Thermal power plants
Summary
Discussion of the types, principles and operation of thermal power plants with an emphasis on components (turbines, heat exchange, boiler) both for the state-of-the-art (60% of total world power) and for advanced concepts, considering both natural and renewable fuels and heat sources.
Content
Context of growing power demand. Revision of thermodynamics. Combustion. Thermal turbomachines. Gas cycles. Rankine cycles. Advanced cycles, supercritical, gasification integrated, hybridised. Nuclear now and future. Low T heat to power conversion. Engines summary. Guest speaker from industry when the time plan allows. Visit to the 10 MWe cogeneration plant in Lausanne (waste incineration).
Keywords
Energy/Exergy. Euler equation. Action/reaction turbines. Emissions reduction. Nuclear small modular reactors. Kalina cycle. Efficiency. Scale. All fuels/sources.
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
Thermodynamics 1
Basic chemistry
Heat & Mass transfer
Important concepts to start the course
1st Law, 2nd Law, Exergy. Chemical equations. Heat transfer.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Explain Explain the principles and limitations of the main energy conversion technologies, E7
- Assess / Evaluate Assess / Evaluate and design volumetric turbines, E13
- Assess / Evaluate Assess / Evaluate fluid flows in energy conversion systems, compute pressure drops and heat losses and fluid - structure interactions, E10
- Analyze Analyze the energy and exergy efficiency of industrial energy systems, E21
- Explain Explain and calculate the main emission sources of energy conversion processes, E23
- Identify Identify the challenges related to energy: resources, energy services, economic and environmental impacts, E9
Teaching methods
Ex catedra 2h.
1h exercice with TA.
Expected student activities
Critical thinking
Coming to class and participating in exercices.
1 excursion visiting a 10 MWe power plant (Lausanne)
Assessment methods
3h written exam, open book (all material allowed).
Application exercices and multiple-choice questions on understanding of principles/concepts.
Supervision
| Office hours | Yes |
| Assistants | Yes |
| Forum | Yes |
Resources
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
No
Bibliography
Dipak Sarkar, Thermal Power Plant Design & Operation
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Thermal power plants
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Thermal power plants
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Thermal power plants
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional