DIESEL POWER PLANT?

            Diesel power plants produce power from a diesel engine. Diesel electric plants in the range of 2 to 50 MW capacities are used as central stations for small electric supply networks and used as a standby to hydro electric or thermal plants where continuous power supply is needed. Diesel power plant is not economical compared to other power plants.

The diesel power plants are cheaply used in the fields mentioned below.Peak load plants

1. Mobile electric plants
2. Standby units
3. Emergency power plants
4. Starting stations of existing plants
5. Central power station etc.   

a)  Engine

Engine is the heart of a diesel power plant. Engine is directly connected through a gear box to the generator. Generally two-stroke engines are used for power generation. Now a days, advanced super & turbo charged high speed engines are available for power production.

b)   Air supply system

Air inlet is arranged outside the engine room. Air from the atmosphere is filtered by air filter and conveyed to the inlet manifold of engine. In large plants supercharger/turbocharger is used for increasing the pressure of input air which increases the power output.

c) Exhaust System

This includes the silencers and connecting ducts. The heat content of the exhaust gas is utilized in a turbine in a turbocharger to compress the air input to the engine.

d) Fuel System

Fuel is stored in a tank from where it flows to the fuel pump through a filter. Fuel is injected to the engine as per the load requirement.

e) Cooling system

This system includes water circulating pumps, cooling towers, water filter etc. Cooling water is circulated through the engine block to keep the temperature of the engine in the safe range.

f) Lubricating system

Lubrication system includes the air pumps, oil tanks, filters, coolers and pipe lines. Lubricant is given to reduce friction of moving parts and reduce the wear and tear of the engine parts.

g) Starting System

There are three commonly used starting systems, they are;

1) A petrol driven auxiliary engine,

2) Use of electric motors,

3)Use of compressed air from an air compressor at a pressure of 20 Kg/cm”

h) Governing system

The function of a governing system is to maintain the speed of the engine constant irrespective of load on the plant. This is done by varying fuel supply to the engine according to load.

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