Comparison of Thermal Power Plants' Efficiency

Thermal Power Plant Efficiency 

As thermal power plants had been proved effective in fulfilling the ever increasing demand, more and more research has been done to make them more efficient in every aspect to handle the complex demand of Electricity with ever increasing fuel prices and restriction due to environmental effects.

Major Thermal Power Plant Cycles

• Rankine Cycle(Steam Turbine Cycle)
• Brayton Cycle(Gas Turbine Cycle)
• Diesel Cycle(Diesel Engine Cycle)
• Otto Cycle( Gas Engine Cycle)
• Combine Cycle(Gas Turbine + Steam Turbine Cycle, Diesel/Gas Engine + Steam Turbine Cycle )

Started with Steam Cycle, efforts had been done to make it more efficient though with 

• Its inability to use working fluid(steam) temperature above 600 C.
• Its inability to handle fluctuating load demand.
• Its inability to erect in minimum time.
• Its inability to have low initial cost.

Research work shifted to other cycle like Brayton cycle and combined cycle. With Steam cycle, highest of efficiency has been achieved previously by Efforts like:

• Reheating( reheating the steam after first turbine wheel portion, to max possible temp.)
• Regeneration
• Combination of both.

But now super critical power plants of greater importance for steam cycle.

The efficiencies of Individual Type of Power Plant shall be discussed with reference to 

Following Diagram: