Power plant, also referred to as the Power Station or Generating Station is an industrial facility to generate electric power. These stations are known to be connected to electrical grid. Most of the power stations are known to have one or more generators with three-phase electric power as well as a rotating machine. It needs to be noted and well understood that the relative motion between the conductor as well as the magnetic field creates electric current.
The power plants use different kinds of energy such as Hydro, Hydel, Lignite, Bio Gas, Gas Based, Coal, Solar and Wind Energy. The respective energy (that is used for the power plant) is harnessed to turn on the generator for the ultimate conversion into electric power. Many countries are now moving away from high-polluting fossil fuels towards low-carbon alternatives, and thus it is very important to understand as to how these power plants are operating in the constantly changing dynamics of working of the power plants.
As far as the Hydro power plant is concerned, hydroelectricity is produced by harnessing the gravitational force of flowing water. These plants are known to emit fewer greenhouse gases. However, it needs to be well understood that the construction of dams as well as hydroelectric power plants require huge investment. China alone is about one-thirds of global hydropower generator building new capacities with coming times. Besides these, there are coal fires, diesel fired as well as geothermal power plants which are known to produce good amount of electric power.
The solar power plants are known to convert energy from the sun into electrical or thermal energy using solar energy as the renewable energy. The costs involved in financing solar power plants are high and its installation requires much space. The different types of power stations are thus explained, which are – nuclear power plants, hydroelectric power plants, coal-fired power plants, diesel fired power plants, geothermal power plants, gas-fired power plants, solar power plants and wind power plants.
It needs to be noted and well understood that at the center of every power station is actually a generator and a rotating machine that is known to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy by using the magnetic field creating relative motions. The world’s biggest power stations are in U.S, France, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Canada and Ukraine. In India, the highest per capita consumption of power is in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Thus, it is very well understood that there are different sources of power generation and the most effective and renewable source should be utilized to harness power.
In India, NTPC is committed to generate power sustainably and responsibly. Power energy is produced through cleaner and greener sources using hydro and solar energy. In the Indian sector, NTPC occupies the premier position in terms of efficiency as well as size. Thus, we have been successfully been able to study different types of power plants that utilize different sources of energy for effective power production.
