Energy

Vapour plants

In particular, thermoelectric plants exploit vapour energy, which is produced by a “boiler” that burns a liquid fuel, such as fuel oil and naphtha or methane (usually modern boilers can burn the three types of fuel without distinction). Usually large thermoelectric power plants are installed close to big consumption centres and need suitable water supplies for vapour production and fuel storage. The combustion occurs in a part of the boiler that is called “combustion chamber”, with the walls made up of a series of pipes where water heats and gradually converts into vapour. The combustion chamber receives the fuels by means of adequate openings through which air passes, pushed by special ventilators. According to a determined route, the gases resulting from the combustion release a part of their heat and, at the boiler exit, they pass through the pre-heaters that release the air, which will enter the boiler. Then, they pass through a series of treating filters and finally they get to the chimney, that disperses them into the air. The vapour turns the blades of a turbine, which is connected to an alternator for the production of electric power. Vapour turbines are approximately similar to hydraulic ones, but they differ a lot because they do not work with water, but with superheated vapour, with all the subsequent temperature and resistance problems deriving from it.