What Is Diesel Power Plant: A Beginner’s Guide with 5 Essential Insights

What Is Diesel Power Plant

Are diesel power plants on your mind? Imagine them as factories that use diesel engines to create electricity. Electricity generated by these power plants is supplied for running the industries, Domestic usage, and emergency supply to hospitals and other life-saving utilities. Diesel Power Plants work by burning diesel fuel in engines. In this way produced energy is turned into Electricity. Diesel Power Plants are known for their flexibility and quick response time – they can start generating electricity within minutes. This makes them ideal for situations when power is needed urgently. Whether it’s a remote area or a backup power source for emergencies, Diesel Power Plants play a vital role. Continue reading to learn more about Diesel Power Plants

Essential Components of Diesel Power Plants

Let’s talk about the important parts of Diesel Power Plants, focusing on the main engine:

1. Prime Mover (Engine): This is the heart of the plant, where the real energy is created.
2. Alternator (Generator): It’s like the converter that changes mechanical energy into electricity.
3. Starting and Stopping System: Just like turning on and off a machine, this system gets the engine going.
4. Air System: Engines need air to breathe, and this system provides it.
5. Lubricating Oil System: Engines have moving parts, and this system keeps them running smoothly.
6. Intake System: It brings air into the engine for the combustion process.
7. Fuel System: Like giving food to an engine, this system supplies diesel fuel.
8. Exhaust System: After creating power, the engine needs a way to release gases.
9. Cooling System: Engines can get hot, so this system keeps them from overheating.
10. Control and Governing System: It’s like the brain of the plant, controlling how everything works together.

Engine

Let’s talk about the main part of a power plant – the Engine (Prime Mover). This is like the heart of the plant. It takes heat energy and changes it into moving energy. Just like our muscles move our bodies, the prime mover makes the power plant work. It’s what gets everything going and generates the power we use.

For generating power, we use a type of engine called a “four-stroke engine.” These engines have four steps to make power. They are great for power plants because they use less fuel, have a good way to keep them lubricated, and they are flexible. They also make less noise and are easy to cool. Plus, they’re efficient and can turn heat into power really well. So, these engines are like the superheroes of power plants!

Fuel System of diesel power plants

Fuel Systems of a Diesel Power Plant

1. Fuel Supply system

2. Fuel Injection system

Fuel Supply system

The fuel transfer system receives and stores the fuel in the tanks. Heaters are provided in the HFO storage tanks to maintain the correct pour point. From the storage tanks, the fuel continuously circulates. From the circulation system, fuel is transferred to fuel settling tanks through a controlled valve. The control valve supplies the fuel to the settling tank as per the required quantity. Settling of the solid and water takes place in the settling tank.

From the Fuel settling tank, fuel is supplied to the fuel treatment units. Oil is pumped to the daily service tanks after the purifying process. Fuel circulates to the mixing unit via the three-way valve. Consumption of fuel is metered through a flow meter installed in the system. Fuel supply pumps supply the fuel to the engine-driven fuel pump. From the engine-driven pump, fuel is supplied to the fuel injection system through fuel filters.

For the efficient combustion of the fuel, the temperature of the fuel is monitored by the viscosity meter provided in the fuel booster system. A pressure-regulating valve installed in the system will regulate the fuel supply at constant pressure to the engine-driven pump.

A diesel tank is incorporated into the system and is connected to the fuel supply system via a three-way cock. In the mixing tank, the circulated fuel is collected and supplied to the day tank.

The fuel system is equipped with two critical safety devices under

1. A valve was installed at a remote place to close the fuel system supply in the event of a fire.
2. Low fuel level in the tank.

 

Fuel Injection system

Let us discuss the fuel injection system which consists of fuel Injection Pumps and Fuel Injection Valves..”

Imagine the fuel injection system as a way to give the engine the exact amount of fuel it needs, exactly when it needs it. It’s like a super precise delivery system. The main players in this system are the fuel injection pump and the fuel injectors.

The fuel injection pump acts like the leader of a musical band. It sends just the right amount of fuel to each injector. And these injectors are like small taps that spray fuel into the engine in a special way.

