses in the liquid loop because of the vapor present.
12. (a) (i)
8/1/2012 4:29:22 PM
4.11
Supercritical steam generators are frequently used for the production

of electric power. They operate at supercritical pressure. In contrast to
a subcritical boiler, a supercritical steam generator operates at such
a high pressure (over 3,200psi/22.06MPa or 3,200psi/220.6bar) that
the physical turbulence that characterizes boiling ceases to occur; the
fluid is neither liquid nor water but a super-critical fluid. There is no
generation of steam bubbles within the water, because the pressure is
above the critical pressure point at which steam bubbles can form. As
the fluid expands through the turbine stages, its thermodynamic state
drops below the critical point as it does work turning the turbine which
turns electrical generator from which power is ultimately extracted. The
fluid at that point may be a mix of steam and liquid droplets as it passes
into the condenser. This results in slightly less fuel use and therefore less
greenhouse gas production. The term boiler should not be used for a
supercritical pressure steam generator, as no boiling actually occurs in
this device.
12. (a) (ii) The energy efficiency of a conventional thermal power station,
considered as salable energy as a percent of the heating value of the
fuel consumed, is typically 33% to 48%. This efficiency is limited as
all heat engines are governed by the laws of thermodynamics. The rest
of the energy must leave the plant in the form of heat. This waste heat
can go through a condenser and be disposed of with cooling water or in
cooling towers. If the waste heat is instead utilized for district heating,
it is called co-generation. Important classes of thermal power station
are associated with desalination facilities; these are typically found in
desert countries with large supplies of natural gas and in these plants,
freshwater production and electricity are equally important co-products.
The carnot efficiency dictates that higher efficiencies can be attained
by increasing the temperature of the steam. Sub-critical fossil fuel
power plants can achieve 3640% efficiency. Super critical designs
have efficiencies in the low to mid 40% range, with new ultra critical
designs using pressures of 4400psi (30.3MPa) and multiple stage reheat
reaching about 48% efficiency. Above the critical point for water of
705F(374C) and 3212 psi (22.06MPa), there is no phase transition
from water to steam, but only a gradual decrease in density.
Current nuclear power plants must operate below the temperatures and
pressures that coal-fired plants do, since the pressurized vessel is very
large and contains the entire bundle of nuclear fuel rods. The size of the
reactor limits the pressure that can be reached. This, in turn, limits their
thermodynamic efficiency to 3032%. Some advanced reactor designs
8/1/2012 4:29:22 PM
4.12
being studied, such as the very high temperature reactor, advanced

gas-cooled reactor and super critical water reactor, would operate at
temperatures and pressures similar to current coal plants, producing
comparable thermodynamic efficiency.
12. (b) (i)
Features of bubbling bed boiler

Fluidized bed boiler can operate at near atmospheric or elevated pressure
and have these essential features:
D
istribution plate through which air is blown for fluidizing.
I mmersed steam-raising or water heating tubes which extract heat
directly from the bed.
T
ubes above the bed which extract heat from hot combustion gas
before it enters the flue duct.
The combustion gases pass over the super heater sections of the boiler,
flow past the economizer, the dust collectors and the air preheaters before
being exhausted to atmosphere. The main special feature of atmospheric
fluidized bed combustion is the constraint imposed by the relatively
8/1/2012 4:29:22 PM
4.13
narrow temperature range within which the bed must be operated. With
coal, there is risk of clinker formation in the bed if the temperature
exceeds 950C and loss of combustion efficiency if the temperature falls
below 800C. For efficient sulphur retention, the temperature should be
in the range 800C to 850C.
12. (b) (ii)Waste heat is heat, which is generated in a process by way
of fuel combustion or chemical reaction, and then dumped into the
environment even though it could still be reused for some useful and
economic purpose. The essential quality of heat is not the amount but
rather its "value". The strategy of how to recover this heat depends in part
on the temperature of the waste heat gases and the economics involved.
Large quantity of hot flue gases is generated from Boilers, Ovens and
Furnaces. If some of this waste heat could be recovered, a considerable
amount of primary fuel could be saved. The energy lost in waste gases
cannot be fully recovered. However, much of the heat could be recovered
and loss minimized by adopting following measures as outlined in this
chapter.
Heat losses-quality
Depending upon the type of process, waste heat can be rejected at
virtually any temperature from that of chilled cooling water to high
temperature waste gases from an industrial furnace or kiln. Usually
higher the temperature, higher the quality and more cost effective is
the heat recovery. In any study of waste heat recovery, it is absolutely
necessary that there should be some use for the recovered heat. Typical
examples of use would be preheating of combustion air, space heating,
or pre-heating boiler feed water or process water. With high temperature
heat recovery, a cascade system of waste heat recovery may be practiced
to ensure that the maximum amount of heat is recovered at the highest
potential. An example of this technique of waste heat recovery would be
where the high temperature stage was used for air pre heating and the low
temperature stage used for process feed water heating or steam raising.
Heat losses quantity
In any heat recovery situation it is essential to know the amount of heat
recoverable and also how it can be used. An example of the availability
of waste heat is given below:
H
eat recovery from heat treatment furnace
In a heat treatment furnace, the exhaust gases are leaving the furnace at
900C at the rate of 2100m3 /hour. The total heat recoverable at 180C
final exhaust can be calculated as
8/1/2012 4:29:22 PM
4.14
Q = V r CP T
Q is the heat content in kCal
V is the flow rate of the substance in m3/hour
r is density of the flue gas in kg/m3
CP is the specific heat of the substance in kCal/kg/C
T is the temperature difference inC
CP (Specific heat of flue gas) = 0.24kCal/kg/C
Heat available (Q) = 2100 1.19 0.24 (900180) = 4, 31, 827kCal/hr
By installing a recuperater, this heat can be recovered to pre-heat the
combustion air. The fuel savings would be 33% @ 1% fuel reduction for
every 22C reduction in temperature of flue gas.
13. (a) There are three basic types of mechanical overfeed stokers: chaingrate stokers, traveling-grate stokers, and vibrating grate stokers.
fundamentally, chain- and traveling-grate stokers are similar except for
grate construction. In the chain-grate, the grate itself is a wide chain
composed of links. In the traveling grate, the grate sections (bars or
link) are attached to a separate chain. In either case the chain travels
over two sprockets, one at the front and one at the rear of the furnace.
These sprockets are equal in length to the width of the furnace. The front
sprocket is connected to a variable-speed driving mechanism.
Chain- and traveling-grate stokers operate similarly. Coal gravity fed
onto the grate from a coal hopper mounted on the front of the stoker.
The depth of coal fed on the grate is regulated by raising and lowering a
sliding coal gate at the hopper coal discharge the coal burns as the grate
travels from one end of the furnace to the other. The ash is continuously
deposited off the rear of the grate into an ash pit.
Vibrating grate stokers operate similarly to chain-and traveling-grate
stokers. However, the vibrating stoker uses vibration and gravity to move
the coal-ash bed from coal feed to ash discharge. Coal that is gravity
fed from a coal hopper onto the grate passes underneath a gate that
controls the thickness of the coal bed on the grate. The grate is vibrated
by a vibration and inclination of the grate causes the coal bed to move
through the furnace toward the ash pit.
Flexible plated divide the space beneath the combustion grate into
compartments. Individual supply ducts with dampers regulate air
distributing through the coal-ash bed. Overfire air jets on the front wall
promote mixing of volatile gases and air for more complete combustion.
8/1/2012 4:29:22 PM
4.15
13. (b) (i) Draught system

Natural draught: It is causes by the density difference between the
atmospheric air and the hot gas in the stack or chimney.
Advantages
No external power is required
Long life of chimney
It prevents the contaminations and maintains the cleanliness.
Maintenance cost is less
Less capital investment
Forced draught
A blower is installed near the base of the boiler and air is forced to
pass through the furnace. The pressure throughout the system is above
atmospheric pressure and air is forced to flow the system. The forced
draught fans are handled cold air. So, the maintenance cost is very less.
Blower
Furnace
Grate
Balanced draught system
Boiler
To exhaust
Stack or
chimney
Furnace
Economiser
Grate
Air in
Blower
Air
preheater
Induced draught system
8/1/2012 4:29:23 PM
4.16

Boiler
To exhaust
Blower
Stack or
chimney
Furnace
Economiser
Grate
Air
preheater
Forced draught system
Induced draught: The fan is located near the base of the chimney. It
sucks the burnt gases from the furnace and pressure inside the furnace is
reduced to below atmospheric pressure. Induced draughts fans handled
hot combustion gases. The power requirement is greater that the forced
draught fans.

Power input =
W f (1 + A/ F )U g PID
h ID
Where Wf Fuel burning rate

A/F Air fuel ratio
Ug Specific volume of the flue gases

PID Pressure head developed
hID Efficiency of induced draught fan
Balanced draught: It is the combination of induced and forced draught
systems. The forced draught us used to force the air through the bed and
induced draught is used to suck the gases from the boiler and discharges
them to the chimney.
Advantages of mechanical draught over natural draught
Draught pressure can be easily changed.
Rate of combustion is high.
Low-grade fuel can be used in combustion chamber.
It is independent of atmospheric pressure.
The efficiency of artificial draught is nearly 7% but in natural draught
is 1%.
Height of the chimney is reduced.
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4.17
Fuel consumption is less(about 15% less than natural draught)

It prevents the formation of smoke inside the furnace.
Fuel burning capacity is high.
Overall thermal efficiency of the plant is increased.
13. (b) (ii)The two pool tidal system is one that is much less dependent
on tidal fluctuation but at the expense of more complex and hence more
costly dam construction. An inland basin is enclosed by a dam A and
divided into a high pool and a low pool by dam B. By proper gating in
dam A the high pool gets periodically filled at high tide form the ocean
and the low pool gets periodically emptied at low tide. Water flows from
the high to the low pool through the turbines that are situated in dam B.
The capacities of these two pools are large enough in relation to the
water flow between them that the fluctuations in the head are minimized
which results in continuous and much more uniform power generation.
High pool
DAM B
DAM A
Water flows
Low pool
14. (a) (i) The boiling water reactor (BWR) is a type of light water nuclear
reactor used for the generation of electrical power. It is the second
most common type of electricity-generating nuclear reactor after the
pressurized water reactor (PWR), also a type of light water nuclear
reactor. The main difference between a BWR and PWR is that in a BWR,
the reactor core heats water, which turns to steam and then drives a
steam turbine. In a PWR, the reactor core heats water, this does not boil.
This hot water then exchanges heat with a lower pressure water system,
which turns to steam and drives the turbine. The BWR was developed by
the Idaho National Laboratory and General Electric in the mid-1950s.
The main present manufactures is GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, which
specializes in the design and construction of this type of reactor.
The BWR uses demineralized water as a coolant and neutron moderator.
Heat is produced by nuclear fission in the reactor core, and this causes
the cooling water to boil, producing steam. The steam is directly used
to drive a turbine, after which it is cooled in a condenser and converted
8/1/2012 4:29:24 PM
4.18
back to liquid water. This water is then returned to the reactor core,
completing the loop. The cooling water is maintained at about 75atm
(7.6MPa, 10001100 psi) so that it boils in the core at about 285C
(550C). In comparison, there is no significant boiling allowed in a PWR
(Pressurized Water Reactor) because of the high pressure maintained in
its primary loop-approximately 158atm (16MPa, 2300psi)
BMW schematic
17
6
9
2
3
4
5
14
10 11
18
15
12
16
13
1. Reactor pressure vessel (RPV)

2. Nuclear fuel element
3. Control rods
4. Circulation pumps
5. Control rod motors
6. Steam
7. Feed water
8. High pressure turbine (HPT)
9. Low pressure turbine
10. Generator
11. Exciter
12. Condenser
13. Coolant
14. Pre-heater
15. Feedwater pump
16. Cold water pump
17. Concreate enclosure
18. Connection to electricity grid
14. (a) (ii) Radioactive wastes comprise a variety of materials requiring

different types of management to protect people and the environment.
They are normally classified as low-level, medium-level or high-level
wastes, according to the amount and types of radioactivity in them.
Another factor in managing wastes is the time that they are likely to remain
hazardous. This depends on the kinds of radioactive isotopes in them, and
particularly the half-lives characteristic of each of those isotopes. (The
half-life is the time it takes for a given radioactive isotope to lose half of
its radioactivity. After four half-lives the level of radioactivity is 1/16th of
the original and after eight half-lives 1/256th, and so on.)
The various radioactive isotopes have half-lives ranging from fractions
of a second to minutes, hours or days, through to billions of years.
Radioactivity decreases with time as these isotopes decay into stable,
non-radioactive ones.
The rate of decay of an isotope is inversely proportional to its half-life;
a short half-life means that it decays rapidly. Hence, for each kind of
radiation, the higher the intensity of radioactivity in a given amount of
material, the shorter the half-lives involved.
Three general principles are employed in the management of radioactive
wastes:
Concentrate-and-contain
8/1/2012 4:29:24 PM
4.19
Dilute -and-disperse
Delay-and-decay
The first two are also used in the management of non-radioactive wastes.
The waste is either concentrated and then isolated, or it is diluted to
acceptable levels and then discharged to the environment. Delay-anddecay however is unique to radioactive waste management; it means that
the waste is stored and its radioactivity is allowed to decrease naturally
through decay of the radioisotopes in it.
14. (b) (i) Flexibility
Hydro is a flexible source of electricity since plants can be ramped up
and down very quickly to adapt to changing energy demands.
Low power costs
The major advantage of hydroelectricity is elimination of the cost of
fuel. The cost of operating a hydroelectric plant is nearly immune to
increases in the cost of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas or coal, and
no imports are needed. The average cost of electricity from a hydro plant
larger than 10 megawatts is 3 to 5 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour.
Hydroelectric plants have long economic lives, with some plants still
in service after 50100 years. Operating labor cost is also usually low,
as plants are automated and have few personnel on site during normal
operation.
Where a dam serves multiple purposes, a hydroelectric plant may be
added with relatively low construction cost, providing a useful revenue
stream to offset the costs of dam operation. It has been calculated that the
sale of electricity from the Three Gorges Dam will cover the construction
costs after 5 to 8 years of full generation.
Suitability for industrial applications
While many hydroelectric projects supply public electricity networks,
some are created to serve specific industrial enterprises. Dedicated
hydroelectric projects are often built to provide the substantial amounts
of electricity needed for aluminium electrolytic plants, for example. The
Grand Coulee Dam switched to support Alcoa aluminium in Bellingham,
Washington, United States for American World War II airplanes before
it was allowed to provide irrigation and power to citizens (in addition to
aluminium power) after the war. In Suriname, the Brokopondo Reservoir
was constructed to provide electricity for the Alcoa aluminium industry.
New Zealands Manapouri Power Station was constructed to supply
electricity to the aluminium smelter at Tiwai point.
8/1/2012 4:29:24 PM
4.20
Reduced CO2 emissions

