Thermal power plants: description, operation and technical characteristics

Power supply stations are now operated in different variations. Power plants operating on thermal energy are not the most common, but they also have many attractive qualities from the point of view of application. Equipment of this type is used to generate, convert and transmit electricity to consumers. But for effective performance of these functions, thermal power plants should be properly serviced. This applies to basic measures of technical prevention, and to the organization of control systems, as well as to more responsible repair operations.

General information about thermal power plants

The power installation is a whole complex of systems, assemblies and units that work to generate electricity as a result of the conversion of heat into mechanical energy. The basis of such stations is an electric generator with a rotating shaft. Also, the complex includes a combustion chamber in which a process of heat generation takes place. It is important to note that the operation of thermal power plants and heat networks often involves the allocation of steam. This applies to those installations that are also equipped with hydrological communications in which the vapor pressure increases, resulting in activation of the rotation of the turbine rotor. The energy generated in this manner is transmitted to the main rotor shaft of the motor, which leads to the generation of an electric current. At the same time, not always the generated heat energy is completely spent on the generation of electricity. Depending on the site of operation and the needs of consumers, some of it can be used for heating function.

Technical characteristics of thermal power plants

One of the key performance characteristics is the voltage with which the station operates. Usually, complexes with a potential of up to 1000 V or more are isolated. The first are applied locally as a means of supplying energy to specific objects - usually industrial ones. The second type of station, supporting a voltage of more than 1000 V, is used to serve certain areas and even cities. Most often these are installations that implement the transformation and distribution tasks. Equally important is the power, which varies in the range of 3-6 GW. This indicator to a large extent depends on the type of fuel that is burned in the combustion chamber. To date, the rules for the operation of thermal power plants allow the use of diesel, fuel oil, natural gas, as well as traditional solid fuel elements.

Organization of heating networks

Most power plants are to some extent the objects of the heat network infrastructure. If in the distribution of electrical energy similar networks are formed by high-voltage lines, in this case the technical basis of communication is thermal pipelines that provide hot water supply. Each line is provided with an appropriate shut-off fittings with gate valves and coolant control facilities. In this case, thermal power plants can be interfaced with the same electrical networks. Thus, the combined infrastructure of the network is formed, in which the distribution is carried out both through the heat supply channel and through the power transmission line.

In addition, the practice of organizing steam pipelines, which are part of the structure of thermal channels, is also practiced. In such cases, the operation of thermal power plants and heat networks involves the installation of more efficient systems for the removal of condensate. Devices for starting drainage of the steam wire are also installed with a certain step along the entire line of the gasket.

Tasks of the attendants

The list of functions performed by employees operating power plants can be divided into several groups. The basic tasks include the technical content of the equipment, which involves monitoring the operating parameters in accordance with the design requirements. The next group of functions is conditioned by the security requirements. This concerns the maintenance of standards for protection from fire, compliance with labor protection standards, etc. In addition, thermal power plants need regular maintenance work. This category of functions can include diagnostic and repair activities. Personnel should audit the components of the power plant, test it for compliance with technical and operational indicators, etc. Based on the results of the work done, the documentation is formed, in which acts of repair work, diagnostics, as well as accidents and accidents are recorded.

Admission of power plants to operation

In the structure of the heat network infrastructure, the power plant is introduced after the completion of the acceptance measures. Acceptance tests are performed to assess the quality of the equipment and to verify its compliance with technical regulations. Depending on the operating conditions, a test project is developed, to which thermal power plants are subjected. The admission rules require that this list of works, together with commissioning operations, be performed by the contractor responsible for the design schemes of the specific heat network into which the facility is integrated.

The process of technical testing organization deserves special attention. At this stage, tools, protective equipment, spare parts, fuel and other consumables are prepared. Also, the rules for the operation of thermal power plants require that before the completion of the acceptance report the customer himself performs a comprehensive testing of the equipment. This is necessary to verify the joint operation of the nodes and units of the station in conjunction with additional equipment under load.

Maintenance of equipment

Maintenance of installations in good technical condition is the most important task of personnel. Experts check the quality of the functioning of individual parts of the station and its overall performance. The electronic stuffing and the mechanics with the body are subjected to the test. The integrity of the materials from which the power unit and body parts are made is also assessed. In accordance with the standards, the technical operation of thermal power plants is carried out with periodic control of metals by non-destructive methods. That is, defects are produced by devices that do not change the structure of the material, but allow us to identify possible foci of damage and deformation.

Systems for automation of plant control

Management of power plants is gradually moving from traditional mechanical methods to automation systems. With the help of the controller, the operator can maintain the optimal performance of all the functional units of the power plant, without detaching from the control room. In this case, the operation of thermal power plants is closely related to the function of sensors that record certain data about the work of the station, sending information to the control panel. Based on this information, the system makes decisions on the correction of operating parameters.

Fuel economy service

The power plant can not be regarded as a stand-alone power generation facility. Its function is provided by consumable fuel material, which also requires compliance with maintenance measures. In particular, fuel economy assumes the organization of storage of products of the future combustion. Modern rules for the technical operation of thermal power plants require that service enterprises maintain special storage facilities for such needs. In each such storage facility, equipment is provided for loading and unloading fuel materials, weighing them, stacking and sorting them.

Conclusion

The operation of power plants is necessarily guided by the achievement of optimal performance indicators. This is achieved by increasing the efficiency of the workforce, the introduction of new control systems and the modernization of power units. However, thermal power plants do not always justify themselves financially. This particularly applies to stations that have undergone a technological upgrade. Along with the increase in management efficiency, such objects are, in their entirety, more costly. For this reason, many operating companies are trying to maintain the traditional principles of control and management of energy installations.