1. Coal Mining and Preparation:
- Coal is extracted from underground mines or open-pit mines.
- It undergoes various preparation steps, such as crushing and cleaning, to remove impurities and ensure it burns efficiently.
2. Steam Generation:
- The prepared coal is fed into a boiler, which is a large furnace-like structure.
- The coal burns, releasing heat energy that turns water flowing through tubes inside the boiler into steam.
3. Superheating:
- The steam generated in the boiler is further heated under high pressure in a superheater. This process increases the steam's temperature and energy content.
4. Steam Turbine:
- The superheated steam is then directed to a steam turbine.
- The high-pressure and high-temperature steam flows through nozzles, causing the turbine blades to spin rapidly.
5. Generator:
- The spinning turbine shaft is connected to a generator, which is a large rotating machine.
- As the turbine spins, it induces a magnetic field in the generator, which generates electricity.
6. Transmission:
- The electricity generated in the power plant is then transmitted through an extensive network of power lines and transformers.
- It's distributed to homes, businesses, industries, and other consumers who use electricity for various purposes.
7. Cooling Process:
- After passing through the turbine, the steam is condensed back into water through a condenser, which is often cooled using a nearby body of water, like a river or a lake.
- The condensed water is recycled back to the boiler to repeat the process.
8. Byproducts and Emissions:
- Coal-fired power plants produce several byproducts, including ash and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
- Emissions from these plants include carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter.
- There are environmental regulations and pollution control technologies to mitigate the impact of these emissions on the surroundings.
It's worth noting that coal is a non-renewable fossil fuel, and its use in electricity generation contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. Efforts are being made towards transitioning to more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources to reduce the carbon footprint of electricity production.
