Various types of power plants – Electricity is a form of energy that we often use or even without electricity it would be difficult for us to carry out various activities. The electricity we use comes from existing power plants, especially in Indonesia.
Then, what is a power plant and what are the different types of power plants? Below, we will explain more about power plants and their various types.
Definition of Power Plant
A power plant is a tool that can produce or generate electrical energy. Electrical energy is generated by converting a certain energy into electrical energy. In general, energy generating power plants have a large scale so that they are able to supply electricity to various regions.
The generator is the main part of the power plant. Which generator is a rotating machine whose role is to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy using the principle of a magnetic field and electrical conductivity. This machine is activated from various energy sources.
We all know that electricity is an important aspect of supporting all activities of human life. So that without electricity life will feel lonely, empty or even feel very empty. So that life doesn’t feel lonely and activities can run normally as they should, there are various kinds of power generators that can be used.
Kinds of power plants need to know well. This is because the energy that is used daily comes from electricity generated from various methods to utilize various sources that are abundant around us.
One of them is derived from power plants which have many kinds. This energy source is divided into two, namely renewable energy (wind power, solar power) and non-renewable energy (fossil fuels). Power plants can be activated by using these various energy sources.
PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) or PLN reports that the number of power generating units is 6,143 units by the end of 2021. Of this number, 5,258 units are of the Diesel Power Plant (PLTD) type. The portion reaches 85.59% of the total power generation units used.
There are also 193 units (3.14%) which are mobile Gas Engine Power Plants (PLTMG). Then, as many as 162 units (2.64%) were in the form of Hydroelectric Power Plants (PLTA).
There are also 150 units (2.44%) which are Wind / Wind Power Plants (PLTB), as many as 126 units (2.05%) are Steam Power Plants (PLTU). Meanwhile, as many as 254 units (2.4%) of power plants use other energy.
For information, the installed capacity of PLN’s power plants reaches 44.46 gigawatt hours (GWH) in 2021. Meanwhile, the power capable of generating is 38.31 GWH. PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) or PLN reports that the number of power generating units is 6,143 units by the end of 2021.
Of these, 5,258 units are Diesel Power Plants (PLTD) types. The portion reaches 85.59% of the total power generation units used. There are also 193 units (3.14%) which are mobile Gas Engine Power Plants (PLTMG). Then, as many as 162 units (2.64%) were in the form of Hydroelectric Power Plants (PLTA).
There are also 150 units (2.44%) which are Wind / Wind Power Plants (PLTB), as many as 126 units (2.05%) are Steam Power Plants (PLTU). Meanwhile, as many as 254 units (2.4%) of power plants use other energy. For information, the installed capacity of PLN’s power plants reaches 44.46 gigawatt hours (GWH) in 2021. Meanwhile, the power capable of generating is 38.31 GWH.
Several types of power plants that already exist have various energy sources ranging from fossil energy such as petroleum, natural gas to alternative renewable energy. According to Wikipedia, a power plant is an industrial equipment that functions to produce or generate electrical energy with various power sources.
Types of PLN Power Plants
In Indonesia, there are many types of power plants used. The one that regulates electricity generation in Indonesia is the State Electricity Company or better known by the wider community with the abbreviation PLN. PLN also has several types of power plants. The following are the types of PLN power plants, namely:
- There are 5,258 Diesel Power Plants (PLTD).
- There are 193 units of Gas Engine Power Plants (PLTMG).
- There are 162 hydroelectric power plants (PLTA).
- There are 150 wind power plants (PLTB).
- There are 126 units of Steam Power Plants (PLTU).
- There are 79 units of Gas and Steam Power Plants (PLTGU).
- There are 72 Micro Hydro Power Plants (PLTMH).
- There are 66 units of Gas Power Plants (PLTG).
- There are 18 units of Geothermal Power Plants (PLTP).
- The construction of 12 mini-hydro power plants (PLTM).