Since hydroelectric dams do not burn fossil fuels, they do not directly
produce carbon dioxide. While some carbon dioxide is produced during
manufacture and construction of the project, this is a tiny fraction of the
operating emissions of equivalent fossil-fuel electricity generation. One
measurement of greenhouse gas related and other externality comparison
between energy sources can be found in the ExternE project by the Paul
Scherrer Institute and the University of Stuttgart which was funded by the
European commission. According to that study, hydroelectricity produces
the least amount of greenhouse gases and externality of any energy source.
Coming in second place was wind, third was nuclear energy, and fourth
was solar photovoltaic. The extremely positive greenhouse gas impact of
hydroelectricity is found especially in temperate climates. The above study
was for local energy in Europe; presumably similar conditions prevail in
North America and Northern Asia, which all see a regular, natural freeze/
thaw cycle (with associated seasonal plant decay and regrowth).
Other uses of the reservoir
Reservoir created by hydroelectric schemes often provide facilities
for water sports, and become tourist attractions themselves. In some
countries, aquaculture in reservoirs is common. Multi-use dams installed
for irrigation support agriculture with a relatively constant water supply.
Large hydro dams can control floods, which would otherwise affect
people living downstream of the project.
Disadvantages
Ecosystem damage and loss of land
Large reservoirs required for the operation of hydroelectric power
stations result in submersion of extensive areas upstream of the dams,
destroying biologically rich and productive lowland and riverine valley
forests, marshland and grasslands. The loss of land is often exacerbated
by habitat fragmentation of surrounding areas caused by the reservoir.
Hydroelectric projects can be disruptive to surroundings aquatic
ecosystems both upstream and downstream of the plant site. For
instance, studies have shown that dams along the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts of North America have reduced salmon populations by preventing
access to spawning grounds upstream, even though most dams in salmon
habitat have fish ladders installed. Salmon spawn are also harmed on
their migration to sea when they must pass through turbines. Turbine
and power-plant designs that are easier on aquatic life are an active area
of research. Mitigation measures such as fish ladders may be required at
new projects or as a condition of re-licensing of existing projects.
8/1/2012 4:29:24 PM
4.21
Generation of hydroelectric power changes the downstream river

environment. Water exiting a turbine usually contains very little suspended
sediment, which can lead to scouring of river beds and loss of riverbanks.
Since turbine gates are often opened intermittently, rapid or even daily
fluctuations in river flow are observed. For example, in the Grand Canyon,
the daily cyclic flow variation caused by Glen Canyon Dam was found to
be contributing to erosion of sand bars. Dissolved oxygen content of the
water may change from pre-construction conditions. Water exiting turbines
can be warmer or colder than downstream, due to it being pulled from a
higher or lower part in the reservoir level. This can change aquatic faunal
populations, including endangered species, and prevent natural freezing
processes from occurring. Some hydroelectric projects also use canals to
divert a river at a shallower gradient to increase the head of the scheme.
In some cases, the entire river may be diverted leaving a dry riverbed.
Examples include the Tekapo and Pukaki Rivers in New Zealand.
Siltation and flow shortage
When water flows it has ability to transport particles heavier than itself
downstream. This has a negative effect on dams and subsequently their
power stations, particularly those on rivers or within catchment areas
with high siltation. Siltation can fill a reservoir and reduce its capacity to
control floods along with causing additional horizontal pressure on the
upstream portion of the dam. Eventually, some reservoirs can become
full of sediment and useless or over-top during a flood and fail.
Changes in the amount of river flow will correlate with the amount of
energy produced by a dam. Lower river will reduce the amount of live
storage in a reservoir therefore reducing the amount of water that can
be used for hydroelectric. The result of diminished river flow can be
power shortages in areas that depend heavily on hydroelectric power.
The risk of flow shortage may increase as a result of climate change. One
study from the Colorado River in the United States suggest that modest
climate changes, such as an increase in temperature in 2degree celsius
resulting in a 10% decline in precipitation, might reduce river run-off by
up to 40%. Brazil in particular is vulnerable due to its heaving reliance
on hydroelectricity, as increasing temperatures, lower water flow and
alterations in the rainfall regime, could reduce total energy production
by 7% annually by the end of century.
Methane emissions (from reservoirs)
Lower positive impacts are found in the tropical regions, as it has been
noted that the reservoirs of power plants in tropical regions may produce
substantial amounts of methane. This is due to plant material in flooded
8/1/2012 4:29:24 PM
4.22
areas decaying in an anaerobic environment, and forming methane, a

greenhouse gas. According to the world commission on dams report,
where the reservoir is large compared to the generating capacity (less
than 100 watts per square metre of surface area) and no clearing of the
forests in the area was undertaken prior to impoundment of the reservoir,
greenhouse gas emissions from the reservoir may be higher than those
of a conventional oil-fired thermal generation plant. Although these
emissions represent carbon already in the biosphere, not fossil deposits
that had been sequestered from the carbon cycle, there is a greater
amount of methane due to anaerobic decay, causing greater damage than
would otherwise have occurred had the forest decayed naturally.
In boreal reservoirs of Canada and Northern Europe, however, greenhouse
gas emissions are typically only 2% to 8% of any king of conventional
fossil-fuel thermal generation. A new class of underwater logging operation
that targets drowned forests can mitigate the effect of forest decay.
Relocation
Another disadvantage of hydroelectric dams is the need to relocate the
people living where the reservoirs are planned. In February 2008 it was
estimated that 4080 million people worldwide had been physically
displaced as a direct result of dam construction. Historically and culturally
important sites can be flooded and lost. Such problems have arisen at the
Aswan Dam in Egypt between 1960 and 1980, the Three Gorges Dam in
China, the Clyde Dam in New Zealand, and the Ilisu Dam in Turky.
Failure risks
Main article: Dam failure
See also: List of hydroelectric power station failures
Because large conventional dammed-hydro facilities hold back large
volumes of water, a failure due to poor construction, natural disasters or
sabotage can be catastrophic to downriver settlements and infrastructure.
Dam failures have been some of the largest man-made disasters in history.
The Banqiao dam failure in Southern China directly resulted in the deaths
of 26,000 people, and another 145,000 from epidemics, millions were
left homeless. Also, the creation of a dam in a geologically inappropriate
location may cause disasters such as 1963 disaster at Vajont Dam in Italy,
where almost 2000 people died.
Smaller dams and micro hydro facilities create less risk, but can form
continuing hazards even after being decommissioned. For example, the
small Kelly Barners Dam failed in 1967, causing 36 deaths with the
Toccoa Flood, ten years after its power plant was decommissioned.
8/1/2012 4:29:24 PM
4.23
Comparison with other methods of power generation

Hydroelectricity eliminates the flue gas emissions from fossil fuel
combustion, including pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide,
carbon monoxide, dust, and mercury in the coal. Hydroelectricity also
avoids the hazards of coal mining and the indirect health effects of coal
emissions. Compared to nuclear power, hydroelectricity generates no
nuclear waste, has none of the dangers associated with uranium mining,
nor nuclear leaks. Unlike uranium, hydroelectricity is also a renewable
energy source.
Compared to wind farms, hydroelectricity power plants have a more
predictable load factor. If the project has a storage reservoir, it can
generate power when needed. Hydroelectric plants can be easily
regulated to follow variations in power demand.
14. (b) (ii)
Essential elements of power plant

1.Catchments are: The whole area behind the clam training into a
stream as rivers across which the dam has been built at suitable place
is called catchment area.
2.Reservoir: A reservoir is used to store water which is further utilized
to generate power by running the hydroelectric turbines.
3.Dam: A dam is a barrier which confines or raise water for storage
or diversion to create a hydraulic head. Dams are usually made of
concrete, stone masory rockfilll or timber.
4.Turbine and generator: Turbine is a very light fan like structure
having many blades. It can rotate on its axis when water is poured.
8/1/2012 4:29:24 PM
4.24
Generator: when there is rotation of coil between strong magnetic

field then it produces an alternating current.
5.Draft Tubes: It is an empty structure made beneath the turbines. It
allows the turbine to be set above tail water level without loss of head
to facilitate inspection and maintenance.
It regains by diffuser action the major portion of the kinetic energy
delivered to it from the runner.
It also increases the output power and also the hydro power plant.
6.Penstock: Penstock is the connecting pipe between the dam and the
turbine house. Penstock is made of a very strong material and can
sustain high pressure of water.
7.Power House and Equipments: Valve is used to control the pressure
and pumps are used to send water from lower potential to higher
potential.
Spill ways is used to arrange the excess of accumulation of water on dam
because excess accumulation of water can damage the dam structure.
8.Surge tank: To avoid the water hammering effect a tank is attached
to the penstock and it is called the surge tank.
15. (a)(i)
The two pool tidal system is one that is much less dependent on tidal
fluctuation but at the expense of more complex and hence more costly
dam construction. An inland basin is enclosed by a dam A and divided
into a high pool and a low pool by dam B. By proper gating in dam A the
high pool gets periodically filled at high tide form the ocean and the low
pool gets periodically emptied at low tide. Water flows from the high to
the low pool through the turbines that are situated in dam B.
High pool
DAM B
DAM A
Water flows
Low pool
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4.25
15. (a) (ii) Most techniques for generating electricity form heat need high
temperatures to achieve reasonable efficiencies. The output temperature
of non-concentrating solar collectors are limited to temperature below
200C. Therefore, concentrating systems must to used to produce higher
temperatures. Due to their high costs, lenses and burning glasses are
used, including reflecting concentrators.
The reflector, which concentrates the sunlight to a focal line or focal
point, has a parabolic shape; such a reflector must always be tracked.
In general terms, a distinction can be made between one-axis and twoaxis tracking: one-axis tracking systems concentrate the sunlight onto
an absorber tube in the focal line, while two-axis tracking systems do so
onto a relatively small absorber surface near the focal point.
a
Absorber
tube
Reflector
Absorber
Reflector
tube
Radiation from the sun
Reflected radiation
Absorber
Abosrber
Reflector
Reflectors
The theoretical maximum concentration factor is 46,211. It is finite

because the sun is not really a point radiation source. The maximum
theoretical concentration temperature that can be achieved is the suns
surface temperature of 5500C; if the concentration ratio is lower, the
maximum achievable temperature decreases. However, real systems do
not reach these theoretical maxima. This is because, on the one hand,
it is not possible to build an absolutely exact system, and on the other,
the technical systems which transport heat to the user also reduce the
8/1/2012 4:29:25 PM
4.26
receiver temperature. If the heat transfer process stops, though, the

