Basic Components of a Steam Power Plant
Figure shows the basic components of a basic steam power plant Steam Figure.
The basic components and their function of a steam power plant are :
- Steam boiler : In the boiler, the fuel (coal or oil) is burnt in presence of air. The heat energy released due to combustion of fuel is utilized for conversion of feed water into steam.
- Steam turbine : The steam generated in the boiler is supplied to steam turbine where it expands adiabatically upto the condenser pressure or exhaust pressure or back pressure. It produces mechanical work wT which is further converted into electrical energy by the generator.
- Condenser : The exhaust steam from steam turbine is passed through a heat transfer device called condenser. The steam is condensed in the condenser by rejecting heat to cooling water circulated in the condenser. Condensed steam is called condensate.
- Feed pump : The feed pump increases the pressure of condensate upto boiler pressure on the expense of work done on the pump. Thus a thermodynamic cycle is completed.