When these parts work together, the engine gets the perfect fuel amount to create power really efficiently. It’s like having a finely tuned instrument playing a flawless tune. The Fuel injection system is a responsible and crucial system of a Diesel Power Plant which ensures the ideal performance and smooth operation.

Air Intake System

Let’s break down the “Air Intake System” and its components:

The Air Intake System is made up of a few important parts that help the engine get the air it needs to work properly. These parts are:

1. Air Intake Ducting: This is like a special pathway that helps bring in the air from outside.
2. Silencer: This part helps reduce the noise that comes from the air as it flows into the engine.
3. Air Cleaner: The air cleaner is like a filter that makes sure the air going into the engine is clean and doesn’t have any dirt or impurities.
4. Flexible Connections: These are like bendy parts that help the system fit together nicely.

By arranging these parts, the air intake area is placed far from the engine, so the noise from the air isn’t too loud. The filters in the system make sure that the engine doesn’t get any dirt or stuff from the air that could harm it.

The design of the air system is made to be small to reduce friction and costs. The filter is designed to collect dust but is easy to clean and doesn’t slow down the airflow much. The air system also has a silencer and a special type of filter to keep things running smoothly.

Flue Gas System 

Let’s break down the “Flue Gas System” and its components:

When the engine’s exhaust valves let out gases, these gases go into something called a “gas receiver.” In the receiver, the gases are balanced so they don’t push too hard or too softly. Then, these gases go to a turbocharger.

After that, the gases come out of the turbocharger and go into the “Exhaust Gas System.” This system includes a “spark arrester silencer,” which is like a part that makes the noise and sparks from the exhaust quieter and safer. There’s also a pipe that carries the exhaust gases, and it’s supported and covered with special insulation.

For some power plants, there’s something called a “Waste Heat Recovery Boiler.” The exhaust pipe connects to this boiler to use the extra heat. If the power plant doesn’t have this boiler, the exhaust system goes straight to a tall pipe called an “exhaust stack.”

Sometimes, there’s a “heat recovery unit” in the flue gas system. This unit collects extra heat to make steam. This steam can be used for things like cooling or heating.

The exhaust silencer does three important jobs: it makes the exhaust gas noise less, it stops sparks from coming out, and it collects extra heat. The silencer works like a spinning fan with blades inside to make things quiet and safe.

Engine cooling water system

Let’s talk about the “Engine Cooling Water System.” There are two types of systems in this: the “Low-Temperature Cooling Water System” and the “High-Temperature Cooling Water System.”

The Low-Temperature Cooling Water System is like the cooler water that helps keep the engine from getting too hot. The High-Temperature Cooling Water System is for the hotter parts of the engine that need more cooling to work well. These systems together make sure the engine stays at the right temperature and works smoothly.

LT water system (Low-temperature system)

Let’s talk about the “Low-Temperature Water System” or LT water system. This system helps keep things cool in the engine. A pump circulates the LT water through the charge air cooler and the lube oil cooler.

The LT system is designed to keep the freshwater temperature lower than 36°C. This is important so that the charge air, which is the air going into the engine, doesn’t get too hot. With the controlled water temperature engine will work well and will remain in good condition.

High-temperature cooling water system (HT circuit)

let’s talk about the “High-Temperature Water System” or HT water system. This system helps cool down important parts of the engine. The water goes through the first stage of the charge air cooler before it goes into the cooling water jackets and cylinder heads. It’s like a cooling process to make sure the engine doesn’t get too hot and can work properly. The water is moved by a pump called the Temperature Circulating Pump. The optimum temperature will let the engine work satisfactorily with the best performance.

Starting Air System

The compressed air is supplied from the Starting Air Bottle. The air passes to the Dirt separator and is further provided to the engine starting equipment at a pressure of 8.5 bars to 10 Bars. 

1. Direct Air Starting system- In this system, Compressed air is directly supplied to Engine cylinders at a pressure of 30 bars. The starting air enters the cylinders as per the firing order for the starting sequence of the engine and the engine starts, as soon as the engine gains the starting speed.
2.  Starting Motors: – In this system, starting air is supplied to the starting Air Motor at a pressure of 8.5 Bars to 10 bars. The flywheel is rotated at a starting speed by a starting Air motor.
3. Starting Control System– Starting air to the starting motor is supplied through the Solenoid valve operating as per the signals from the starting control system. The system is also provided with an emergency starting valve that can be used manually to start the engine in auto system failure.