receiver can reach critically high temperatures.
Concentrating collectors on the other hand can only concentrate direct
(beam) solar irradiance and therefore the appropriate irradiance term is
direct (beam) normal solar irradiance, reduced by the cosine of the angle of
incidence. For two-axis tracking collectors, the angle of incidence is zero.
Flat-plate collectors
Since flat-plate collectors (both thermal and photovoltaic) are capable of
absorbing both direct (beam) and diffuse solar irradiance, the appropriate
aperture irradiance is the global (total) irradiance falling on the collector
aperture.
15. (b) (i)The cost of electricity (typically cents/kWh, Euro/kWh, Euro
or $/MWh) generated by different sources is a calculation of the cost of
generating electricity at the point of connection to a load or electricity grid.
It includes the initial capital, discount rate, as well as the costs of continuous
operation, fuel, and maintenance. This type of calculation assists policy
makers, researchers and others to guide discussions and decision making.
While calculating costs, several internal cost factors have to be considered.
(Note the use of costs, which is not the actual selling price, since this
can be affected by a variety of factors such as subsidies and taxes):
Capital costs (including waste disposal and decommissioning costs
for nuclear energy) tend to be low for fossil fuel power stations; high
for wind turbines, solar PV; very high for waste to energy, wave and
tidal, solar thermal, and nuclear.
Fuel costshigh for fossil fuel and biomass sources, low for nuclear,
and zero for renewables.
Factors such as the costs of waste (and associated issues) and different
insurance costs are not including in the following: Works power, own
use or parasitic load-i.e. the portion of generated power actually used
to run the stations pumps and fans has to be allowed for.
To evaluate the total cost of production of electricity, the streams of costs
are converted to a net present value using the time value of money. These
costs are all brought together using discounted cash flow
The cost of power generation can be reduced by the following ways
Load Management
These recommendations are intended to reduce power consumption to
2kW overnight and 10kW during the day.
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4.27
Measure the power consumption and output of the impeller pump supplying
the touch tank and consider installing a piston pump to replace the impeller
pump. Modify the belt drive on the piston pump and select a motor for
appropriate power consumption and output. A piston pump will use less
power, will be easier to prime and will be more reliable in use. Corrosion
may be a problem that can be dealt with by buying a more expensive pump.
Consider installing a second piston pump as a backup for the touch tank
and to supply seawater for the desalinator.
Measure the power consumption of the composting toilets in the assistant
keepers house and consider timers for heating elements so that power
consumption can be adjusted as needed.
Adjust the battery chargers for the diesel generator starting batteries.
One is supplying 4 times the current of the other.
15. (b) (ii) Steam power plant
Introduction:
Steam is an important medium for producing mechanical energy.
System is used to drive steam engines and steam turbines. Steam has the
following advantages.
(1) Steam can be raised quickly from water which is available in plenty.
(2) It does not react much with materials of the equipments used in
power plants.
(3) It is stable at temperatures required in the plant.
Equipments of a steam power plant:
A steam power plant must have the following equipments.
(1) A furnace for burning the fuel.
(2) A steam generator or boiler for steam generation.
(3) A power unit likes an engine or turbine to convert heat energy into
mechanical work.
(4) A generator to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
(5) Piping system to carry steam and water.
Layout of steam power plant:
Figure 1 shows a schematic layout of a steam power plant. The working
of a steam power plant can be explained in four circuits.
(1) Fuel (coal) and ash circuit.
(2) Air and flue gas circuit.
(3) Feed water and steam flow circuit.
(4) Cooling water flow circuit.
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4.28
(1) Coal and ash circuit: This includes coal delivery, preparation, coal
handling, boiler furnace, ash handling and ash storage. The coal from
coal mines is delivered by ships, rail or by trucks to the power station.
This coal is received in coal storage yard of power station. This coal
is sized by crushers, breakers etc. The sized coal is then stored in coal
storage (stock yard). From the stock yard, the coal is transferred to
the boiler furnace by means of convertors, elevators etc.
The coal is burnt in the boiler furnace and ash is formed by burning
of coal. Ash coming out of the furnace will be too hot, dusty and
accompanied by some poisonous gases. The ash is transferred to
ash storage. Usually, the ash is quenched to reduce temperature,
corrosion and dust content.
Coal
unloading
Coal
Coal
preparation
Sized coal
Coal
storage
Atmospheric air
Pre-heated air
Coal
handler
Ash
handler
Ash
storage
Flue
Stream
Boiler Flue
drum
Preheated
water
Economiser
Flue
Ash
F.D
fan
Air pre- Air
heater
Dust
collector
I.D. fan Chimney
Flue
Super
heater
Transmission
line
S.H. stream
Turbine
Flue
Generator
Exhaust
steam
Condenser Hot
Water
water
Feed water
pump
Cooling
tower
Cold water
Pump
Figure 1 Layout of a steam power plant

There are different methods employed for the disposal of ash. They
are hydraulic system, water jetting, ash sluice ways, pneumatic
system etc. In large power plants hydraulic system is used. In this
system, ash falls from the furnace grate into high velocity water
stream. It is then carried to the slumps. A line diagram of coal and
ash circuit is shown separately in figure 2.
8/1/2012 4:29:25 PM

Coal
delivery
Coal
unloding
Coal
preparation
4.29
Coal
transfer
Coal
storage
In plant
handing
Ash
storage
Ash
handling
Boiler
furnace
Figure 2 Fuel (coal) and ash circuit

(2) Water and steam circuit: It consists of feed pump, economiser,
boiler drum, superheater, turbine, condenser etc. Feed water is
pumped to the economiser form the hot well. This water is preheated
by the flue gases in the economiser. This preheated water is then
supplied to the boiler drum. Heat is transferred to the water by the
burning of coal. Due to this, water is converted into steam.

The steam raised in boiler is passed through a superheater. It is superheated
by the flue gases. The superheated steam is then expanded in a turbine to
do work. The turbine drives a generator to produce electric power. The
expanded (exhaust) steam is then passed through the condenser. In the
condenser, the steam is condensed into water and recirculated. A line
diagram of water and steam circuit is shown separately in figure 3.
Steam
Super heater
S.H Steam
Turbine
Boiler
Exhaust
steam
Pre-heated
water
Economiser
Condenser
Condensate
Water
Condensate
pump
Water
Feed pump
Hot well
Figure 3 Water and steam circuit
8/1/2012 4:29:26 PM
4.30
Flue
Economiser
Flue
I.D.Fan
Dust
collector
Chimney
(3) Air and flue gas circuit: It consists of forced draught fan, air
preheater, boiler furnace, super heater, economiser, dust collector,
induced draught fan, chimney etc. Air is taken from the atmosphere
by the action of a forced draught fan. It is passed through an air preheater. The air is pre-heated by the flue gases in the pre-heater. This
pre-heated air is supplied to the furnace to aid the combustion of
fuel. Due to combustion of fuel, hot gases (flue gases) are formed.
Flue
Super heater
Flue
Boiler
Air
Pre heated
air
Atmospheric air
F.D.Fan
Figure 4 Air and flue gas circuit

The flue gases from the furnace pass over boiler tubes and superheater
tubes. (In boiler, wet steam is generated and in superheater the wet
steam is superheated by the flue gases). Then the flue gases pass
through economiser to heat the feed water. After that, it passes
through the air preheater to preheat the incoming air. It is then
passed through a dust catching device (dust collector). Finally, it is
exhausted to the atmosphere through chimney. A line diagram of air
and flue gas circuit is shown separately in figure 4.
(4) Cooling water circuit: This circuit includes a pump, condenser,

cooling tower etc. The exhaust steam from the turbine is condensed
in a condenser. In the condenser, cold water is circulated to condense
the steam into water. The steam is condensed by loosing its latent
heat to the circulating cold water.
Exhaust
steam
Condenser
Condensed
water
Cooling tower
Radial spray
Hot water
Make up
water
Cold water
Air
Pump
Figure 5 Cooling water current
8/1/2012 4:29:27 PM
4.31
Thus the circulating water is heated. This hot water is then taken
to a cooling tower. In cooling tower, the water is sprayed in the
form of droplets through nozzles. The atmospheric air enters the
cooling tower from the openings provided at the bottom of the tower.
This air removes heat form water. Cooled water is collected in a
pond (known as cooling pond). This cold water is again circulated
through the pump, condenser and cooling tower. Thus the cycle is
repeated again and again. Some amount of water may be lost during
the circulation due to vapourisation etc. Hence, make up water is
added to the pond by means of a pump. This water is obtained from
a river or lake. A line diagram of cooling water circuit is shown in
figure 5 separately.
Merits (advantages) of thermal power plant:

(1) The unit capacity of thermal power plant is more. The cost of unit
decreases with the increase in unit capacity.
(2) Life of the plant is more (2530 years) as compared to diesel plant
(25 years).
(3) Repair and maintenance cost is low when compared with diesel
plant.
(4) Initial cost of the plant is less than nuclear plants.
(5) Suitable for varying load conditions.
(6) No harmful radioactive wastes are produced as in the case of nuclear
plant.
(7) Unskilled operators can operate the plant.
(8) The power generation does not depend on water storage.
(9) There are no transmission losses since they are located near load
centers.
De-merits (disadvantages) of thermal power plants:
(1)Thermal plants are less efficient than diesel plants.
(2)Starting up the plant and bringing into service takes more time.
(3)Cooling water required is more.
(4)Space required is more.
(5)Storage required for the fuel is more.
(6)Ash handling is a big problem.
(7)Not economical in areas which are remote from coal fields.
8/1/2012 4:29:27 PM
4.32
(8)Fuel transportation, handling and storage charges are more.

(9)Number of persons for operating the plant is more than that of
nuclear plants. This increases operation cost.
(10)For large units, the capital cost is more. Initial expenditure on
structural materials, piping, storage mechanism is more.
Selection of site for thermal power plants:
The selection of site for a thermal power is more difficult as it involves
number of factors to be considered for its economic operation. These
factors are given below:
(1) Availability of coal:

The major source of energy for thermal power plant is coal. A

thermal power plant of 400 MW capacities requires nearly 6000 tons
of coal every day. Hence the power plant should be installed near the
coal mines. In this case, the generated power must be transmitted to
long distances. The location is selected such that it gives the lowest
cost considering coal transport charges and power transmission
charges.
(2) Ash disposal facilities:

Ash removal is a major problem in steam power. Ash comes out in

hot condition and hence its handling is gift. The ash can be disposed
into sea or river. Nowadays this ash is used for certain industrial
processes.
(3) Space requirements:

Large plants in big cities and near load centres are not economical
as the land cost may be very high. The average land requirement is
about 5 acres per MW capacity of power plant. The space includes
the space required for coal storage, ash disposal, staff colony, market
facilities etc.
(4) Water availability:

Water is required in large quantity for feed water to the boiler, for
condenser, for ash disposal and drinking water to the staff. Therefore
the power plant should be located near the water source which can
be able to meet the above requirements.
(5) Transport facilities:

Railway lines or other mode of transport should be available

for bringing heavy machineries for installation and for bringing
coal.
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4.33
(6) Public problems:

The site of plant should be far away from the towns to avoid the
nuisance from smoke, fly-ash, heat discharged and noise.
(7) Nature of land:

There are many cases where the power plants have failed due to weak
foundations. Hence, the selected plant should have good bearing
capacity to withstand dead load of the plant and forces transferred
to the foundation due to the machine operation.
Air pollution by thermal power plants:
Air pollution by thermal power plants (using coal, oil or gas as fuel)
causes various respiratory diseases and lung cancer to the human beings.
It also causes damage to the crops.
Pollutants:
The main pollutions form the thermal power plants are sulphur di-oxide
(SO2), carbon di-oxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), minute particles
such as fly ash, carbon particles, silica, alumina and ion oxides
8/1/2012 4:29:27 PM

NOV/DEC 2007
Seventh Semester
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. What do you understand by combined power cycles?
2. State the advantages of gas turbine power plants.
3. What are super critical boilers?
4. Why reheaters and regenerators are used in power plants?
5. What is meant by ever feed and under feed principles of coal firing?
6. How is the ash produced important in the selection of thermal power
plant site?
7. What do you understand by the term equivalent evaporation?
8. Define maximum demand and load factor.
9. List down the different types of nuclear reactors commonly used in
power plants.
10. What are fast breeder reactors?
11. (a) Draw the layout of a coal based thermal power station of 200MW
capacity showing all necessary components and its function.
Or
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4.35
(b) (i) Discuss the factors those go in the favour of nuclear power plant
as compared to other types of power plants.
(ii) Give the layout of a diesel power plant showing clearly all the
components.
12. (a) (i) Draw a neat sketch of a Volex boiler and discuss its merits and
demerits over Benson boiler.
(ii) Explain the working principle of a fluidized be a combustion
system with a neat sketch.
Or
(b) Sketch and explain the two pool tidal power plant.
13. (a) (i) Explain different types of draught and give neat sketch for
anyone of them.
(ii) Explain the advantages of pulverized coal burning.
Or
(b) (i) Discuss the principle used in forced and induced draught.
Why balanced draught is preferred over forced or induced
draught?
(ii) Explain the principle of operation of an ESP with a neat sketch.
14. (a) (i) Describe, with a help of neat sketch, the working of a solar
thermal receiver system plant and enumerate the advantage and
disadvantage of concentrating collectors over flat collectors.
(ii) Describe the advantages and limitations of MHD power plant.
Or
(b) (i) A central power station has annual factors as follows:

Load factor = 60%
Capacity factor = 40%
Use factor = 45%

The power station has a maximum demand of 15000kW.
Determine the annual energy production, reserve capacity over
and above peak load and hours per year not in service.
(ii) The annual peak load on a 30MW power station is 25MW.
The power station supplies load having maximum demands of
10MW, 8.5MW, 5MW and 4.5MW. The annual load factor
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4.36
is 45%. Find the average load, energy supplied per year, diversity
factor and demand factor.
15. (a) (i) With a neat sketch indicate the function of various parts of a
nuclear reactor.
(ii) What are the different components of a nuclear power plant?
Explain the working of a nuclear power plant.
Or
(b) (i) Explain the principle of operation of a gas cooled reactor with a
neat sketch.
(ii) Draw a schematic of MHD generator and explain its working
principle.
8/1/2012 4:04:01 PM
Solutions
PART A
1. The maximum steam temperature in a power plant cycle exceeds 600C,
but the furnace temperature is about 1300C. So, there is a lot of energy
wasted in the power plant.
To increase the efficiency and reduce the fuel, the combined power
cycles are introduced.
Example:
Gas turbinesteam power plant
Nuclearsteam power plant
MHDgas turbine power plant
2. Advantages of gas turbine power plant
Smaller in size and weight
Less vibration
No stand by losses
It can be started quickly
Less water compare to steam power plant
Exhaust gas is free from smoke
3. Super critical boiler
Water and steam is heated above its critical saturation temperature of
374.15C, dry saturated steam is produced directly from liquid phase
to its gaseous phase without coming into its intermediate two phase
mixture. Such boilers are called super critical boilers.
4. The reheat and regenerators are used to increase the overall efficiency of
the power plant.
5. The coal is fed on to the grate above the point of air admission is called
overfeed stokers.
The coal is fed on to the grate below the point of air admission is called
underfeed strokers.
6. Huge amount of hot ash comes out of the coal based thermal power
plants which is hazardous to the human and plant life. Therefore, there
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4.38
must be sufficient space and facilities available to dispose of large

quantity of ash.
7. Equivalent evaporation is defined as the evaporation which could be
obtained by supplying the feed water at 100C and converting it into
dry saturated steam at the same 100C under the standard atmospheric
pressure of 1.01325 bar. It is denoted by Me.

