The first step of electricity generation in the Power Encyclopedia - types and principles of power generation

Power generation is the initial link of electricity generation, which is the use of power generation power plant to convert some energy into electricity.

In general, how much electricity is used, can not be more, can not be less, because the current power system is no storage link, because at present to achieve large capacity low-cost storage in addition to pumped storage is more difficult.

Therefore, electricity mainly depends on dispatching, dispatching plan will be issued in advance, and the power plant will adjust its output according to the dispatching plan.

Power generation principle

The generation of electricity production is the use of electrical energy production equipment to convert various primary energy or other forms of energy into electrical energy.

The main ways to produce electric energy are thermal power generation, hydroelectric power generation, nuclear power generation, geothermal power generation, wind power generation, solar power generation, tidal power generation, bio-intelligent power generation and fuel cell power generation. 

Thermal power station

In addition to solar power generation photovoltaic cell technology and fuel cell power generation, most power generation methods of electricity production equipment are composed of power parts and power generation parts.

The power part is to convert all kinds of power generation energy into mechanical energy, and the power generation part converts the transferred mechanical energy into electrical energy through electromagnetic induction.

Generation type

There are many main ways to produce electricity, which can be divided into thermal power generation, hydroelectric power generation, wind power generation, nuclear power generation and other energy generation according to the type of energy.

01 Thermal power generation

Thermal power generation, the use of coal, oil, natural gas and other solid, liquid, gas fuel combustion generated by the heat, through the power generation power plant into electrical energy.

Principle: Thermal power generation generally refers to the use of oil, coal and natural gas and other fuel combustion generated by the heat to heat water, so that the water into high temperature, high pressure water vapor, and then by the water vapor to promote the generator to generate electricity. Power plants that use coal, oil or natural gas as fuel are collectively referred to as thermal power plants.

02 Hydroelectric power generation

Hydropower is a comprehensive engineering facility that converts water energy into electric energy: it generally includes reservoirs formed by water retention and drainage buildings, water diversion systems of hydropower stations, power generation plants, mechanical and electrical equipment, etc.

The high water level of the reservoir flows into the building through the water diversion system to promote the hydropower generator set to generate electric energy, and then input into the power grid through the boost transformer, switch station and transmission line.

Hydroelectric power generation

Principle: The basic principle of hydroelectric power generation is to use the water level drop, with the hydrogenerator to produce electricity, that is, to use the potential energy of water into the mechanical energy of the water wheel, and then to promote the mechanical energy of the generator, and get electricity.

03 Wind Power generation

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into electricity.

Wind power plant

Principle: The kinetic energy of the wind is converted into mechanical kinetic energy, and then the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy, which is wind power. The principle of wind power generation is to use the wind to drive the rotation of the windmill blades, and then increase the rotation speed through the speed reducer to promote the generator to generate electricity.

Based on current windmill technology, a breeze speed (the degree of breeze) of about three meters per second can start generating electricity. Wind power is creating a boom around the world because it does not require the use of fuel and produces no radiation or air pollution.

04 Nuclear power generation

The power generation process of nuclear power station and thermal power station is the same, both are thermal energy - mechanical energy - electrical energy conversion process, the main difference is the heat source part.

Thermal power plants generate heat by burning fossil fuels in boiler equipment, while nuclear power plants generate heat through a nuclear fuel chain fission reaction.

Principle of nuclear power generation

Principle: A nuclear power plant is a new type of power station that uses the energy contained in the nucleus to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants can be divided into two parts: one is the nuclear island that uses nuclear energy to produce steam, including the reactor device and the primary circuit system; the other is the conventional island that uses steam to generate power, including the turbo-generator system.

A nuclear power plant is a system and equipment that converts nuclear energy released by the fission (or fusion) of atomic nuclei into electricity. Nuclear power plant systems and equipment vary depending on the type of nuclear reactor.