L5 • Equipment of Thermal power plant • power plant engineering • PPE • 4TH SEMESTER
Equipment of Steam Power Plant/Thermal Power Plant
- Boiler
- Water tube boilers
- Fire tube boilers
- Boiler Furnace
- Plain refractory walls
- Hollow refrectory walls
- Water walls
- Superheater
- Radiant Superheater
- Convection Superheater
- Economiser
- Air Pre-heater
- Recuperative type
- Regenerative type
- Condenser
- Jet condenser
- Surface condenser
- Prime movers
- Impulse turbines
- Reactions turbines
- water treatment Plant
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- Boiler
A boiler is an important component that heats water and converts it into steam. It has two main types:
- Water Tube Boiler – In this type, water flows inside the tubes, and fire surrounds them from the outside. These are best for high pressure and efficiency.
- Fire Tube Boiler – In this type, fire passes through the tubes, heating the surrounding water. These are used for smaller capacity applications.
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- Boiler Furnace
A furnace is a combustion chamber where fuel (coal, oil, or gas) burns and generates heat. It has the following types:
- Plain Refractory Walls – Simple walls made of bricks or refractory material that absorb and radiate heat.
- Hollow Refractory Walls – These walls are hollow from the inside, providing better insulation.
- Water Walls – Water-cooled walls that absorb heat and increase the efficiency of the boiler.
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- Superheater
The function of a superheater is to increase the temperature of steam to improve its efficiency and power output. It has two main types:
- Radiant Superheater – It absorbs heat directly from the furnace radiation.
- Convection Superheater – It absorbs heat by coming into contact with hot gases.
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4. Economiser
An economiser is a heat exchanger that uses the heat from exhaust gases to preheat the feed water. This increases boiler efficiency and reduces fuel consumption.
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5. Air Pre-heater
An air pre-heater preheats the combustion air to improve fuel burning efficiency. It has two main types:
- Recuperative Type – It consists of steel pipes through which flue gases flow. Fresh air surrounds these pipes and absorbs heat from the flue gases.
- Regenerative Type – It has a drum divided into two sections: one side allows flue gases to flow, while the other side allows fresh air to pass. This facilitates heat exchange between them.
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6. Condenser
The function of a condenser is to condense the exhaust steam and convert it back into liquid so it can be reused. It has two types:
- Jet Condenser – In this type, steam and cooling water come into direct contact.
- Surface Condenser – In this type, steam and cooling water remain separate, providing better efficiency.
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7. Prime Movers
Prime movers are devices that convert steam energy into mechanical energy. There are two main types:
- Impulse Turbines – In this type, steam exits through high-velocity nozzles and impacts the turbine blades.
- Reaction Turbines – In this type, steam expands within the blades, generating a continuous force.
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8. Water Treatment Plant
Water purity is essential for a thermal power plant. A water treatment plant removes harmful impurities, reducing scaling, corrosion, and efficiency loss.
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