Me =
Ma( h hw )
kg/kg of fuel
2257
Ma = Actual evaporation (kg/kg of fuel)

h = Specific enthalpy of steam leaving the boiler (kg/kg)
h = hw or hg or hsup
hw = Specific enthalpy of feed water (kJ/kg).
8. Maximum demand
It is the load that is drawn from the source of supply at the receiving
terminals averaged over a suitable and specified interval of time is called
maximum demand.
Load factor
It is defined as the ratio of the average load to the peak load during a
certain prescribed period of time.

\ Load factor = Average load/maximum demand.
9. Nuclear reactors
PWRPressurized water reactors
BWRBoiling water reactors
CANDUCanadian deuterium uranium
FBRFast breede reactors
10. The process of producing energy to self sustain nuclear fission chain
reaction without using moderator is known as fest breeder reactor.
Enriched uranium (U235) or plutonium is used as fuels which are
surrounded by a thick blanket of fertile uranium (U238).
8/1/2012 4:04:02 PM
4.39
PART B
11. (a) Steam power plant
Introduction:
power plants.
Equipments of a steam power plant:
mechanical work.
Layout of steam power plant:
(1) Coal and ash circuit: This includes coal delivery, preparation,
coal handling, boiler furnace, ash handling and ash storage. The
coal from coal mines is delivered by ships, rail or by trucks to the
power station. This coal is received in coal storage yard of power
station. This coal is sized by crushers, breakers etc. The sized coal
is then stored in coal storage (stock yard). From the stock yard, the
coal is transferred to the boiler furnace by means of convertors,
elevators etc.
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4.40
Coal
unloading
Coal
Coal
preparation
Sized coal
Coal
storage
Ash
Ash
handler
Pre-heated air
F.D
fan
Air pre- Air
heater
Dust
collector
I.D. fan Chimney
Flue
Flue
Stream
Boiler Flue
drum
Transmission
Super
line
Preheater
S.H. stream
heated
water
Turbine
Generator
Economiser
Flue
Coal
handler
Atmospheric air
Ash
storage
Flue
Exhaust
steam
Condenser
Water
Feed water
pump
Hot
water
Cooling
tower
Cold water
Pump

Coal
delivery
Coal
unloding
Coal
preparation
Coal
transfer
Coal
storage
In plant
handing
Ash
storage
Ash
handling
Boiler
furnace
8/1/2012 4:04:03 PM
4.41

The steam raised in boiler is passed through a superheater. It
is superheated by the flue gases. The superheated steam is then
expanded in a turbine to do work. The turbine drives a generator to
produce electric power. The expanded (exhaust) steam is then passed
through the condenser. In the condenser, the steam is condensed into
water and recirculated. A line diagram of water and steam circuit is
shown separately in figure 3.
Steam
Super heater
S.H Steam
Turbine
Boiler
Exhaust
steam
Pre-heated
water
Economiser
Condenser
Condensate
Water
Condensate
pump
Water
Feed pump
Hot well

by the action of a forced draught fan. It is passed through an air preheater. The air is pre-heated by the flue gases in the pre-heater. This
pre-heated air is supplied to the furnace to aid the combustion of
fuel. Due to combustion of fuel, hot gases (flue gases) are formed.
8/1/2012 4:04:05 PM
Flue
Economiser
Flue
I.D.Fan
Dust
collector
Chimney
4.42
Flue
Super heater
Flue
Boiler
Air
Pre heated
air
Atmospheric air
F.D.Fan

The flue gases from the furnace pass over boiler tubes and superheater
tubes. (In boiler, wet steam is generated and in superheater the wet
steam is superheated by the flue gases). Then the flue gases pass
through economiser to heat the feed water. After that, it passes
through the air preheater to preheat the incoming air. It is then
passed through a dust catching device (dust collector). Finally, it is
exhausted to the atmosphere through chimney. A line diagram of air
and flue gas circuit is shown separately in figure 4.

Exhaust
steam
Condenser
Condensed
water
Cooling tower
Radial spray
Hot water
Make up
water
Cold water
Air
Pump

Thus the circulating water is heated. This hot water is then taken
to a cooling tower. In cooling tower, the water is sprayed in the
form of droplets through nozzles. The atmospheric air enters the
cooling tower from the openings provided at the bottom of the tower.
This air removes heat form water. Cooled water is collected in a
pond (known as cooling pond). This cold water is again circulated
8/1/2012 4:04:05 PM
4.43
through the pump, condenser and cooling tower. Thus the cycle is
repeated again and again. Some amount of water may be lost during
the circulation due to vapourisation etc. Hence, make up water is
added to the pond by means of a pump. This water is obtained from
a river or lake. A line diagram of cooling water circuit is shown in
figure 5 separately.
Merits (advantages) of thermal power plant:
(25 years).
plant.
plant.
centers.
De-merits (disadvantages) of thermal power plants:
(2)Starting up the plant and bringing into service takes more time.
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4.44
Selection of site for thermal power plants:

(1) Availability of coal:
charges.
(2) Ash disposal facilities:
processes.
(3) Space requirements:
facilities etc.
(4) Water availability:
(5) Transport facilities:
Railway lines or other mode of transport should be available for
bringing heavy machineries for installation and for bringing coal.
(6) Public problems:
(7) Nature of land:

8/1/2012 4:04:05 PM
4.45

causes various respiratory diseases and lung cancer to the human beings.
It also causes damage to the crops.
Pollutants:
The main pollutions form the thermal power plants are sulphur di-oxide
(SO2), carbon di-oxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), minute particles
such as fly ash, carbon particles, silica, alumina and ion oxides
11.(b)(i)Comparison between nuclear and conventional thermal
power plants
(1) Advantages of nuclear power plants over thermal power plants:
(i) For similar capacity plants, the space required is less.
(ii)Cost of fuel transportation, storage and handling is very less
since nuclear fuel requirements is much less compared to
coal.
(iii)It is more economical to operate, particularly in the areas
remote to coal field.
(iv) Ash handling problem is avoided.
(v) Number of persons needed for operation are less.
(vi) These are more reliable in operation.

(vii)The capital cost is low for large sized power plants and the
running cost is competitive.
(viii) It has better performance at high load factors.
(2) Disadvantages of nuclear power plants over thermal power

plants:
(i) These plants are not suitable for variable load requirements.
(ii)If radioactive wastes are not disposed of properly, it would
have bad effects both on human and plant life.
(iii)Maintenance cost is high.
(iv)It needs highly skilled labour and technicians for its operation.
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4.46
11.(b)(ii)
Air from atmosphere
Fuel day tank
Air filter
Surge tank
Silencer
Jacket
water
pump
Diesel
engine
Jacket water
Fuel filter FIP
Generator
Compressed
air bottle
Air
compressor
Fuel pump
Auxiliary
oil tank
Fuel filter
Lubrication
oil tank
Cooling
water
Oil
cooler
Oil
filter
Heat
exchanger
Fuel tank
Water pump
Figure 1 Schematic diagram of diesel power plant

The essential components of diesel power plant are:
(1) Diesel engine (2) Air intake system
(3) Exhaust system (4) Cooling water system
(5) Fuel supply system (6) Lubrication system
(7) Diesel engine starting system (8)Governing of engine
(not shown)
(1) Diesel engine and generator: Diesel engine is the main component
to develop mechanical power which is used to run a generator which
is directly coupled to the engine. Generator coverts the mechanical
energy into electric energy.
(2) Engine air intake system: Air is drawn by the engine through
a filter which removes the dust from air. The engine may also
have a supercharger (not shown) to increase the pressure of
intake air. Air intake system should not be located inside the plant
room.
(3) Exhaust system: The exhaust of the engine through is duct and the
silencer is discharged to atmosphere. Silencer is used to reduce the
noise.
8/1/2012 4:04:06 PM
4.47
(4) Cooling system: The system provides the circulation of cooling

water to the cylinder jacket to control the temperature of cylinder
within safe limits. System consists of surge tank, jacket water pump,
the heat exchanger and the cooling tower.
(5) Engine fuel system: From fuel tank, fuel is supplied to fuel day tank
through fuel filter and fuel pump. From the fuel day tank, the fuel
is injected to various engine cylinders by the fuel injection pump
(F.I.P) through a filter.
(6) Lubrication system: Lubrication system includes the lubricating
oil tank, pumps, filters and lubricating oil cooler. Lubrication is
essential to reduce the friction and wear of rubbing parts.
12. (a) (i)The mixture of water and steam passes into a separator which
is so designed that the mixture enters with a spiral flow. The separated
steam is further passed to superheater and then supplied to the prime
mover. The waster removed from steam in the separator is again passed
into the water tubes with the help of pump.
Advantages:
Very high combustion rates are possible as 3545 million kJ/m3 of
combustion chamber volume.
Low excess air is required as the pressurized air is used and the
problem of drought is simplified.
It is very compact generating unit and has greater flexibility.
It can be quickly started even though the separator has a storage
capacity of about 10% of the maximum hourly output.
Velox boiler:
When the gas velocity exceeds the sound velocity, the heat is
transferred from the gas at a much higher rate. The advantage of this
theory is taken to effect the large heat transfer from a smaller surface
area in this boiler.
Air is compressed to 2.5 bar with the help with the help of a compressor
run by gas turbine before supplying to the combustion chamber to
get the supersonic velocity of the gases passing through the
combustion chamber and gas tubes and high heat release rates (35 to
45 million kJ/m3).
8/1/2012 4:04:06 PM
4.48
Convection
super heater
Steam
Combustion chamber
Velox boiler
Steam
seperator
Feed
pump
CP
C
GT
Economiser
The burned gases in the combustion chamber are passed through the
annulus of the tube as shown in figure. The heat is transferred from
gases to water while passing thorough the annulus to generate the
steam.
1 2.(a)(ii)Fluidized bed combustion (FBC)
Principles:
When the gas is passed through a packed bed of finely divided solid
particles, it experiences the pressure drop across the bed. At low gas
velocities the pressure drop is very small and does not disturb the bed.
If the gas velocity is increased further the packed bed becomes fluidized
bed, at this stage the particles are suspended to the gas stream when the
gas flow is increased further the bed becomes turbulent and rapid mixing
of particles occurs. Burning of fuel in such a state in known as fluidized
bed combustion (FBC).
Combustion efficiency = c = 99.5%
Ash product = 2 to 3% of the bed volume.
Working:
Fuel and inert material (Dolomite) are fed on distributor bed.
High velocity air keeps the solid particles in suspended condition
during burning.
During burning, SO2 formed, it is absorbed by the dolomite and
prevents its escape to the exhaust gases.
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4.49
The molten slag is trapped from the top surface of the bed.
Heat released by the combustion is first used in keeping at the
temperature of the inert (Dolomite) and balance is absorbed by the
heat transfer surfaces.
The amount of coal is only percentage of bed material (2% of coal),
so the combustion is completed.
Bed operates at 800C to 900C and combustion efficiency = c =
99.5%.
Advantages:
Can be use solid, liquid gaseous fuels, domestic and industrial wastes.
Any variety of coal irrespective of rank.
Easy switch over to one type of fuel another type of fuel.
High combustion intensity can be achieved.
Heat release rate 3mJ/m2s at atmospheric pressure.
15 to 20% saving in construction cost.
Saves 5% of the tube requirements.
High ash containing coal can be efficiently burnt.
Combustion can be controlled (700C to 900C).
Does not require pulverization.
An alkali compound does not occur at this temperature, so that carbon
deposition of tubes is minimized.
Steam
Distributed
plate
Fluidised bed combustion(FBC)
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4.50
12. (b)The two pool tidal system is one that is much less dependent on
tidal fluctuation but at the expense of more complex and hence more
divided into a high pool and a low pool by dam B. By proper gating
in dam A the high pool gets periodically filled at high tide form the
ocean and the low pool gets periodically emptied at low tide. Water flows
from the high to the low pool through the turbines that are situated in
dam B.
High pool
DAM B
DAM A
Water flows
Low pool
13. (a) (i) Draught System

