What is Thermal power plant?

A thermal power station is a type of power station in which heat energy is converted to electrical energy. In a steam-generating cycle heat is used to boil water in a large pressure vessel to produce high-pressure steam, which drives a steam turbine connected to an electrical generator. The low-pressure exhaust from the turbine enters a steam condenser where it is cooled to produce hot condensate which is recycled to the heating process to generate more high pressure steam. This is known as a Rankine cycle.

Natural gas or oil fuel can also be burnt directly in a gas turbine connected to an electrical generator, and to improve efficiency the hot exhaust gases are then used to boil water and produce more steam for use in a steam generating cycle. This is known as combined cycle gas turbine plant. The design of thermal power stations depends on the intended energy source: fossil fuel, nuclear and geothermal power, solar energy, biofuels, and waste incineration are all used. Certain thermal power stations are also designed to produce heat for industrial purposes; for district heating; or desalination of water, in addition to generating electrical power. Water powered generating stations producing hydroelectricity are not classified as thermal as they do not use heat in the process. Photovoltaic and wind plants are likewise excluded.