Rhys Lambadarios K00207831 Mechanical engineering group C

Lab 4
Analysing the Moneypoint
power plant
Rhys Lambadarios K00207831 Mechanical engineering group C

Objective: The aim of this experiment is to analyse the ESB Moneypoint steam power plant.
Introduction: Moneypoint is a steam power plant which is situated near the river Shannon in
Kilrush county Clare. It is the largest power station in Ireland generating a power output of 915MW.
The company is controlled by the Irish power control centre in Dublin. Moneypoint is run off coal as
its primary fuel but also has gas as a backup fuel in the case of the coal running out. The station is
run by burning coal to heat up water which is converted to superheated steam. This superheated
steam is then compressed into a high pressure. This high pressure steam is used to operate a high
pressure turbine. The steam which leaves the turbine is reheated by a boiler and is transferred to an
intermediate turbine. It then leaves the intermediate pressure turbine to a low pressure turbine. It is
finally sent to a condenser where it is condensed back to water, which is then returned back to the
boiler and boiled again.

Theory:

7 = +

7 Is the enthalpy leaving the low-pressure turbine

Is the enthalpy of the saturated liquid

Is the percentage of the vapor from the mixture leaving the low-pressure turbine

Is the enthalpy of the saturated vapor leaving the low-pressure turbine

=

Wnetout is the network in the cycle

Is the total heat added to the cycle

(3 4 ) + (5 6 ) + (6 7 ) (2 1 )
=
(3 2 ) + (5 4 )

Npowerstation Is the efficiency of Moneypoint power station

1 Is the enthalpy of the water entering the pump

2 Is the enthalpy of the water leaving the pump

3 Is the enthalpy of the steam leaving the boiler

4 Is the enthalpy of the steam leaving the high pressure turbine

5 Is the enthalpy of the steam leaving the boiler after being reheated

6 Is the enthalpy of the steam leaving the intermediate pressure turbine

Rhys Lambadarios K00207831 Mechanical engineering group C

7 Is the enthalpy of the steam leaving the low pressure turbine

Results
Table 1
Temperature Pressure (kPa)
(C)

T1 28 P1 3.9
T2 28 P2 5.56
T3 543 P3 16350
T4 342 P4 16350
T5 548 P5 3821
T6 259 P6 415.4
T7 28 P7 5.54

Table 2
Enthalpy H (Kj/Kg) The efficiency of the
power station

H1 117.376 41.8%
H2 133.781
H3 3415.83212
H4 3069.44736

H5 3556.746236
H6 2982.45672
H7 2308.48

Table 2 displays the data calculated using the formulas and the data from table one.
Rhys Lambadarios K00207831 Mechanical engineering group C

3
5

1 7
S

Discussion:
Rhys Lambadarios K00207831 Mechanical engineering group C

In the first circuit of the schematic water is pumped to the turbine from the pump and boiler. After
leaving the superheated section of the boiler the water has become superheated steam and travels
to the turbine. Once the steam leaves the turbine it becomes a saturated mixture. In the second
circuit of the schematic the saturated mixture is reheated to an intermediate temperature by the
boiler before entering the intermediate pressure turbine. With almost half the pressure the steam
then enters the low pressure turbine. The steam leaves the low pressure turbine as a saturated
mixture and as a result has an x value of 0.98 entering the condenser.

From analysing the calculated efficiency of 41.8 percent for the power plant we can see that the
results do not match up with the correct efficiency of the plant which is 35percent. Reasons for this
may include miscalculations, misinterpreting data, not taking into account heat loss due to leaks or
even estimating the percentage of saturated mixture wrong.

Conclusion:
In conclusion the efficiency calculated was not the correct efficiency of the plant but it was fairly
close. If I was to do this experiment again I would take into account heat loss in the plant as I feel
this led to me not getting the correct efficiency of the plant. Analysing the Moneypoint power plant
has helped me gain a better understanding of where thermodynamics is used in industry and has
increased my knowledge of it for the better.