Natural draught: It is causes by the density difference between the
Advantages:
It prevents the contaminations and maintains the cleanliness.
Forced draught:
A blower is installed near the base of the boiler and air is forced to
pass through the furnace. The pressure throughout the system is above
atmospheric pressure and air is forced to flow the system. The forced
draught fans are handled cold air. So, the maintenance cost is very
less.
8/1/2012 4:04:07 PM
4.51
Blower
Furnace
Grate
Boiler
To exhaust
Stack or
chimney
Furnace
Economiser
Grate
Blower
Air
preheater
Air in

Boiler
To exhaust
Blower
Stack or
chimney
Furnace
Economiser
Grate
Air
preheater
Induced draught: The fan is located near the base of the chimney. It
sucks the burnt gases from the furnace and pressure inside the furnace is
8/1/2012 4:04:07 PM
4.52
reduced to below atmospheric pressure. Induced draughts fans handled

hot combustion gases. The power requirement is greater that the forced
draught fans.
Power input =

W f (1 + A /F )U g PID
h ID

A/F Air fuel ratio



Balanced draught: it is the combination of induced and forced draught
systems. The forced draught us used to force the air through the bed and
induced draught is used to suck the gases from the boiler and discharges
Advantages of mechanical draught over natural draught:
Draught pressure can be easily changed.
Rate of combustion is high.
Low-grade fuel can be used in combustion chamber.
It is independent of atmospheric pressure.
The efficiency of artificial draught is nearly7% but in natural draught
is1%.
Height of the chimney is reduced.
Fuel consumption is less(about 15% less than natural draught)
It prevents the formation of smoke inside the furnace.
Fuel burning capacity is high.
Overall thermal efficiency of the plant is increased.
13. (a) (ii) The pulverized air-fuel mixture is transferred to separator where
large dust particles are separated and returned back to the mill. Fine dust
particles form separator passes into cyclone where the dust particles are
separated from air. The fine dust particles form cyclone falls into dust
bin from where it is supplied to burner along with the hot air drawn by
fan. Secondary hot air is also applied to the burner through air ducts as
shown in figure. The fuel burns in presence of air in the furnace at a very
high combustion efficiency.
8/1/2012 4:04:08 PM
4.53
Advantages of pulverized coal system

(1) Any type of coal can be used since it is used powdered form.
(2)Combustion is almost complete, therefore it has high combustion
efficiency and high rate of steam generation. It can generate upto
2000 tons of steam per hour.
(3)Greater surface area of coal per unit mass allows faster combustion.
It also reduces the air requirement.
(4) Response to variation in load is fast.
(5) It has smokeless operation.
(6) It is free from clinker and slag formation.
(7) It has no standby losses due to banked fires.
(8) System can work with slurry or emulsion type of fuels.
(9)
There are no moving parts in the furnace subjected to high
temperatures, therefore the life of system is high.
(10) It has no ash handling problem.
(11) External surfaces are free from corrosion.
(12)It can use highly preheated air up to 340C which helps for rapid
flame propagation.
(13) Furnace volume required is considerably less.
13.(b)(i)Induced draught: The fan is located near the base of the
chimney. It sucks the burnt gases from the furnace and pressure inside
the furnace is reduced to below atmospheric pressure. Induced draught
fans handled hot combustion gases. The power requirement is greater
than the forced draught fans.
W f (1 + A F )U g PID
Power input =

h ID
A/F Air fuel ratio



Balanced draught: It is the combination of induced and forced draught
systems. The forced draught is used to force the air through the bed and
induced draught is used to suck the gases form the boiler and discharges
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4.54
Blower
Furnace
Grate
Draught system
Natural draught: It is caused by the density difference between the
Boiler
To exhaust
Stack or
chimney
Furnace
Economiser
Blower
Grate
Air in
Air
preheater
Advantages:
It prevents the contaminations and maintains the cleanliness
8/1/2012 4:04:08 PM
4.55
Forced draught: A blower is installed near the base of the boiler and
air is forced to pass through the furnace. The pressure through out the
system is above atmospheric pressure and air is forced to flow through
the system. The forced draught fans are handled cold air. So, the
maintenance cost is very less.
Boiler
To exhaust
Blower
Stack or
chimney
Furnace
Economiser
Grate
Air
preheater
13. (b) (ii) ESP Electrostatic precipitators

The electrostatic precipitators are extensively used in removal of fly ash
from electric utility boiler emissions. The use of this collector is growing
rapidly because of the new strict air quality codes.
The dust laden gas is passed between oppositely charged conductors
and it becomes ionised as the voltage applied between the conductors
is sufficiently large (30,000 to 60000 volts depends on electrode
spacing). As the dust laden gas is passed through these highly charged
electrodes, both negative and +ve ions are formed the latter being as high
as 80%. The ionised gas is further passed through the collecting unit
which consists of a set of vertical metal plates. Alternate plates are +ve
charged and earthed. As the alternate plates are grounded, high intensity
electrostatic field exerts a force on +vely charged dust particles and
drives then towards the grounded plates. The deposited dust particles are
removed from the plates by giving the shaking motion to the plates with
the help of cams driven by external means. The dust removed from the
plates with the help of shaking motion is collected in the dust hoppers.
Care should be taken that the dust collected in the hopper should not be
entranced in the clean gas.
8/1/2012 4:04:08 PM
4.56
Advantages:
More effective to remove very small particles like smoke, mist and
fly ash.
It efficiency is as high as 99.5%.
Draught loss is less.
Maintenance cost is low, easy operation.
Dust removed by means of dry or wet.
14. (a) (i) Most techniques for generating electricity form heat need high
temperatures to achieve reasonable efficiencies. The output temperature
of non-concentrating solar collectors are limited to temperature below
200C. Therefore, concentrating systems must to used to produce higher
temperatures. Due to their high costs, lenses and burning glasses are
used, including reflecting concentrators.
The reflector, which concentrates the sunlight to a focal line or focal
point, has a parabolic shape; such a reflector must always be tracked.
In general terms, a distinction can be made between one-axis and twoaxis tracking: one-axis tracking systems concentrate the sunlight onto
an absorber tube in the focal line, while two-axis tracking systems do so
onto a relatively small absorber surface near the focal point.
a
Absorber
tube
Reflector
Absorber
tube Reflector
Radiation from the sun
Reflected radiation
Absorber
Abosrber
Reflector
Reflectors
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4.57
The theoretical maximum concentration factor is 46,211. It is finite

because the sun is not really a point radiation source. The maximum
theoretical concentration temperature that can be achieved is the suns
surface temperature of 5500C; if the concentration ratio is lower, the
maximum achievable temperature decreases. However, real systems do
not reach these theoretical maxima. This is because, on the one hand,
it is not possible to build an absolutely exact system, and on the other,
the technical systems which transport heat to the user also reduce the
receiver temperature. If the heat transfer process stops, though, the
receiver can reach critically high temperatures.
Concentrating collectors on the other hand can only concentrate direct
(beam) solar irradiance and therefore the appropriate irradiance term is
direct (beam) normal solar irradiance, reduced by the cosine of the angle
of incidence. For two-axis tracking collectors, the angle of incidence is
zero.
Flat-plate collectors
Since flat-plate collectors (both thermal and photovoltaic) are capable of
absorbing both direct (beam) and diffuse solar irradiance, the appropriate
aperture irradiance is the global (total) irradiance falling on the collector
aperture.
14. (a) (ii)The advantages of LMMHD include
The ability to tailor a system to any temperature range through the
choice of the working fluids, thus offering the potential to serve many
special needs at higher efficiencies that alternatives. Thus the concept
was originally proposed for space where a high radiator temperature
is essential for compact systems, and later modified for ground-based
applications. For example, both gas cycle and vapor cycle versions are
possible.

The almost-constant-temperature expansion of the working fluid
in accelerating or pumping the liquid, leading thermodynamically
to higher cycle efficiency. This corresponds to infinite reheat in a
conventional Rankine cycle.
The high electrical conductivity of the liquid metal (as compared to
the plasmas used in other MHD systems).
The disadvantage is the losses associated with pumping or accelerating
the liquid metal.(The pumping process, which can occur inside the
generator or in a separate nozzle, effectively replaces the turbines in a
conventional power plant.) These losses may show up as pump power,
increase pressure drop of the working fluid, etc.
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4.58
These are:
Mixer losses, pressure drops and poor mixing. In this cycle vaporization
of the liquid occurs partly or completely in the mixer.
Slip losses in the nozzle or generator, where the vapor moves faster
than the liquid.
Poor heart transfer between the two phases, impacting the desired
almost-constant-temperature expansion.
Separation losses of two types, friction on the impact surface, and
incomplete separation (some liquid goes with the vapor, some vapor
stays as bubbles in the liquid). These are significant because of the
impact on other components, such as extra heat loss in the reject heat
exchanger and the next item.
Diffuser losses in the liquid loop because of the vapor present.
14. (b) (i)
Average load
Maximum demand
Average load
0.6 =
16000
or, Average load = 9600 kW
Load factor =
Annual energy produced,

E = 9600 8760 (Since, 1 year = 8760 hrs)
= 840.96 105 kWh
Capacity factor =
0.4 =
Average demand per year

Rated capacity of plant Number of hours in a year
840.96 105
C 8760
Capacity of plant, C = 24000 kW

Reserve capacity over and above the peak load,
= (24000 16000) kW
= 8000 kW
E
840.86 105
;
0.45 =
Ct
24000 t
or, time period the plant is utilised,
Use factor =
= 7786.87 hours
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4.59
14. (b) (ii)

Load factor =
0.6 =
Average load
Maximum demand
Average load
30
Average load = 18 MW = 18 103 kW

Energy supplied per annum = 18 103 8760 kWh
= 157.68 103 kWh

Diversity factor =
=
Demand factor =
Plant capacity factor =
=
Sum of individual maximum demands

Simultaneous maximum demand
12 + 10 + 14
= 1.2
30
Maximum demand 30
=
= 0.6
50
Connected load
Average demand per year
Ratecapacity of plant time
157.68 106
= 0.36
(50 103 ) 8760
15.(a)(i)Elements of nuclear reactors

A nuclear reactor is similar to the furnace of a steam power plant or
combustion chamber of a gas turbine plant. Heat is produced in the
reactor due to nuclear fission and chain reaction. In other words, the
nuclear reactor is an apparatus in which controllable energy is produced
by nuclear chain reaction.
The following processes are performed in a nuclear reactor.
Thermal energy/heat energy is released.
Neutrons are produced with high velocity.
Radioactive fission fragments are produced.
Fissionable materials are produced.
The nuclear reactor consists of the following principle parts.
Core: The nuclear fission process takes place here.
Moderator: This reduces the speed of fast moving neutron.
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4.60
Control rods: They control the rate of energy generation.

Coolant: They remove/carry the heat generated.
Reflector: It prevents the loss of neutrons.
Biological shield/ Radiation shield: If protects the person from rotation
and radioactive fragments.
Reactor vessel: Housing for all components.
Core: The core consists of nuclear fuel, the neutron moderator and
the space for coolant. The nuclear fuel is an element or isotopes
whose nuclei undergoes nuclear fission by nuclear bombardment and
produce a fission chain reaction. Nuclear fuel used may U233, U235
and Pu239.
Moderator: It is the material which reduces the speed of fast moving
neutrons. During chain reaction, neutron moving with high velocity is
produced. Fast moving neutrons try to escape from the reactor without
causing fission of U235. Hence, their speed is reduced. This is done by
colliding them with the nuclei of other light material (moderator) which
does not capture the neutrons but scatter them. During collision the
kinetic energy is lost and speed of fast moving neutrons is reduced. The
slow neutrons thus produced are easily absorbed by the nuclear fuel and
chain reaction takes place smoothly.
Properties:
It must have high thermal conductivity.
It should be lighter since slowing down action is more effective in
elastic collision with light element.
It should slow down the neutrons but should not absorb.
It should have a good resistance to corrosion at high pressures and
temperatures.
Solid moderators should have good machinability and strength.
Solid moderators should have high melting point and liquid moderators
should have low melting point.
It should be stable and not decompose under heat and radiation.
It should be cheap and must be available in large quantities in pure
form.
Moderator materials: The light elements used as moderators with
natural uranium are graphite, heavy water (D2O) and beryllium. The
slowing down of neutrons can also be done by using light elements such
as hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon etc.
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4.61
Control rods
Coolant out
Pressure vessel
Neutron
detector
Moderator
Reflector
Fuel
Biological shield
Coolant in
Water (H2O): It is the cheapest material and also available in abundance.

