2 - Centralized power generation

Abstract

The power generation has been centralized for many years. The conventional power network comprises large hydropower plants (HPPs), thermoelectric power plants, and nuclear power plants. This chapter deals with the central generation and the most common power plants being used all over the world. It is aimed to provide further understanding of power generation and central generation plants in terms of their physical, mechanical, and electrical configurations. The HPPs have been represented according to architectural structures, hydraulic turbines, types of generators used for electromechanical conversion and power generation. Afterward, the thermoelectric plants have been discussed in terms of fuel types and operation principles that are the second major generation plants in many countries. The nuclear power plants that are being discussed and criticized for many years have also dealt in terms of their power generation structures and current situation in the world. The chapter is expected to provide a base before the representation of distributed generation and renewable energy sources in the following chapters.