Collect information on different power generation plants found in our country and prepare a table what pollutants are released by these power plants and cause pollution in our country
Answers
An electric power system is a network of electrical components deployed to supply, transfer, and use electric power. An example of an electric power system is the grid that provides power to an extended area. An electrical grid power system can be broadly divided into the generators that supply the power, the transmission system that carries the power from the generating centres to the load centres, and the distribution system that feeds the power to nearby homes and industries. Smaller power systems are also found in industry, hospitals, commercial buildings and homes. The majority of these systems rely upon three-phase AC power—the standard for large-scale power transmission and distribution across the modern world. Specialised power systems that do not always rely upon three-phase AC power are found in aircraft, electric rail systems, ocean liners and automobiles.
Answer:
Electricity is a clean and relatively safe form of energy when it is used, the generation and transmission of electricity affects the environment. Nearly all types of electric power plants have an effect on the environment, but some power plants have larger effects than others.
India’s power sector is one of the most diversified in the world. Sources of power generation range from non-renewable energy resources (coal, petroleum, natural gas, and nuclear power), to renewable sources such as hydropower, wind, solar, and agricultural and domestic waste.
Thermal Power: Thermal Power stations burn a large number of fossil fuels to heat up water, to produce steam, which further runs the turbine to generate electricity. It is called as the thermal plant because fuel is burnt to produce heat energy which is converted into electrical energy.
Thermal power plants are pump out a lot of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapour, and fluorinated gases), and ash, which are by-products of burning the fossil fuels.
Nuclear energy: A small amount of radioactive substance can produce a lot of energy through the nuclear substances. Nuclear reactions are essential to obtain it and there are about 300 nuclear reactions. It is one of the most environment friendly conventional sources of energy as it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions during the production in comparison to coal power plants.
In case of accidents, this same nuclear energy releases in high amount in the environment. Also, the nuclear waste that remains is radioactive and hazardous.
Hydropower: Hydropower or hydroelectric power is a renewable source of energy that generates power by using a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or other body of water. Hydroelectric stations emit methane from the surface of hydropower dams, which is stronger and more dangerous greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
Solar Energy: Solar panels allow for the collection of solar energy from the sun that can be turned into power. While solar is a clean source of energy that does not produce air pollution, it’s only available in certain geographical areas that get direct sun long enough to generate usable power.
Wind Energy: It is a renewable energy source. Wind turbines do not release emissions that can pollute the air or water, also reduce the amount of electricity generation from fossil fuels, which results in lower total air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. Operating wind turbines do not emit greenhouse gases.
Power Generating Plants Pollutants Released By Power Plants
Thermal power plants
Coal-
Sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and suspended particulate matter (SPM) mainly soot, smoke and fine dust particles.
Lead, mercury, cadmium.
Nuclear power plants - radioactive waste
Hydroelectric stations - methane
Solar energy plants - None.
Wind Energy - None.