The power generation market is expected to grow significantly in the next decade. According to a report from Statista, the volume of electricity generated globally has increased over the last few years and shows no sign of slowing down. Power generation happens through non-renewable or conventional and renewable sources of energy. Even though fossil fuels dominated the power generation industry in the past, new sources have been gaining adoption in recent years. Because of the increased demand for electricity, this has also fueled power generation activities. This guide will cover the different equipment used in power generation industries and their benefit to the companies.
1.Steam Turbines
At the heart of power generation industries is a heavy piece of engineering known as the steam turbine. Steam turbines rotate through high-temperature and high-pressure steam produced by different heat sources such as steam generators, boilers, or nuclear steam generators. Based on expert tips at WinnellieValves.com, there are three types of steam turbines available in the market: high-pressure turbines, intermediate-pressure turbines, and low-pressure turbines. Major corporations exist that design and manufacture steam turbines to meet the demands of power plants such as nuclear power plants or thermal power plants. Also, these corporations offer service maintenance to ensure your system is running efficiently.
2.Generators
A generator is an essential piece of equipment for a power generation plant. It produces electricity using the kinetic energy produced by the turbines. Both the generator and turbine work hand in hand to ensure a power plant is running efficiently. Depending on your nuclear power generation needs, you can get anything from a small biopower generator to an ultra-large nuclear power generator. In most cases, they range from 90MW small-size generators to as high as 2000MW ultra-large generators. All these generators are compatible with different power generation plants such as nuclear power plants, thermal power plants (large and small), and gas turbine power plants.
3.Boilers
Boilers are primarily used in power plants to generate high pressured steam. Once this steam reaches its peak, a power plant can generate electricity. This process is known as the Rankine cycle. To clarify this further, the boiler receives energy from the different fuel sources available, such as natural gas, coal, or nuclear fuel. Only a tiny fraction of the energy comes from fuels. In most cases, the largest part of the fuel ends up going into a boiler (the rest of the fuel goes into internal combustion engines). Also, the design of a boiler makes it an essential consideration in a power plant’s efficiency.
4.Gas Turbines
This is another classic piece of engineering that is the center of many power generation industries. A gas turbine is a piece of equipment that rotates a turbine using hot gas. This gas is primarily produced by burning compressed air and fuel. Gas turbines also play a core role for combined cycle plants or cogeneration power plants. Because of demand in environmental conversation, the demand for gas turbines is expected to increase in the coming years. Even better, gas turbines offer better performance, high reliability, less toxic emissions, and improved fuel diversity. With less toxic emissions, it makes gas turbines a go-to choice for a company keen on environmental conservation.
5.Power Generation Industries and Air Pollution
Today, air pollution has become a sensitive topic, with world leaders taking considerable measures to help protect the environment. Thus, many countries have issued strict policies to industries in a bid to avert air pollution. This time, power generation industries have found themselves on the receiving end of these strict regulations. It’s now a requirement that power generation industries have air pollution control systems. These systems help filter air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, dust, and sulfur dioxide, keeping the air free of contaminants.
6.WtE (Waste to Energy)
Also known as Energy from Waste, this process involves energy production in the form of electricity from the primary heat treatment. To put it another way, this is a form of energy recovery. This process lowers pollution caused by landfills by optimizing resource recycling. In most cases, WtE processes produce electricity or heat directly through combustion. This leads to the production of fuel commodities such as methanol, ethanol, or synthetic.
Hopefully, the guide above helps you understand how power generation industries work. Boilers, gas turbines, and steam turbines are all essential equipment used in power generation systems. With the demand for global electricity increasing, power generation companies will have to improve their systems. This also means most industries need to have the appropriate air pollution control systems to filter the smoke released into the environment.