Thermal Power Plant
A thermal power plant converts chemical energy in fuel into electrical energy through a chain of boiler, steam turbine, and generator stages.
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Energy conversion chain
Fuel is burned in a boiler to heat water into high-pressure steam. Steam drives a turbine, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy. The turbine drives a generator, which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
✔ Key takeaway: Thermal power plants convert fuel energy → heat → mechanical → electrical energy in stages.
Overall efficiency
Each stage has an efficiency less than 100%. The overall efficiency is the product of boiler, turbine, and generator efficiencies. Improving any stage reduces fuel consumption for the same electrical output.
✔ Key takeaway: Overall efficiency = product of stage efficiencies; losses at each stage add up.
Link to simulator: Use the thermal power plant simulator to see how changes in boiler, turbine, and generator efficiency affect overall efficiency.
💭 Think about this:
If each stage in a thermal plant is 80% efficient, what can you say about the overall efficiency?