advantages and disadvantages of thermal power plant ?
Answers
Hey!
Here you go..
Advantages:
The fuel used is quite cheap & available in abundant (Coal)
Less initial cost as compared to other generating plants.
It can be installed at any place irrespective of the existence of coal. The coal can be transported to the site of the plant by rail or road.
It require less space as compared to Hydro power plants
Cost of generation is less than that of diesel power plants
Economical in initial cost compared to hydro plants and running costs are less compared to gas plants or diesel plants
Thermal plants can be placed near load centers unlike hydro and nuclear plants. Hence transmission of power losses can be minimized
Thermal plants are able to respond to the load demand more effectively and supports the performance of the electrical grid
Steam plants can withstand for overload for certain extent
Disadvantages:
It pollutes the atmosphere due to production of large amount of smoke and fumes
It is costlier in running cost as compared to Hydro electric plants.
The heated water that comes from thermal power plant has an adverse effect on the lives in the water and disturbs the ecology.
Overall efficiency of thermal power plant is low
The fuel is Non-Renewable Resource
Efficiency of the plant decreases with time.
It cannot be used as peak load plant, as its part load efficiency decreases very rapidly with decreasing load.
Transportation of fuel is one of the major difficulties for the plants located away from coal fields.
Life of the plant is hardly 3 to 4 decades compared with hydro-plant (1 to 2 centuries).
Higher maintenance and operational costs
Huge requirement of water
Handling of coal and disposal of ash is quite difficult and requires large area
Gestation period (period for commissioning of plant) takes long time, but less than hydro plant (Structure & Commissioning)