Lubricating Oil System

The lubrication system provides the lubricating oil to the moving parts of an engine. The lubricating oil provides the oil film between the moving parts and prevents the parts from generating heat due to friction. The secondary role of the lubricating oil is to clean the amounts of combustion impurities deposited in the parts.

In the dry sump type engine, oil suction by the lube oil pump is taken from a separate tank. In the wet sump type engine, the lube oil pump takes suction from the engine sump. The pump supplies the oil to the engine through the lube oil cooler, the Thermostatic valve, and full-flow filters. In the engine, the oil circulates through many branch pipes to supply the various parts asunder..

• Main and conrod bearings
• Piston cooling

•  Cooling of the piston.
• Valve gears mechanism for the lubrication of rocker arms.
• Lubrication system for the camshaft components
• Other auxiliaries engine units like, Turbocharger, Governor, Pumps, and Valve-gear trains.

A bypass oil cyclone-type filter is installed on the engine to clean the impurities of lubricating oil.

Pre-Lubrication Pump

Before the start of the engine, lubricating oil is provided by the lube oil priming pump. Oil supplied by the priming pump limits the boundary lubrication by reducing the time for the commencement of hydrodynamic lubrication

Alternators

Alternators are like magic machines that transform mechanical power into electricity.
Here is how they operate: Mechanical energy is produced when an engine in a power plant rotates.
Alternators take this energy and change it into electrical power.
There are different kinds of alternators. One type is the synchronous alternator, which makes electricity that matches the power grid’s frequency. Another is the asynchronous alternator, or induction generator, creating power without needing to match the grid’s frequency.
Alternators come in various sizes and styles, depending on how much electricity they need to make.
So, when you light up a room or charge your phone, remember it’s all thanks to these awesome alternators quietly doing their work.

Types of Alternators

1. Alternator for marine application
2. Locomotive Diesel Electric Alternator
3. Brushless type alternator
4. Radio Alternators.

Attributes

1. Current and Alternator speeds are directly proportional.
2. The efficiency of an alternator is proportional to the speed.
3. Current and temperature rise will be in inverse proportion.

Control and Governing system of diesel power plants

Why is it required?

• As per the load requirement, the load is never constant on the Generator.
• Oscillating Frequency with the supply of poor quality will be the result of uncompromised adjustments..
• Nonspeeding up and a constant frequency is the indication of generation is as per the system requirement
• The quality of power will depend upon the Frequency and the voltage.
• Must control the Frequency and voltage properly for a steady and proper output for satisfactory performance.
• Engine governing system utilized for administering Frequency and power output.  

Diesel Power plant Speed control

• Manage constant shaft speed at all loads
• Maintain a steady fuel supply through the Engine.

Engine Control System of diesel power plants

This system is installed independently on each Generator set and is capable of smart, sophisticated functions of the Engine and interfaced with the plant system.

This system is also responsible for the operation, and complete monitoring of the Engine, and safety functions. This system is also connected to an external system for providing entire operation and monitoring capabilities to the remote system.

Main units of the system

1. Panel for ECS
2. panel for Ignition Control

ECS Panel; The engine primary function is controlled by the central unit of engine system mounted in the ECS panel. ECS panel is connected to an internal and external system to enable the operator to monitor the engine status and manage the Engine through the touch screen on the panel

Ignition Control panel

The ignition control panel is mounted on the engine and connected to a fuel admission valve and ignition coil on each cylinder. ICP regulates the timing and duration of each valve and injectors.

Diesel Engines: An Owner’s Guide to Operations and Maintenance

Fundamentals of Medium/Heavy Duty Diesel Engines

Pounder’s Marine Diesel Engines and Gas Turbines

Lamb’s Questions and Answers on the Marine Diesel Engine

A Pocket Book of Marine Engineering: Questions and Answers

Diesel Generator Handbook

Blog Conclusion

We hope that you enjoy our article on Diesel Power Plants. We hope that you will be able to learn some new information about Diesel Power Plants and are confident enough to share it with your friends! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at http://sh057.global.temp.domains/~arinedie/contact-us/. Thank you for reading, we would love to hear from you!

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