Lab Session 01

Power Plant
A power plant is basically an industrial location that is utilized for the
generation of electric power from the rotating component (that in most case is a
turbine) and the distribution of that electric power as well.
A power plant can be of several types depending mainly on the type of fuel
used. Since for the purpose of bulk power generation, only thermal, nuclear and
hydro power comes handy.
1. Thermal power plant
A thermal power station is a power plant in which heat energy is
converted to electric power. In most of the world the prime mover is steam
driven. Water is heated, turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which
drives an electrical generator.

2. Nuclear Power Plant

A nuclear power plant is a type of power station that generates
electricity using heat from nuclear reactions. These reactions take place
within a reactor. The plant also has machines which remove heat from the
reactor to operate a steam turbine and generator to make electricity.
Electricity made by nuclear power plants is called nuclear power.
Nuclear power plants use the heat generated from nuclear fission in a
contained environment to convert water to steam, which powers generators
to produce electricity.

3. Hydro Power Plant

A power station is where water flows though turbines using
hydropower to generate hydroelectricity. Power is captured from the
gravitational force of water falling through penstocks to water turbines
connected to generators. The amount of power available is a combination of
height and flow.

Power plants can also be classified on the basis of the fuels they use to
generate electricity. There are two type of fuels; Renewable and Non-renewable.

1. Renewable Fuels
Renewable fuels are those fuels that are naturally replenished during
the course of time. They include solar, wind, tidal, hydro, geo-thermal and
lots of other types.
2. Non-renewable fuels

Non-renewable fuels are those that cannot be replenished once they

are depleted. They are a fixed amount in the Earth. Some examples are fossil
fuels such as coal, natural gas, crude oil and nuclear or fissile fuels.

Energy Mix
To satisfy its energy needs, each country uses energy in different proportions
from different sources. The composition of all these different sources is termed
energy mix. While this composition varies from country to country, globally 80% of
the energy mix is fossil fuels.

Pakistans Energy Policy

In the 1960s, hydroelectric dams and thermal power plants were the main
source of energy
In 1970, nuclear power was introduced and started contributing to the
national grid
In 1980, the dependence on nuclear power grew
In 1994, Independent Power Producers were given the task of producing
energy
The energy mix at that time was 60% hydroelectric and 40% thermal and
nuclear. This mix was reversed from 60:40 to 30:70 in favor of imported fuel
for thermal power plants.
From 2008-2010, the dependence on imported oil increased
From 2010-2013, due to excessive load shedding, several rules were put into
play. Neon lights and signs were banned, markets were to be closed after 9
PM. The holidays were extended from 1 to 2 days.
The energy sector was privatized but the private companies failed and so the
energy sector was again nationalized

Renewable Energy Power Plants

Power plants can also generate electrical energy from renewable energy
sources
1. Solar
Solar energy can be turned into electricity either directly in solar cells,
or in a concentrating solar power plant by focusing the light to run a heat
engine.
A solar photovoltaic power plant converts sunlight into direct current
electricity using the photoelectric effect. Inverters change the direct current
into alternating current for connection to the electrical grid. This type of plant
does not use rotating machines for energy conversion.

Solar thermal power

plants are another type of
solar power plant. They use
either
parabolic
troughs
or heliostats to direct sunlight
onto a pipe containing a heat
transfer fluid, such as oil. The
heated oil is then used to boil
water into steam, which turns
a turbine that drives an
electrical
generator.
The
central tower type of solar
thermal power plant uses hundreds or thousands of mirrors, depending on
size, to direct sunlight onto a receiver on top of a tower. Again, the heat is
used to produce steam to turn turbines that drive electrical generators.
2. Wind
Wind turbines can be used
to generate electricity in areas
with
strong,
steady
winds,
sometimes
offshore. A wind
turbine is a device that converts
kinetic energy from the wind into
electrical power.

3. Marine

Marine energy refers to

the energy carried by ocean
waves, tides, salinity and ocean
temperature differences. The
movement of water in the
oceans creates a vast store
of kinetic energy, or energy in
motion. This energy can be harnessed
to generate electricity to power homes,
transport and industries.

worlds

4. Biomass
Biomass energy can be produced from combustion of waste green
material to heat water into steam and drive a steam turbine. A biomass-fired
power plant produces electricity and heat by burning biomass in a boiler. The
most common types of boilers are hot water boilers and steam boilers.
Bioenergy can also be processed through a range of temperatures and
pressures.

5. Geothermal
Geothermal power plants use steam produced from reservoirs of hot
water found a couple of miles or more below the Earth's surface. The water is
forced inside the earth surface near magma where the temperature is

relatively high. The water turns into steam and rush to the top due to greater
volume and less density. This steam is utilized to rotate turbine and generate
electric power.