This can be used as moderator in reactor which uses enriched uranium
as fuel.
Heavy water (D2O): It is the most effective moderator but it is very
costly. (Rs. 1000/- per kg)
Graphite does not react with other materials in the reactor and it can be
used at high temperature. Corrosion problem is reduced. But it becomes
brittle and harder due to radiation.
Beryllium is very good moderator. It has excellent chemical and
corrosion resistant properties. But it is not used in practice because its
cost is very high and also it is more toxic.
Control rods:
The control system is necessary in a nuclear power plant for the following
purposes.
To control the rate of fission.
To start the nuclear chain reaction when the reactor is started from cold.
To maintain the chain reaction at a steady state.
To shutdown the reactor under emergency conditions.
To prevent the melting of fuel rods, disintegration of coolant and
destruction of reaction since a large amount of energy is released.
The control of chain reaction is carried out by removing the fuel rod
or the neutron. It is easy to absorb neutrons. Absorbing of neutrons is
done by inserting neutron absorbing material rods known as control
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4.62
rods in the reactor core. The control rods must be able to absorb excess
neutrons. The position of these rods are regulated by electronic or electro
mechanical devices.
Control rod materials: The materials for control rods are boron,
cadmium, Hafnium.
Cadmium has high resistance to corrosion. But it cannot be used for high
temperature reactors because of rapid oxidation and low melting point.
Hafnium is most desirable for control rods. It has sufficient strength
and stability. It does not require any cladding to provide strength. It has
corrosion resistance.
Cooling system/coolant:
The coolants are used to carry away the heat produced inside the
reactor to the heat exchanger. From the heat exchanger, the heat is
transferred to another working medium for further utilization in the
power generation. The coolant is circulated through the reactor core by
means of a coolant pump.
Properties
It should be able to carry a large amount of heat
It should not absorb the neutrons.
It should be non-corrosive and non-toxic.
It should not decompose due to nuclear radiation and it must have high
chemical stability.
Liquid coolants should have high boiling point and solid coolant
should have low melting point.
Coolant Materials: The various fluids used as coolant are water (light
and heavy water), gases (Helium, Carbon dioxide, Hydrogen), liquid
metals such sodium and organic liquid.
Reflector: The neutron produced by fission process is absorbed by fuel
rods, moderator, coolant or the surrounding construction. Some neutrons
may escape from the reactor core without absorption. This is a loss and
should be eliminated. This is loss can be minimized by surrounding
the reactor core with a material called reflector. The reflector material
reflects the escaping neutrons back into the core. The reflected neutrons
cause more fission and improve the neutron economy of the reactor.
Properties:
It should not absorb neutrons.
It should have high reflection for neutrons.
It should not oxidize and should be chemically stable.
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4.63
Materials: The materials used for reflector is same as the materials used
for moderators. Water, Carbon, Graphite, Beryllium are generally used
as reflectors.
Biological shield/radiation shield: The reactor produce intense
radioactivity and these radiations are very harmful to the human life.
The common radiations from the reactors are alpha rays, beta rays,
gamma rays and fast moving neutrons. These radiations must be absorbed
before emitted to atmosphere. Thick layer of lead concrete or steel are
provided all around the reactor. These layers absorb the gamma rays,
neutrons.
Properties:
It should absorb alpha, beta and gamma radiations efficiently.
It should have uniform density.
It should not be decomposed by radiation.
It should be fire resistant.
Materials: Concrete and steel are used as shielding material.
15. (a) (ii) Layout of a nuclear power plant
The main components of a nuclear power plant are shown in figure. It
consists of nuclear reactor, heat exchanger (steam generator), turbine,
electric generator, condenser and pumps for circulating, feed water and
coolant.
Hot coolant
Steam
Steam
generator
Core
Concreate
shielding
Turbine
Generator
Condenser
Thermal
shielding
Water
Coolant
pump
Feed
pump
Cooling
Water
Figure Nuclear power plant
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4.64
Working of the plant: The reactor of a nuclear power plant is similar to

the furnace of a steam power plant. Here, a large amount of heat energy
is produced by the nuclear fission of the fuel. The heat liberated is carried
by the coolant circulating through the reactor core. The hot coolant then
flows through the tubes of steam generator. The steam generator is a boiler
where the hot coolant transfer its heat to the feed water producing work
is done by the expansion of steam in the turbine and generator coupled
to the turbine produces power. The exhaust steam leaves the turbine and
flows to the condenser. A coolant pump is provided to circulate coolant
and a feed pump is provided to circulate feed water in the plant.
15. (b) (i)Gas cooled and advanced gas cooled reactors
The gas cooled reactor was one of the original designs. In the gas cooled
reactor (GCR), the moderator is graphite. Inert gas, e.g. helium or carbon
dioxide, is used as the coolant. The advantage of the design is that the
coolant can be heated to higher temperatures than water. As a result,
higher plant efficiency (40% or more) could be obtained compared to the
water cooled design (3334%).
In the United States, gulf general atomics was the proponent of
this design. Public service of colorado (now Xcel Energy) built the fort
saint vrain facility north of denver. The NRC has also written NUREG/
CR-6839, fort saint vrain gas cooled reactor operational experience that
provides a history of the operation of the facility. Currently, there is little
movement toward the gas cooled design in the US or elsewhere.
In the United Kingdom, the government was the proponent that
developed, constructed, and operated a number of gas cooled reactors.
The older design used carbon dioxide gas circulating through the core
at a pressure of ~1.6 MPa or 230 pounds per square inch to remove the
heat from the fuel elements. The fuel consists of natural uranium metal
clad with an alloy of magnesium known as magnox (thus the name for
the reactor type).
The newer advanced gas cooled (AGR) reactors use a slightly enriched
uranium dioxide clad with stainless steel. Carbon dioxide is the coolant
gas used.
Two key advantages of this design are:
Higher operating temperature with a higher thermal efficiency.
Not susceptible to accidents of the type possible with water cooled/
moderated reactors.
The gas cooled reactor or advanced gas reactor cycle is illustrated in the
simple sketch below:
8/1/2012 4:04:10 PM
Steel-lined concrete
pressure vessel
(biological shield)
4.65
Electricity to grid
Control rods
Steam
Electricity
generator
Boiler
Warm water
Cool water
CO2
coolant
Pump
Water
Pump
Graphite
Fuel
moderator assemblies
Sea
Gas circulator
15. (b) (ii) Layout of magneto hydro dynamic (MHD) generator

Introduction:
MHD generator is a highly efficient heat engine which directly converts
thermal energy into electricity. The conventional power stations are
having the efficiency of only 45%. By using the MHD generator, we
are able to get the efficiency about 60%. MHD power generation seems
to be the most promising for a utility system. The maximum limiting
temperature for turbine blades is being 750800C. It is capable of
tapping the vast potential offered by modern furnaces. The initial cost of
setting up of an M.H.D power plant is anticipated to be slightly higher
than the thermal power station.
Principle of MHD power generation
S
z
x
Figure 1 MHD generator
8/1/2012 4:04:11 PM
4.66
The principle of MHD generator is based on Faradays law of

electromagnetic induction. It states that a changing magnetic field
induces an electric field in any conductor located in it. The conductor
may be a solid, liquid or gas. In an MHD generator, the hot ionized gas
replaces the copper windings of an alternator. The concepts of MHD
generation depend much more on the conductivity of the gas. The
conductivity of the gas is a function of temperature. A MHD generator
requires a suitable working fluid which is electrical conducting. The
working fluid is partially ionized gas. When an ionized gas flows across
the lines of magnetic field, a voltage is induced. This method of power
generation will reduce environmental pollution.
Working Principle
The various components of MHD generator are shown in figure 2.
The hot ionized gas passes between the poles of an electro magnet and
induces a potential difference between the two electrodes.
The ionized gas has high temperature and pressure after passing through
MHD generator. After passing through the MHD generator, the ionized gas
is passed through a generator where energy is added and it is recirculated
in the MHD generator. The simple MHD plant is shown in figure 2.
Heat supplied
Heater
Compressor
Power
terminal
MHD
generator
Cooler
Figure 2 Simple MHD power plant

The combined MHD steam power plant is shown in figure 3. It is either
in an open cycle or in a closed cycle. If the gas is entering the MHD
duct at about 3000C, it could be expanded to ambient temperature and
the h would have reached 90%. But MHD power output is restricted to
temperature fall of 2000C because of very low electrical conductivity.
So, the MHD exhausted at about 2000C is utilized in raising steam to
drive turbine and generates power.
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4.67
Air 1
Magnetic field
(3 to 5 telsa)
Hot air(1200C)
4
Combustor
5
Compressor
LTAPH 2
150 180C
Fuel
Seed
Exhaust
gases
to stack
MHD
duct
6
7
HTAPH
SH
Eva
Eco
9
Seed
recovery
unit
Inverter
e
Steam a
turbine
Generator
b
Cold
Hot
water in water out
Pump
ttw
Feed water
heaters
5
3 4
2s 2
9 8
1
d
6
7 6sa
e
c
0
S
Figure 3 An open cycle MHD steam power generation

Open cycle MHD:
In open cycle MHD, the products of combustion with preheated air
are seeded with 1% potassium and it is entered in the MHD duct at
about 25003000K where some part of internal energy is converted to
electricity. The exhaust form the MHD duct is used to preheat the steam
and air.
Closed cycle MHD:
In closed cycle, helium (or organ) gas is seeded with cesium and it is
heated in a nuclear reactor and then it is passed into the MHD duct. After
that, it is passed into the steam generating system.
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4.68
The duct wall material used in MHD generator is strontium zirconate,

magnesium oxide, and hafnia. The Tungsten or Carbon electrodes are
used.
The development of MHD is based on fuels like Kerosene, benzene,
natural gas, toluene, fuel oil etc. Coal is a better fuel than others.
Advantages of MHD generator:
(1) High efficiency when compared to other power plants.
(2) Fuel economy.
(3) Eliminating the link process of producing mechanical energy via
steam.
(4) It is capable of tapping the vast potential offered by modern furnaces.
(5) Power and steam can be combinedly produced.
(6) The exhaust form the MHD is used to preheat the air.
(7) There is no need or feed water heaters and water heaters in the steam
cycle.
MHD duct
4
Helium
Steam
Nuclear
reactor
Topping
cycle
Compressor
Steam
generator
Eco Eva SH
Bottoming
cycle
d
Helium
Cooler
a
Steam
turbine
Generator
b
Pump
Condenser
5
3
4
a
2
1
d
c
b
S
Figure 4 Closed cycle MHD steam power plant
8/1/2012 4:04:12 PM

Solved Model Question Paper
Seventh Semester
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. Explain the function of nuclear reactor?
2. State the advantages of gas turbine power plants.
3. What is the difference between open cycle and closed cycle gas turbine
plant?
4. Why preheaters and regenerators are used in power plants?
5. What are the micro hydel plants? Why are they important nowadays?
6. State the advantage and disadvantage of pulverized coal firing.
7. List down the different types of nuclear reactors commonly used in
power plants.
8. What are fast breeder reactors?
9. What is the use of load curves in power plant?
10. What is meant by ever feed and under feed principles of coal firing?
11. (a) Draw the layout of combined cycle power plant and explain its
working with the help of T s diagram.
Or
(b) Sketch and explain the working of bubbling fluidized bed boiler.
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4.70
12. (a) Draw the layout of a coal based thermal power station of 200MW
capacity showing all necessary components and its function.
Or
(b) Explain the principle of operation of an ESP with a neat sketch.
13. (a) Describe different type of over feed strokers and discuss the merits
and demerits of each over others.
Or
(b) Draw a schematic of MHD generator and explain its working
principle.
14. (a) Sketch and explain the two pool tidal power plant.
Or
(b) Explain the principle of operation of a gas cooled reactor with a neat
sketch.
15. (a) Write a brief note on the principles of waste heat recovery.
Or
(b) (i) Sketch the layout of a diesel engine power plant.

(ii)What are the essential components of a diesel electric power
plant?
(iii) Write down the applications of diesel electric power plants.
8/1/2012 5:20:15 PM
Solutions
PART A
1. Nuclear reactor is produced heat due to nuclear fission and chain reaction.
In other words, the reactor is an apparatus in which controllable energy
is produced by nuclear chain reaction.
2. Advantages of gas turbine power plant
Smaller in size and weight.
Less vibration.
No stand by losses.
It can be started quickly.
Les water compare to steam power plant.
Exhaust gas is free from smoke.
3.
Open cycle
Closed cycle
1.
No pre cooler is required Separate pre cooler arrangebecause of burned gas from ment is necessary.
gas turbine exhausted to
atmosphere.
2.The size and weight are less for Size and weight are more.
same power developed.
3.
Initial cost and maintenance Initial and maintenance cost
cost is less.
is more.
4.Combustion efficiency is more. Combustion efficiency is less.
4. The reheat and regenerators are used to increase the overall efficiency of
the power plant.
5. Micro-hydel plants makes use of standardized bulb sets with unit output
ranging from 100 to 1000kW working under heads between 1.5m to
10meter.
6. Advantages
Low grade coal can also be used.
Free form clinker troubles.
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4.72
High rate of combustion so increases the thermal efficiency.

