Lecture 4 Power Plant

Layouts
y
Site Selection

Power Plant Selection Criteria

Land availability (~3 acres / MW)

Seismic stability
Soil and water properties
Flood plain
Weather/wind direction
E i ti site
Existing
it h
hazards
z d
Existing land use
Th
Threatened
d and
d endangered
d
d species
i
Proximity to Public Access areas
Country / State environmental regulations

Power Plant Selection Criteria

Population (less dense)

Cooling Water availability (~9.9 GPM / MW @
85 % PLF)
Fuel supply environment
Access to grid
Transportation options
Labor and skills availability
Cost and economic environment

Power Plant Selection Criteria

Cost of land
Fuel Storage area
Waste disposal
Distance from load centre

Geology/ Seismology

Avoid areas with

Volcanic activities
Slope and land slide
Potential collapse (limestone or any other soluble
formations)
Mined areas
Flood potential
Potential resources underground
Tectonic plate drifts

Advantages Nuclear Power

Competitive with other power plants

Relatively clean
Potential solution for climate change
Reduces dependence on Middle East, a politically
unstable part of the world
Economic alternative to coal and other
conventional power plants

Disadvantages Nuclear Power

Many people and environmental organizations are

very concerned about the radioactive fuel it needs.
needs
Serious accidents
R di
Radioactive
i wastes
Some of the waste remains radioactive (dangerous)
for thousands of years and is currently stored in
places such as deep caves and mines.
Storing and monitoring the radioactive waste
material for thousands of years has a high cost.

Disadvantages Nuclear Power

Pose a danger to marine life and the environment

Old vessels
l can lleak
k radiation
di i if they
h are not
maintained properly or if they are dismantled
carelessly at the end of their working lives.
lives
Health hazards
Chance - Unstable countries using nuclear power
may also develop nuclear weapons and even use
them

Advantages Hydro Power

No fuel cost
Low operating
p
g costs and maintenance
Low electricity cost
Payback
y
5 - 8 yyears
Extremely profitable (lifetime 50 100 years)
No GHGs
Ease of Energy storage
Small size possible
Reliability
High Load Factor

Disadvantages Hydro Power

Environmental, Dislocation and Tribal Rights

Wild Life and Fishes gets affected
Earthquake vulnerability
Dam Failure
Site identification is difficult
L
Long
gestation
t ti time
ti

Base Load and Peak Load Electricity

Electricity cannot be stored, and must therefore be

used as it is generated
g
Supply should be matched with demand always
Power stations

Base Load stations (runs around the clock)

Peak Load stations ((react for sudden increase or

decrease in demand)
Load Shedding - consumers may be deliberately cut
off in order to maintain the balance between
demand and supply