Lämpövoimalaitoksia

Lämpövoimalaitoksia, commonly known as thermal power plants, are facilities that generate electricity by burning fuel to produce heat. This heat is then used to convert water into high-pressure steam. The steam is directed through a turbine, which is connected to a generator. The spinning turbine causes the generator to produce electrical energy.

The primary fuels used in thermal power plants include fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil. Nuclear power plants are also a type of thermal power plant, where the heat is generated through nuclear fission rather than combustion. Renewable thermal power plants utilize biomass, geothermal energy, or concentrated solar power to produce heat.

The efficiency of thermal power plants varies depending on the technology used and the type of fuel. Combined heat and power (CHP) plants, also known as cogeneration plants, are more efficient as they capture waste heat from electricity generation and use it for heating purposes, such as in district heating systems.

Emissions are a significant consideration for thermal power plants, particularly those burning fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Modern plants often incorporate technologies to reduce these emissions, such as scrubbers and catalytic converters. Nuclear power plants, while not producing greenhouse gas emissions during operation, generate radioactive waste that requires careful management. The choice of fuel and the environmental controls employed are critical factors in the overall impact of a thermal power plant.