Index

• Definition• Diagrams• Main components of a thermal power station• How a thermal power station works• Use in Spain• Production in Galicia• Advantages and disadvantages• Conclusions

Definition

A fossil-fuel power station is a power station which burns fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or oil to produce electricity.

Diagram

Diagram

Diagram

Main components of a thermal power station

Boiler• In this part, the water is transformed into steam,

changing its state. This action takes place due to the combustion of natural gas or any other fossil fuels.

Steam turbine• A machine that collects the water steam and causes

the shaft that goes across it to move, thanks to a complex system of pressures and temperatures.

Generator• A machine that gathers the mechanical energy

generated in the shaft inside the turbine and transforms it into electricity.

How a thermal power station works

Electricity is produced from fossil fuels such as coal, fuel oil or natural gas by means of a thermodynamic cycle of water and steam.

The operation of all the thermal power stations is practically the same, no matter what type of fuel they use:

• Coal plants: The fuel must be crushed beforehand.• Fuel oil plants: The fuel is warmed up for an

easier use.• Natural gas plants: The fuel does not need

storage, as it comes directly through pipelines.

Use in SpainThe thermal power stations in Spain produce approximately half of the electric power generated in the country.

Production in Galicia

• Almost 12 % of the thermoelectric energy in Spain comes from Galicia.

• A very important plant is located in As Pontes, A Coruña. It is a thermal power station fed by coal and natural gas.

• The other two thermal power stations in Galicia are located in Meirama and Sabón, also within the province of A Coruña.

Thermal power station situated in As Pontes

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• They are the cheapest power plants to build, specially the coal plants.

• They generate more energy than other plants.• They increase the amount of electricity generated

with the same type of fuel.• They are much more efficient than other plants.

Disadvantages:

• They generate greenhouse gases and acid rain that can contain heavy metals.

• It is a finite source of energy whose use is limited to the duration of the reserves.

• Thermal emission can alter local microclimates.• Thermal power plants can alter the fluvial

ecosystems due to the spilling of warm water.• The efficiency of these power plants is low in spite

of the improvements.

Conclusions

• The atmosphere gets filled with toxic gases that can harm both human beings and the environment.

• Thermal power plants play a very important role in the generation of electricity in our country, Spain.

• Although they are important for us, thermal plants produce a lot of pollution.