Why efficiency in Thermal Power Plant is Low?

Almost 50% of the heat generated is lost at the condenser as heat rejection. It is unavoidable as with
out heat rejection it is not possible to convert heat energy into mechanical energy and drive the
turbine without drop in temperature. Therefore majority of the loss takes place in the condenser.
Thus efficiency of the thermal power plant is between 30-35%.
On What Cycle does Thermal Power Plant operate?
Thermal Power plant works on the principle of Rankine cycle
Why Generation Voltage in Thermal Power Plant is between 11kV to 33kV?
The current carrying conductor cross section depends upon the magnitude of the current it is
carrying and insulation strength of the conductor depends on the maximum voltage it can withstand.
Therefore while designing the generator an optimum value is chosen between the amount of the
current and voltage conductor can withstand.
What are the different circuits in Thermal Power Plant?
Some of the major circuits in the thermal power plant are:
Coal and Ash circuit
Air and gas circuit
Cooling water circuit
Feed water and steam flow circuit
How efficiency of Thermal Plant can be improved?
Some of the methods by which the efficiency of the thermal plant can be improved are:
By increasing the temperature and pressure of the steam entering the turbine
By reducing the pressure in the condenser
By reheating the steam between different stages between the turbine
Advantages and Disadvantages of Thermal Power Plant?
Advantages:
Thermal Power Plants can be operated near the load centers unlike hydro and nuclear plants
Requires less space compared to hydro plants and cost of construction is less
Running or operating costs are less compared to diesel or gas plants
Can able to handle over load for certain period of time
Disadvantages:
Emits green house gases and causes pollution
Coal and Ash handling requires large area
Efficiency is low







Why Hydrogen is used in generator cooling?
What happens when we fire the boiler with 100% oxygen?
What are the consequences when scales are deposited in water wall tubes?
Write down the combustion products in a boiler?

I. Why sodium tri-phosphate is added in boiler water?
II. What is the function of barring gear?
III. What is the function of soot blower?
IV. How to control NOX emission from the furnace?
V. Why regenerative feed water heating is used in Thermal power plant?
VI. What are the various fans that are used in Super Thermal Power Plant?
VII. Name the types of turbine governing?
VIII. Why vacuum pump is used in condenser?
IX. Upon what parameters do condenser vacuum depends?
X. Difference between Wet and Dry Bottom furnace?
XI. How hot reheat line temperature is maintained?
XII. What are the types of Circuit Breakers?
XIII. Why 20% excess air is used in combustion in the furnace?
XIV. Why Convective-Radiative zone superheater is used as the final superheater?
XV. Why CBD (Continuous Blow down) is done in boiler drum?
XVI. What are the functions of isolator?
XVII. What type of cycle is Rankine cycle and why is it called Modified Rankine cycle?
XVIII. What types of blades are used in steam turbines? Why?
XIX. Functions of NH3 dozing?
XX. How axial thrust is balanced in HP turbine? Why double flow steam turbines are preferred?
XXI. Various voltage levels in super thermal plant?
XXII. Why orifice is used as a starting point of water wall tube panels?
XXIII. What are the uses of DG & DC battery banks?

1. For the given equation 2x+y=40; how many sets of (x, y) are possible for x, y >0 and x? y. Ans:13
2. For a given equilateral triangle of side 3 units. What is the length of the perpendicular?
3. A father sees that his shadow and his sons shadow met at a point in the ground when they were
standing in a line before a lamp-post. If the length of the post, father and boy were 1.8 meters, 1.2 meters
and .9 meters respectively. The distance between the lamp-post and the father is 5 meters. How far is the
boy standing away from the lamp-post?
4. Two poles of 3 meter and 4 meter respectively are fixed 5 meters apart. Find the height of the point of
intersection of the lines joining the top of each pole to the others ground point from the ground.
5. 3 given straight line equations were given and a point (a, a2) were given. Calculate the range of a for
which it will lie within the boundary enclosed by the three straight lines?
6. Ten years ago the sum of 8 members in a family is 231. 3 years after a member who aged 60 years
died and at the same day a baby was born. Again after 3 years another member who aged 60 years died
and again a new baby was born. What is the average age of the family at present? Ans: 24 years


What is the differences between gas turbine and a steam turbine?
Gas turbine works on Bryton cycle where as steam turbine works Rankine cycle.
Construction, operation of a gas turbine are entirely different to steam turbine. Gas turbine
has a compressor to compress the combustion air, a combustion chamber to burn the fuel
and a turbine section to extract the work for burning fuel. Steam turbine is just has a
turbine section to extract the work from steam.
What is operating pressure?
The amount of pressure nearest the point of performing work at the output end of a
pneumatic system. The system operating pressure is used to specify the capability of
valves and actuators.
What are the safety valves? How many on each boiler?
A valve opening automatically to relieve excessive pressure, especially in a boiler.
There are normally two to six safety valves provided in the drum depending upon the
capacity.
The super heater outlet will have one to three safety valves on either side of the boiler.
There will be an electromatic relief valve on the super heater pipe in addition. This valve
will be set at lower pressure than the lowest set safety valve on the super heater.
The reheater pipes both at the inlet and outlet side will also have safety valves which can
range from two to eight both in the inlet and outlet of the reheater put together.
What is a sentinel valve?
Sentinel valves are simply small relief valves installed in some systems to warn of
impending over pressurization. Sentinel valves do not relieve the pressure of the system. If
the situation causing the sentinel valve to lift is not corrected, a relief valve (if installed) will
lift to protect the system or component. If a relief valve is not installed, action must be
taken quickly to secure the piece of equipment or system to reduce the pressure.
What is the function of Hydrogen seals work on a generator?
Provide a seal between the generator housings and rotor shaft to maintain the pressurized
hydrogen gas inside the generator. Also, provides a trap-vent system to prevent the
release of hydrogen into the turbine generator lube oil system and building atmosphere.
How is the excess discharge pressure prevented?
Pressure relief valves on the discharge side of each seal oil pump relieves back to seal oil
system.
Which two seal oil pumps are driven from the same motor?
Main seal oil pump and re-circular seal oil pump; both are driven by Main seal oil pump
motor.
When does Emergency Seal Oil Pump automatically start?
When its pressure switch senses Main Seal Oil Pump discharge pressure reduced to 78 PSI.
What is the consequence of not maintaining hydrogen (or air) pressure in
generator casing at a value above atmospheric pressure when seal oil system is
in service?
Failure to do so will cause excessive seal oil to be drawn into the generator.