Power generation is the main foundation stage of any electrical power system. It refers to the process of converting various forms of energy into electrical energy. Which is then transmitted and distributed to end users. In this article you will learn a detailed overview of power generation, its types, and the different energy sources.
The power system is divided into three main components,
- Generation: Production of electricity from different energy sources.
- transmission: Transmit electricity over distances.
- Distribution: Delivering electricity to end users.
Generation is the first and very important step in electrical power system. It determines the capacity, reliability and sustainability of the entire electrical power system. The choice of generation technology depends on availability of resources, cost environmental concerns.
Types of power generation sources.
Power generation sources can be categorized into two types.
A. Conventional energy sources
These are limited and include fossil fuels.
- Thermal power plant (Coal, Gas, Oil)
Thermal power plant is a facility that use heat energy to generate electricity. The most common source of this heat is the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal natural gas and oil. Thermal power plants have long been the backbone of electricity generation in many countries. Fuel is burned in a boiler to generate heat. The heat converts water into high pressure steam. The steam is directed onto the blades of steam turbines and causing it to spin. The rotating turbine drives a generator to produce electricity.
B. Renewable energy sources
Derived from natural process that are replenished constantly.
- Hydroelectric power plant
Hydro power plants also know as hydroelectric power stations are facilities that generate electricity by harnessing the energy of flowing or falling water. They are one of the most widely used forms of renewable energy and have been a reliable source of electricity for over a century. The basic working principle involves converting the kinetic and potential energy of water into mechanical energy using a turbine. Which is then converted into electrical energy by a generator. Water from a river or reservoir is directed through large pipes called penstocks to the turbines. The force of the moving water spins the turbine blades which are connected to generators that produced electricity. After passing the turbine the water is released back into the river downstream.
Hydro power plants can be categorized into three main types: dam based, run of the river and pump storage. Storage hydro plants use dam to store large volume of water in reservoir and ensuring a consistent power supply even during dry periods. Run of the rivers plants on the other hands utilize the natural flow of rivers and have minimal storage capacity which makes them more environment friendly but less reliable during seasonal flow variations. Pump storage plants act like batteries pumping water to a higher elevation during low electricity demand and releasing it to generate power during peak demands.