Lämpövoimalaitosten

Lämpövoimalaitokset, often translated as thermal power plants, are industrial facilities designed to generate electricity through the conversion of thermal energy. This thermal energy is typically derived from the combustion of fuels, though other sources like nuclear reactions or geothermal heat are also utilized. The fundamental principle involves heating a working fluid, most commonly water, to produce steam under high pressure. This high-pressure steam then drives a turbine, which is connected to a generator, thereby producing electrical energy.

The primary fuels used in thermal power plants include fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil. These fuels are burned in a boiler, releasing heat that is transferred to the water. The efficiency of these plants, meaning the proportion of fuel energy converted to electrical energy, varies depending on the technology and fuel type. Waste heat from the process can sometimes be used for district heating, a system where buildings in a community are heated by a central source, creating a combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

Nuclear power plants are a type of thermal power plant that uses nuclear fission to generate heat. Geothermal power plants harness heat from the Earth's interior. While all thermal power plants share the core mechanism of using heat to produce electricity, their specific energy sources and environmental impacts differ significantly. Emissions, particularly greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion, are a major consideration in the operation of many thermal power plants.