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Power Plant Output
Name: Tom R.
Status: Other
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2002
Question:
Hello,
I understand how electricity is generated using steam turbines, at least
in a general way. The thing that confuses me is how the amount of power
generated by a power plant is increased. For example, how does a power
plant go from generating 20 MW to generating 40 MW? Originally, I though
the plant would simply create more steam, thus spinning the turbine
faster. The problem, of course, is that would increase the output
frequency of the Generator and make it incompatible with the rest of the
grid.
Replies:
One way to increase the output of an existing plant is to try and run
the steam at a higher pressure and temperature. This usually involves
superheating the steam or increasing the feed rate of the coal. There
are also little things you can do like feedwater heaters, higher
efficiency heat exchangers, higher efficiency turbines, etc. These
mechanism will increase the output of the turbines and thus increase the
megawatt output. If you look at some thermodynamics books, you can get
a better idea of how these systems work if you look into Rankine cycle
information.
Unfortunately I do not know the details of how to get the electricity
out into a grid system. Hopefully an electrical engineer will answer
the other portion of your question.
Chris Murphy, PE
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Update: June 2012
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