Power Generation-comparison

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Lesson Introduction

The previous Lesson was about Variable loads on Power stations. The student/User is expected to remember the following from the lesson 7.

  • Definitions
  • Load Curves
  • Types of loads on a power station
  • Selecting generation units for a power station
  • Base & Peak loads
  • Methods of meeting load


Preview: Lesson 8

This Lesson is about Comparison of Power stations. The student/User is expected to understand how each power staion discussed in this course measures up against other power stations with respect to the following at the end of the lesson.

  • Location & Space required
  • Initial Cost & Running cost
  • Overal Efficiency & Stand-by losses
  • Maintenance costs
  • Limit of source of power
  • Cost of Fuel & Clean emissions
  • Starting
  • Transmission & Distribution costs
Part 1: Definitions

Five (5) types of electric generating power stations have been discussed in this course thus far. These being:



There are other types of power stations used arround the world besides the big five covered here. The following are not covered here due to the fact that they are strictly dependant on the geography of the area where they can be erected and hence do not find wide use arround the world:


Notice that Pumped storage scheme and Gas turbine power stations are not included in this lesson as they are rarely used on their own or for base load.
Part 3: By Initial Cost & Running cost
Power Station Rank Initial Cost Rank Running cost
Steam Power station 2 Are lower than those of Hydro & Nuclear. 3 Are Higher than those of Hydro & Nuclear.
Hydro Power station 3 Are very high because of dam construction. 1 Are practically NIL, no fuel is needed
Diesel Power station 1 Are lowest comparedto all toher power stations. 4 Are Highest due to Diesel prices
Nuclear Power station 4 Are Highest due to complex nuclear reactors. 2 Are next lowest
Part 5: By Overal Efficiency & Stand-by losses
Power Station Rank Efficiency Rank Losses
Steam Power station 4 This is plant is ≈ 25% efficient. 4 This is due to Boiler remaining in operation even if turbine is switched off.
Hydro Power station 1 This is plant is ≈ 85% efficient. 1 This Plant has no stand-by losess
Diesel Power station 3 This is plant is ≈ 35% efficient. 2 This Plant has lesser stand-by losess
Nuclear Power station 2 This is plant is ≈ 55% efficient 3 This Plant has less stand-by losess
Part 7: By Cost of Fuel & Clean emissions
Power Station Rank Cost of Fuel Justification Rank Clean emissions Justification
Steam Power station 4 Are Maximum, due to constant need of coal & transportation. 4 Have highest polluting emissions.
Hydro Power station 1 Are practically NIL. 1 Have no emission
Diesel Power station 3 Are higher than Hydro and Nuclear power stations. 2 Have cleaner emissions compared to steam & nuclear power stations.
Nuclear Power station 2 Are Minimum, due to small quantities of fuel required. 3 Have more cleaner emissions compared to steam power stations.
Part 9: By Transmission & Distribution costs
Power Station Rank Transmission & Distribution costs Justification
Steam Power station 2 Are low since plant is closer to load center.
Hydro Power station 4 Are Highest since plant is furthest to load center.
Diesel Power station 1 Are lowest since plant is at load center.
Nuclear Power station 3 Are High since plant is far from load center.
Part 11: Exercise 8

Refferences:

  1. This resource is prepared from Lecture notes by Thuvack.
  2. V.K Mehta & Rohit Mehta :- Principles of Power systems (1st ed.). S.CHAND .ISBN 81-219-2496-0

Execise 7:

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Course Navigation
Part 2: Introduction & Key

This lesson will compare the four widely used power stations ( Steam, Hydro; Diesel and Nuclear power stations ) with regard to the following aspects:

  • Location & Space required
  • Initial Cost & Running cost
  • Overal Efficiency & Stand-by losses
  • Maintenance costs
  • Limit of source of power
  • Cost of Fuel & Clean emissions
  • Starting
  • Transmission & Distribution costs


For the above comparison, sortable lists will be used with the following key of merit:

1 -- Highest merit ( Highly desirable )
3 -- Second lowest merit ( Tolerable )

2 -- Second highest merit ( Acceptable )
4 -- Lowest merit ( Not desirable )


You can click on the sorting icon to sort list by item you are interested on. This information is vital in deciding the type of power station that would be suitable for a specific situation.
Part 4: By Location & Space required
Power Station Rank Location Rank Space required
Steam Power station 2 Where there is ample supplyof water and coal. 3 Needs sufficient space for all equipment.
Hydro Power station 4 Where Large reservoirs can be obtained by dam construction. 4 Needs very large space for constructing a dam
Diesel Power station 1 Where there is required space & water, thus can be located anywhere. 2 Needs very less space for all equipment
Nuclear Power station 3 Where there is enough supply of water, but must be far away from populated areas. 1 Needs minimum space for all equipment, compared any other power station of equal capacity
Part 6: By Limit of source of power
Power Station Rank Limit of source of power
Steam Power station 4 Has most Limited fuel Reserves.
Hydro Power station 2 Has undependable water source due to weather variations.
Diesel Power station 3 Has Limited fuel Reserves.
Nuclear Power station 1 Has sufficient fuel Reserves.
Part 8: By Maintenance costs
Power Station Rank Maintenance costs Justification
Steam Power station 3 Are High due to skilled operating staff required.
Hydro Power station 1 Are Lowest.
Diesel Power station 2 Are low.
Nuclear Power station 4 Are Highest due to expert operating staff required.
Part 10: By Starting
Power Station Rank Starting Justification
Steam Power station 4 Has longest starting time.
Hydro Power station 1 Has shortest starting time.
Diesel Power station 2 Has short starting time.
Nuclear Power station 3 Has Long starting time.
Part 12: Completion list

Once you finish your Exercises you can post your score here! To post your score just e-mail your course co-ordinator your name and score Click Here.

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