Thermal Power Generation and Renewable Energy Conversion

Central Thermal Operation

Central carbon fuel is stored as the mine reaches and moves up the hopper, where a mill grinds it down to dust. This dust is mixed with preheated air and enters the boiler. If the fuel is stored in tanks, it is heated before driving to the boiler. If the power station uses gas, it passes from storage tanks to the boiler, pre-heated.

In the boiler, burning the fuel produces heat energy, which is converted to steam. Water circulates through tubes surrounding the furnace walls. The steam reaches the turbines. The shift of the turbine blades is transmitted to the generator rotor, producing electrical energy. As tension rises, transformers step up the voltage, and the energy is then transported to consumption points via high-tension lines.

The steam from the turbine is channeled to a condenser, where it is liquefied. Heat is discharged through a cooling circuit to the sea or rivers. The recovered water passes through some heaters and then returns to the boiler to start a new cycle. The gas produced in combustion, in addition to heating water, heats the inlet air. It passes through a precipitator before being expelled through a stack.

Thermal Conversion - Conversion of Low and Medium Temperature

This conversion is done through collectors, which are devices that absorb solar heat and transmit it to a heat transfer fluid, typically water.

Concentration

• With these temperature sensors, temperatures up to 300º C are achieved.

Conversion of High Temperature

Obtaining high temperatures is conducted by:

1. Solar Ovens: These are formed by a parabolic mirror that concentrates the sun's rays onto its focus.
2. Solar Power Stations: These facilities transform solar energy into electricity.

Photovoltaic Conversion

Electricity is produced directly from sunlight in photovoltaic cells, made of a semiconductor metal such as silicon. When light falls on these cells, the photovoltaic effect originates. Photovoltaic installations must be fitted with accumulators capable of storing unused electrical energy in the form of chemical energy.

Tidal Energy

This leverages the power of the tides. Tidal power stations are typically installed in estuaries. They consist of a dam that separates the sea from the coast to retain water at high tide. At low tide, the gates are opened, and the water drives a turbine connected to an alternator, which produces electrical energy.