This document summarizes different types of electric power plants. It discusses conventional power plants such as nuclear, fossil fuel thermal, combined cycle, and hydroelectric plants. It also covers non-conventional power sources like wind, solar (photo-thermal and photovoltaic), geothermal, biomass thermal, and ocean power plants. Finally, it briefly describes an experimental wind turbine technology called Eole Water that extracts drinking water from humid air.
2. Index
1.Conventional electric power plant
Nuclear power plant
Fossil fuel thermal power plant
-Combined cycle power plant
Hydroelectric power plant
-Gravity-driven hydraulic power plant
-Pump-driven hydraulic power plant
3. Index
2.Non-conventional electric power plants
Wind power plants and wind farms
Solar power plants
-Photo-thermal power plants
-Photovoltaic power plants
Geothermal power plants
Biomass thermal power plants
Ocean power plants
4. 1. Conventional power plants
Nuclear energy:
Atomic energy offers a clean energy alternative that
frees us from the shackles of fossil fuel dependence,
but we have risk of succeed a disaster like in
Chernobyl or Japan.
5. 1. Conventional power plants
How does it works?
The break down of the atoms of energy minerals
produce a nuclear fission which releases a lot of heat.
Then, the heat transforms the water into high-pressure
steam which moves a turbine which is connected to a
generator that produces electricity with the rotational
movement.
6. 1.Conventional power plants
Thermal power plants, Functioning:
Fossil fuels are burned to produce heat that is used to
transform water into high-pressure steam in a boiler.
This water moves a turbine which is connected to a
generator which produces electricity.
7. Thermal power plant.
Combined cycle power
plant:
1. During the first cycle, we
use a gas turbine with
includes a compressor. Air
and gas is mixed and burned,
which generates electricity in
the turbine-alternator system.
2. The combustion gases are
transported to a boiler, where
they transfer their energy to
the water during the second
cycle.
8. 1. Conventional power plants
Hydroelectric power plants:
This type of power plant uses the potential energy
provided by the height of the stored water in the dam,
converting it into kinetic energy. This energy moves
the blades of the turbine.
-There are two types: Gravity and pump.
10. Pump-driven hydraulic power plants
Water descends into a reservoir located at a
lower height, then pumped to a higher reservoir
to reuse it.
11. 2. Non-conventional power plant
Wind power plants and wind farms:
It's a form of energy that doesn't pollute but it is
very expensive and right now it can't compete
with the other conventional energies.
12. 2. Non-conventional power plants
Photo-thermal power
plant:
The heat generated by
solar radiation produces
steam that is used to
move the rotor in the
generator. To attract the
sunlight they use
heliostats that
concentrate it at one
point where are reaches
high temperatures.
13. 2. Non-conventional power plant
Photovoltaic power plant:
These power plants consist of large areas of
photovoltaic panels. Solar radiation is transformed
directly electricity by panels of photovoltaic cells.
Isolated power plants are used to supply electricity to
homes in rural areas.
14. 2. Non-conventional power plant
Geothermal power
plant:
These plants uses the heat
found at deep levels in
the earth. This heat may
reach the surface in the
form of steam, gases or
hot water. Geothermal
energy is used to
produce electricity and
for water heating.
15. 2. Non conventional power plant
Biomass thermal power plants:
Urban and agricultural wastes are burned. These are the
main sources for biomass:
-Forestry and agricultural waste.
-Specific crops, such as sunflowers and sugar beet.
-Waste from agri-food industry.
The heat and gases produced by decomposing waste
are then used to moves turbines which generate
electricity.
17. 2. Non conventional power plant
Ocean power plants:
These power plants use the energy from the seas and
the oceans. The concept is to use the three types of
energy from the sea:
-The mechanical energy from the tides.
-The mechanical energy from the waves.
-The energy from the ocean's thermal gradient.
These power plants are still in the experimental phase
and their level of production is still very low.
19. Making water from thin air
Eole water is a wind turbine that transform humid air into drinking water created
by a French engineering firm. It is a great discover because it can provide
water to desertic areas or areas where acces to water is difficult, but it very
expensive, so it cannot be produced in high quantities. One turbine can
produce up to 1,000 liters of water every day, depending on the level of
humidity, temperature and wind speeds and it costs between €500,000
($660,000) and €600,000 ($790,000) depending on the location and
surroundingconditions to install just one Eole Water turbine