Require less percentage of excess air.
Disadvantages
Lot of fly ash in the exhaust which makes the removing of the dust
uneconomical.
The possibilities of explosion are more as coal burns like a gas.
High capital cost, and special equipment is needed to start this system.
7. Nuclear reactors
PER Pressurized water reactors
BWR Boiling water reactors
CANDU Canadian deuterium uranium
FBR Fast breede reactors
8. The process of producing energy to self-sustain nuclear fission chain
reaction without using moderator is known as fest bredder reactor.
Enriched uranium (U235) or plutonium is used as fuels which are
surrounded by a thick blanket of fertile uranium (U238).
9. It gives full information about the incoming load and helps to decide
the installed capacity of the power station. It is also useful to decide the
economical sizes of various generating units.
10. The coal is fed on to the grate above the point of air admission is called
overfeed stokers.
The coal is fed on to the grate below the point of air admission is called
underfeed strokes.
PART B
11. (a)A combined cycle power plant combines the Rankine cycle

(steam turbine) and Brayton cycle (gas turbine) thermodynamic cycles
by using waste heat recovery boilers to capture the energy in the gas
turbine exhaust gases for steam production to supply a steam turbine as
shown in the figure below.
Process steam can be also provided for industrial purposes.
Fossil fuel-fired (central) power plants use either steam or combustion
turbines to provide the mechanical power to electrical generators.
Pressurized high temperature steam or gas expands through various
stages of a turbine, transferring energy to the rotating turbine blades. The
turbines mechanically coupled to a generator, which produced electricity.
8/1/2012 5:20:15 PM
Power Plant Engineering (Solved Model Question Paper)
4.73
Cooling tower
Exhaust
Condenser
Electricity
Steam turbine
Steam
Water
pump
Fuel
Combustor
Heat recover
steam generator
Gas turbine
Electricity
Generator
Compressor
Turbine
Intake air
11. (b) Features of bubbling bed boiler
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4.74
Fluidized bed boiler can operate at near atmospheric or elevated pressure

and have these essential features:
D
istribution plate through which air is blown for fluidizing.
I mmersed steam-raising or water heating tubes which extract heat
directly from the bed.
T
ubes above the bed which extract heat from hot combustion gas
before it enters the flue duct.
The combustion gases pass over the super heater sections of the boiler,
flow past the economiser, the dust collectors and the air preheaters before
being exhausted to atmosphere. The main special feature of atmospheric
fluidized bed combustion is the constraint imposed by the relatively narrow
temperature range within which the bed must be operated. With coal, there is
risk of clinker formation in the bed if the temperature exceeds 950C and loss
of combustion efficiency if the temperature falls below 800C. For efficient
sulphur retention, the temperature should be in the range 800C to 850C.
12. (a) Introduction
power plants.
Equipments of a steam power plant
mechanical work.
Layout of steam power plant
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4.75

(1) Coal and ash circuit: This includes coal delivery, preparation, coal
handling, boiler furnace, ash handling and ash storage. The coal from
coal mines is delivered by ships, rail or by trucks to the power station.
This coal is received in coal storage yard of power station. This coal
is sized by crushers, breakers etc. The sized coal is then stored in coal
storage (stock yard). From the stock yard, the coal is transferred to the
boiler furnace by means of conveyors, elevators etc.
Coal
unloading
Coal
Coal
preparation
Sized coal
Coal
storage
Atmospheric air
F.D
fan
Air preAir
heater
Pre-heated air
Dust
collector
Flue
I.D. fan Chimney
Coal
handler
Ash
handler
Ash
storage
Boiler Flue
drum
Preheated
water
Economiser
Flue
Ash
Flue
Stream
Super
heater
Transmission
line
S.H. stream
Turbine
Flue
Generator
Exhaust
steam
Condenser Hot
Water
water
Feed water
pump
Cooling
tower
Cold water
Pump

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4.76
Coal
delivery
Coal
unloding
Coal
preparation
Coal
transfer
Coal
storage
In plant
handing
Ash
storage
Ash
handling
Boiler
furnace

Steam
Super heater
S.H Steam
Turbine
Boiler
Exhaust
steam
Pre-heated
water
Economiser
Condenser
Condensate
Water
Condensate
pump
Water
Feed pump
Hot well
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4.77
The steam raised in boiler is passed through a superheater. It

is superheated by the flue gases. The superheated steam is then
expanded in a turbine to do work. The turbine drives a generator to
produce electric power. The expanded (exhaust) steam is then passed
through the condenser. In the condenser, the steam is condensed into
water and recirculated. A line diagram of water and steam circuit is
shown separately in figure 3.
Flue
Economiser
Flue
I.D.Fan
Dust
collector
Chimney
by the action of a forced draught fan. It is passed through an air
pre-heater. The air is preheated by the flue gases in the pre-heater.
This pre-heated air is supplied to the furnace to aid the combustion
of fuel. Due to combustion of fuel, hot gases (flue gases) are
formed.
Flue
Super heater
Flue
Boiler
Pre heated
air
Air
Atmospheric air
F.D.Fan

The flue gases from the furnace pass over boiler tubes and superheater tubes. (In boiler, wet steam is generated and in superheater
the wet steam is superheated by the flue gases). Then the flue
gases pass through economiser to heat the feed water. After that,
it passes through the air preheater to preheat the incoming air. It
is then passed through a dust catching device (dust collector).
Finally, it is exhausted to the atmosphere through chimney.
A line diagram of air and flue gas circuit is shown separately in
figure 4.

8/1/2012 5:20:22 PM
4.78
Thus the circulating water is heated. This hot water is then taken to
a cooling tower. In cooling tower, the water is sprayed in the form
of droplets through nozzles. The atmospheric air enters the cooling
tower from the openings provided at the bottom of the tower. This
air removes heat form water. Cooled water is collected in a pond
(known as cooling pond). This cold water is again circulated through
the pump, condenser and cooling tower. Thus the cycle is repeated
again and again. Some amount of water may be lost during the
circulation due to vaporisation etc. Hence, make up water is added
to the pond by means of a pump. This water is obtained from a river
or lake. A line diagram of cooling water circuit is shown in figure 5
separately.
Exhaust
steam
Condenser
Condensed
water
Cooling tower
Radial spray
Hot water
Make up
water
Cold water
Air
Pump

Merits (advantages) of thermal power plant
(25 years).
plant.
plant.
centers.
8/1/2012 5:20:23 PM
4.79
De-merits (disadvantages) of thermal power plants


(2)
Starting up the plant and bringing into service takes more
time.
Selection of site for thermal power plants
(1) Availability of coal
charges.
(2) Ash disposal facilities
processes.
(3) Space requirements
facilities etc.
8/1/2012 5:20:23 PM
4.80
(4) Water availability

(5) Transport facilities
Railway lines or other mode of transport should be available
for bringing heavy machineries for installation and for bringing
coal.
(6) Public problems
(7) Nature of land

causes various respiratory diseases and lung cancer to the human
beings. It also causes damage to the crops.
Pollutants
The main pollutions form the thermal power plants are sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon di-oxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), minute
particles such as fly ash, carbon particles, silica, alumina and ion
oxides.
12. (b) ESP Electrostatic precipitators
The electrostatic precipitators are extensively used in removal of fly ash
from electric utility boiler emissions. The use of this collector is growing
rapidly because of the new strict air quality codes.
The dust laden gas is passed between oppositely charged conductors
and it becomes ionised as the voltage applied between the conductors
is sufficiently large (30,000 to 60000 volts depends on electrode
spacing). As the dust laden gas is passed through these highly charged
electrodes, both negative and +ve ions are formed the latter being as high
8/1/2012 5:20:23 PM
4.81
as 80%. The ionised gas is further passed through the collecting unit
which consists of a set of vertical metal plates. Alternate plates are +ve
charged and earthed. As the alternate plates are grounded, high intensity
electrostatic field exerts a force on +vely charged dust particles and
drives then towards the grounded plates. The deposited dust particles are
removed from the plates by giving the shaking motion to the plates with
the help of cams driven by external means. The dust removed from the
plates with the help of shaking motion is collected in the dust hoppers.
Care should be taken that the dust collected in the hopper should not be
entranced in the clean gas.
Advantages
more effective to remove very small particles like smoke, mist and fly ash.
it efficiency is as high as 99.5%.
draught loss is less.
maintenance cost is low, easy operation.
dust removed by means of dry or wet.
13. (a) There are three basic types of mechanical overfeed stokers: chaingrate stokers, traveling-grate stokers, and vibrating grate stokers.
fundamentally, chain- and traveling-grate stokers are similar except
for grate construction. In the chain-grate, the grate itself is a wide
chain composed of links. In the traveling grate, the grate sections
(bars or link) are attached to a separate chain. In either case the
chain travels over two sprockets, one at the front and one at the rear
of the furnace. These sprockets are equal in length to the width of the
furnace. The front sprocket is connected to a variable-speed driving
mechanism.
Chain- and traveling-grate stokers operate similarly. Coal gravity fed
onto the grate from a coal hopper mounted on the front of the stoker.
The depth of coal fed on the grate is regulated by raising and lowering a
sliding coal gate at the hopper coal discharge the coal burns as the grate
travels from one end of the furnace to the other. The ash is continuously
deposited off the rear of the grate into an ash pit.
Vibrating grate stokers operate similarly to chain-and traveling-grate
stokers. However, the vibrating stoker uses vibration and gravity to move
the coal-ash bed from coal feed to ash discharge. Coal that is gravity
fed from a coal hopper onto the grate passes underneath a gate that
controls the thickness of the coal bed on the grate. The grate is vibrated
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4.82
by a vibration and inclination of the grate causes the coal bed to move
through the furnace toward the ash pit.
Flexible plated divide the space beneath the combustion grate into
compartments. Individual supply ducts with dampers regulate air
distributing through the coal-ash bed. Overfire air jets on the front
wall promote mixing of volatile gases and air for more complete
combustion.
13. (b) Layout of Magneto Hydro Dynamic (MHD) generator
Introduction:MHD generator is a highly efficient heat engine which
directly converts thermal energy into electricity. The conventional
power stations are having the efficiency of only 45%. By using
the MHD generator, we are able to get the efficiency about 60%.
MHD power generation seems to be the most promising for a utility
system. The maximum limiting temperature for turbine blades is
being 750800C. It is capable of tapping the vast potential offered
by modern furnaces. The initial cost of setting up of an M.H.D power
plant is anticipated to be slightly higher than the thermal power
station.
Principle of MHD power generation
z
x
Figure 1 MHD generator

The principle of MHD generator is based on Faradays law of
electromagnetic induction. It states that a changing magnetic field
induces an electric field in any conductor located in it. The conductor
may be a solid, liquid or gas. In an MHD generator, the hot ionized gas
replaces the copper windings of an alternator. The concepts of MHD
generation depend much more on the conductivity of the gas. The
8/1/2012 5:20:23 PM
4.83
conductivity of the gas is a function of temperature. A MHD generator

requires a suitable working fluid which is electrical conducting. The
working fluid is partially ionized gas. When an ionized gas flows across
the lines of magnetic field, a voltage is induced. This method of power
generation will reduce environmental pollution.
Working principle
The various components of MHD generator are shown in
figure. The hot ionized gas passes between the poles of an electro
magnet and induces a potential difference between the two
electrodes.
Heat supplied
Heater
Compressor
Power
terminal
MHD
generator
Cooler
Figure 2 Simple MHD power plant

The ionized gas has high temperature and pressure after passing through
MHD generator. After passing through the MHD generator, the ionized
gas is passed through a generator where energy is added and it is
recirculated in the MHD generator. The simple MHD plant is shown in
figure.
The combined MHD steam power plant is shown in figure 1.6. It is either
in an open cycle or in a closed cycle. If the gas is entering the MHD
duct at about 3000C, it could be expanded to ambient temperature and
the h would have reached 90%. But MHD power output is restricted to
temperature fall of 2000C because of very low electrical conductivity.
So, the MHD exhausted at about 2000C is utilized in raising steam to
drive turbine and generates power.
8/1/2012 5:20:24 PM
4.84

Air 1
Magnetic field
(3 to 5 telsa)
Hot air(1200C)
4
Combustor
5
Compressor
LTAPH 2
150 180C
Fuel
Seed
Exhaust
gases
to stack
MHD
duct
6
7
HTAPH
SH
Eva
Eco
9
Seed
recovery
unit
Inverter
e
Steam a
turbine
Generator
b
Cold
Hot
water in water out
Pump
ttw
Feed water
heaters
5
3 4
2s 2
9 8
1
d
6
7 6sa
e
c
0
S
Figure 6 An open cycle MHD steam power generation

Open cycle MHD
In open cycle MHD, the products of combustion with preheated air
are seeded with 1% potassium and it is entered in the MHD duct at
about 25003000K where some part of internal energy is converted to
electricity. The exhaust form the MHD duct is used to preheat the steam
and air.
Closed cycle MHD
In closed cycle, helium (or organ) gas is seeded with cesium and it is
heated in a nuclear reactor and then it is passed into the MHD duct. After
that, it is passed into the steam generating system.
8/1/2012 5:20:25 PM
4.85
MHD duct
4
Helium
Steam
Nuclear
reactor
Topping
cycle
Compressor
Steam
generator
Eco Eva SH
Bottoming
cycle
d
Helium
Cooler
a
Steam
turbine
Generator
b
Pump
Condenser
5
3
4
a
2
1
d
c
b
S
Figure 7 Closed cycle MHD steam power plant

The duct wall material used in MHD generator is strontium zirconate,
magnesium oxide, and hafnia. The Tungsten or Carbon electrodes are
used.
The development of MHD is based on fuels like Kerosene, benzene,
natural gas, toluene, fuel oil etc. Coal is a better fuel than others.
Advantages of MHD generator
(1) High efficiency when compared to other power plants.
(2) Fuel economy.
(3) Eliminating the link process of producing mechanical energy via
steam.
(4) It is capable of tapping the vast potential offered by modern furnaces.
(5) Power and steam can be combinedly produced.
(6) The exhaust form the MHD is used to preheat the air.
(7) There is no need or feed water heaters and water heaters in the steam
cycle.
8/1/2012 5:20:26 PM
4.86
14. (a)The two pool tidal system is one that is much less dependent on
tidal fluctuation but at the expense of more complex and hence more
divided into a high pool and a low pool by dam B. By proper gating in
dam A the high pool gets periodically filled at high tide form the ocean
and the low pool gets periodically emptied at low tide. Water flows
from the high to the low pool through the turbines that are situated in
dam B.
The capacities of these two pools are large enough in relation to
the water flow between them that the fluctuations in the head are
minimized which results in continuous and much more uniform power
generation.
High pool
DAM B
DAM A
Water flows
Low pool
14. (b) Gas cooled & advanced gas cooled reactors

The gas cooled reactor was one of the original designs. In the gas cooled
reactor (GCR), the moderator is graphite. Inert gas, e.g. helium or carbon
dioxide, is used as the coolant. The advantage of the design is that the
coolant can be heated to higher temperatures than water. As a result,
higher plant efficiency (40% or more) could be obtained compared to the
water cooled design (3334%).
In the United States, gulf general atomics was the proponent of
this design. Public service of colorado (now Xcel Energy) built the fort
saint vrain facility north of denver. The NRC has also written NUREG/
CR-6839, fort saint vrain gas cooled reactor operational experience that
provides a history of the operation of the facility. Currently, there is little
movement toward the gas cooled design in the US or elsewhere.
In the United Kingdom, the government was the proponent that
developed, constructed, and operated a number of gas cooled reactors.
The older design used carbon dioxide gas circulating through the core
at a pressure of ~1.6 MPa or 230 pounds per square inch to remove the
heat from the fuel elements. The fuel consists of natural uranium metal
8/1/2012 5:20:26 PM
4.87
clad with an alloy of magnesium known as magnox (thus the name for
the reactor type).
The newer advanced gas cooled (AGR) reactors use a slightly enriched
uranium dioxide clad with stainless steel. Carbon dioxide is the coolant
gas used.
Two key advantages of this design are:
Higher operating temperature with a higher thermal efficiency.
N
ot susceptible to accidents of the type possible with water cooled/
moderated reactors.
The gas cooled reactor or advanced gas reactor cycle is illustrated in the
simple sketch below:
Steel-lined concrete
pressure vessel
(biological shield)
Electricity to grid
Control rods
Steam
Electricity
generator
Boiler
Warm water
Cool water
CO2
coolant
Graphite
Fuel
moderator assemblies
Water
Pump
Pump
Sea
Gas circulator
15. (a)Waste heat is heat, which is generated in a process by way of

fuel combustion or chemical reaction, and then dumped into the
environment even though it could still be reused for some useful and
economic purpose. The essential quality of heat is not the amount but
rather its valve. The strategy of how to recover this heat depends
in part on the temperature of the waste heat gases and the economics
involved.
Large quantity of hot flue gases is generated from Boilers, Ovens and
Furnaces. If some of this waste heat could be recovered, a considerable
amount of primary fuel could be saved. The energy lost in waste gases
8/1/2012 5:20:29 PM
4.88
cannot be fully recovered. However, much of the heat could be recovered

and loss minimized by adopting following measures as outlined in this
chapter.
Heat losses-quality
Depending upon the type of process, waste heat can be rejected at
virtually any temperature from that of chilled cooling water to high
temperature waste gases from an industrial furnace or kiln. Usually
higher the temperature, higher the quality and more cost effective is
the heat recovery. In any study of waste heat recovery, it is absolutely
necessary that there should be some use for the recovered heat. Typical
examples of use would be preheating of combustion air, space heating,
or pre-heating boiler feed water or process water. With high temperature
heat recovery, a cascade system of waste heat recovery may be practiced
to ensure that the maximum amount of heat is recovered at the highest
potential. An example of this technique of waste heat recovery would
be where the high temperature stage was used for air pre heating and
the low temperature stage used for process feed water heating or steam
raising.
Heat losses quantity
In any heat recovery situation it is essential to know the amount of heat
recoverable and also how it can be used. An example of the availability
of waste heat is given below:
H
eat recovery from heat treatment furnace
In a heat treatment furnace, the exhaust gases are leaving the furnace at
900C at the rate of 2100m3 /hour. The total heat recoverable at 180C
final exhaust can be calculated as
Q = V r CP T
Q is the heat content in kCal
V is the flow rate of the substance in m3/hour
r is density of the flue gas in kg/m3
CP is the specific heat of the substance in kCal/kg/C
T is the temperature difference in C
CP (Specific heat of flue gas) = 0.24kCal/kg/C
Heat available (Q) = 2100 1.19 0.24 (900180) = 4, 31, 827 kCal/hr
By installing a recuperate r, this heat can be recovered to pre-heat the
combustion air. The fuel savings would be 33% @1% fuel reduction for
every 22C reduction in temperature of flue gas.
8/1/2012 5:20:29 PM
4.89
15. (b) (i)

Air filter
Day tank
Design engine
Silencer
Fuel
injection
Filter pump
Air
compressor
Pump
Fuel storage tank
Lubricating
oil tank
Oil cooler
Oil
pump
Coolant
Filter
Starting
air tank
Jacket
water
pump
Cooling
tower
Heat
exchanger
Raw water
pump
Layout of diesel engine power plant

15. (b) (ii) The essential components of a diesel electric plant are:

Engine

Engine air intake system

Engine Fuel system

Engine exhaust system

Engine cooling system

Engine lubrication system

15. (b) (iii) Applications

Peak load plant

Mobile plants

Standby units

Emergency plants

Nursery station

Starting station

Central stations where capacity required is small (5 to 10mw)
Industrial concerns where power requirements is small by plants become
of 500kw, diesel power plants become more economical due to their
higher overall efficiency.
8/1/2012 5:20:29 PM

MAY/JUNE 2007
Seventh Semester
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. A diesel power plant is rated 30 MWe. Indicate the probable heat rate
and thermal efficiencies at full load.
2. What is an aeroderivative gas turbine power plant?
3. Indicate typical steam pressure and temperature of a 210 MWe rated coal
fueled thermal power plant.
4. Indicate the constituents of a typical FBC boiler bed.
5. Indian coals are inferior to imported coals. Elaborate.
6. Indicate the types of burners employed for pulverized coals in the
thermal power plants.
7. Name the major indices of performance of a power boiler.
8. Indicate the usefulness of a load curve of, say, an utility like TNEB.
9. Indicate the types of nuclear power plants that are operational in India
excluding the prototype units.
10. Indicate the two major nuclear power plant catastrophes the globe has
witnessed.
11. (a) (i) Discuss the construction and working of an energy efficient
modern C.I. engine power plant with an illustration.
8/1/2012 5:21:46 PM
4.91
(ii) If one such plant is rated 36MWe, give a typical sankey diagram
of energy balance for at full load.
Or
(b) (i) Give the schematic of a gas turbine and steam turbine combined
cycle power plant and discuss its features.

(ii) Give a brief note on integrated gasifier combined cycle plants

using coal fuel.
12. (a) (i) Give the schematic of a high pressure power boiler unit and
discuss its working features.

(ii) Briefly indicate how the criticalities of water as the working

fluid affect the performance of a thermal power plant.
Or
(b) (i) Depict a circulating fluidised bed boiler schematic and discuss
its working.

(ii) Indicate the merits of fluidisation of the boiler charge in power

plant systems.
13. (a) (i) Give a note on the following pollutants of a thermal power plant
and their control methodologies of NOx, SOx and CO2.

(ii) Briefly discuss about balanced draughting in steam power plant

systems.
Or
(b) (i) Discuss the organization of a typical coal milling system for the
210 MWe thermal power plant with an illustration.

(ii) Give a brief note on dry type cooling towers for power plant
applications.
14. (a) (i) Outline the scheme of feed water quality control and
maintenance in thermal power plants of size 220MWe and
higher with illustrations.

(ii) Indicates the major built-in safety regulations of a power plant

steam generator system and briefly discuss.
Or
(b) (i) The following data pertain to a power plant:

Load factor: 70%; capacity factor: 50%; use factor: 60%;
peak load 20MW.
8/1/2012 5:21:46 PM
4.92

Calculate the following quantities:

(1) Annual electricity generation

(2) The reserve capacity over and above the peak load

(3) The duration of the plant not in service.
(ii) Briefly explain about the working principle of Co2 recorders.
15. (a) (i) Discuss the features of a boiling water nuclear fission reactor
power plant with an illustration. Does India has such plants in
operation?
(ii) Indicate the status of nuclear power generation in India.
Or
(b) (i) Discuss the construction and working of a typical gas cooled
nuclear fission reactor power plant with an illustration indicating
the merits and demerits of a gas being used as the coolant.

(ii) What is a closed nuclear fuel cycle in nuclear power generation?
Briefly discuss.
8/1/2012 5:21:46 PM

Unsolved Model Question Paper
Seventh Semester
Time: Three hours
Maximum: 100 marks

1. What is meant by air standard cycle?
2. Define reheat system and regeneration system?
3. What is the function of surge tank in a hydro electric power plant?
4. Classify different types of turbine
5. List down the nuclear waste disposal methods.
6. What are the desired properties required for good moderator?
7. What are the function of control rods?
8. What are the performance parameters in I.C engines?
9. What are the commonly used fuel injection system in a diesel power
station?
10. What are the characteristics of solar central receiver system?
11. (a) Explain the steam power plant layout and its working principle?
Or
(b) Explain the reheat system and regeneration system of a thermal
power plant
8/1/2012 5:22:28 PM
4.94
12. (a) What are the different types of pumped storage power generation?
Explain its advantages and dis-advantages.
Or
(b) Sketch the lay out of hydro electric power plant and explain the
functions of each component in it. Discuss the advantages and
limitations of this power plant.
13. (a) Explain the working of a typical fast breeder nuclear reactor power
plant, with the help of a neat diagram.
Or
(b) Explain the principle of operation of fusion reactor.
14. (a) In a gas turbine unit air is drawn at 1.02 bar and 18C and is
compressed to 6.2 bar. Calculate the thermal efficiency and the work
ratio of the ideal constant pressure cycle, when the maximum cycle
temperature is limited to 900C
Or
(b) An ideal bray ton cycle operating with a pressure ratio of 8.25 and
the initial pressure and temperature of 1bar and 32C respectively.
The turbine and compressor efficiencies are 80% and 85%
respectively. Find the compressor and turbine work perKg of air,
heat supplied and the cycle efficiency.
15. (a) Explain the working principle of OTEC with its advantages and disadvantages.
Or
(b) Draw the layout of a MHD open cycle generator and explain its
functions of components.
8/1/2012 5:22:28 PM

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Semester-VII

B.E./B.Tech. DEGREE EXAMINATION,

Maximum: 100 marks

Answer ALL questions

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

9. What are the types of geo thermal power plants?

(ii) Describe the hydraulic ash handling system.

(b) Explain the principle of different types of electrostatic precipitator.

(b) Describe the classification of turbines used in hydro electric power

(ii) Explain the essential components of diesel electric power plants.

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

(b) Explain the analysis of a central receiver system.

(i) The tendency of scale formation is eliminated due to high velocity of

(ii) Due to use of forced circulation, there is more freedom in the

(iii) Efficiency of lower plant is increased upto 40 to 45%

2. Types of fluidized bed boilers:

h = Ratio of specific heats

4. (i) Low excess air requirement

(ii) Less fan power

(iii) Higher boiler efficiency

(iv) fast response to load changes

(v) Less pressure losses and draught need.

(ii) The fission process must liberate the energy

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

(iii) It must be possible to control the rate of energy liberation.

(ii) It provides more flexibility of operation due to multiple units.

(iii) Combined cycle power plant minimizes visual impact on the

9. Vapour dominated geothermal power plant. Liquid dominated geothermal

Petro thermal geothermal power plant Hybrid geothermal fossil fueled

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

Essential elements of a hydroelectric power plant

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

Flow sheet of a hydroelectric power plant

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

Combination of tunnel, flume and penstocks at a high head power plant

(a) Surge tank on ground level, (b) Inclined surge tank

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

(vi) Water circulation pumps

Types of high pressure boilers:

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

the feed pump is heated in the economizer on its way to the

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

Operation is easy and smooth

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

5. Working parts are not contact with ash.

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

Basic elements of an electrostatic precipitator

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

Vertical electrodes and grounded plates in an ESP showing four basic

Where A = area of the collector plate, m2,

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

Vmo = effective migration velocity of particles, m/s,

Arrangement of an electrostatic precipitator

Main components of a Nuclear Power Plant

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

Nuclear power plant

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

Main components of a Nuclear Reactor

Power Plant Engineering (Nov/Dec 2013)

B.E./B.Tech. Question Papers

(ii) Describe the hydraulic ash handling system.

(b) Explain the principle of different types of electrostatic precipitator.

(b) Describe the classification of turbines used in hydro electric power

(ii) Explain the essential components of diesel electric power plants.

(b) Explain the analysis of a central receiver system.

(i) The tendency of scale formation is eliminated due to high velocity of

(ii) Due to use of forced circulation, there is more freedom in the

(iii) Combined cycle power plant minimizes visual impact on the

(b) Medium head turbine (60m to 250m)turbine e.g. M o d e r n

5. The stipulation of a quick start and take-up of load