- PLTS Solar Power Plant) there are 5 units
- There are 2 units of Biomass Power Plants (PLTBm).
Working Principles of Power Plants
A power plant or commonly called a power plant is a system consisting of turbines and generators that work to produce electrical energy. If a turbine is an industrial equipment that converts a form of energy into kinetic/movement energy, then a generator is an industrial equipment that converts kinetic/motion energy into electrical energy.
The turbine will convert whether it is petroleum, natural gas or steam into energy of motion. Then, the turbine will be connected to the generator, so that the generator can move according to the desired speed.
Then, the rotating generator will produce electrical energy. The type of power plant is classified based on the prime mover that drives the generator. For example, a power plant whose turbine is a gas turbine is called a gas power plant. If a steam turbine is called a steam power plant.
Based on this classification, we can group various types of power plants into several classifications, including:
- Gas Power Plant (PLTG)
- Steam Power Plant (PLTU)
- Oil Power Plant (PLTM)
- Solar Cell Power Plant
- Hydro/Hydro Power Plant (PLTA)
- Wind Power Generation
- Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN)
- Geothermal / Geothermal Power Plants
Types of Power Plants that Can Produce Energy
1. Hydro Power Plant
The first type of power plant is the Hydroelectric Power Plant (PLTA). Water energy or known as hydropower is a type of energy source that is produced from the power of water. Then, to produce this energy is usually done by making a dam to hold water. The water in the dam is then combined with a water pipe that is directed to the turbine.
The more water flowing in the turbine, the greater the energy produced. So, this type of energy is very dependent on the existing water supply. In general, this type of power plant is installed right next to a sizable water source such as a dam, reservoir, or river with a fairly heavy flow of water.
As the name implies, this one power plant relies on the speed of water currents to drive nearby turbines. The installed turbine functions as a trigger for the required water flow. This type of power plant converts the kinetic energy in water into pure, economical and environmentally friendly electrical energy. In addition, this hydroelectric power plant is renewable energy.
2. Wind Power Generation
The next type of power plant is hydroelectric power. Of course this one generator utilizes a large amount of energy from the wind. Electricity can be generated by generators by storing and converting potential wind energy.
Usually, this wind power plant also uses turbines or windmills to collect wind energy into the electricity generator provided. Power plants are installed in areas that have considerable potential for wind strength, such as beaches to sloping hills. Several countries in the world that are well known for their wind power plants are Austria, Switzerland, to the United States.
3. Steam Power Plant
The third type of power plant is a steam power plant (PLTU). This type of generator uses steam energy from the performance of a water pump which will combine with coal and oil. The results of the heating which aims to get high temperatures are then burned and sprayed into steam energy.
The steam energy will then drive the turbines to assemble and have the potential to become electrical energy stored in the generator. However, actually this type of power plant cannot be called a producer of environmentally friendly electrical energy. Because, the vapor produced is quite dangerous if inhaled by humans.
4. Solar Power Plant
This type of power plant can be classified as environmentally friendly, economical and effective energy. The reason is, sunlight as a source will continue to exist throughout time. Not only that, the advantages of solar power plants (PLTS) also tend to have a strong source of energy to generate electricity.
The plant uses fixtures such as solar panels to capture abundant sunlight throughout the day. In general, this power plant has been widely used by the community as a support for energy which is quite ideal and cheap.
5. Geothermal Power Plant
This type of power plant utilizes geothermal energy which is also quite abundant. The captured geothermal energy will then produce steam which can drive a generator.
This movable generator then converts the energy produced by geothermal energy into electrical energy that can be used for everyday life. Usually, geothermal power plants are located in highland areas such as mountains or at the foot of mountains. This is done in order to get high-quality natural energy.
6. Gas Power Plant
This next type of power plant utilizes fossil fuels as an energy source. Some of the fossil fuels used include oil, coal, and natural gas.
The fossil fuel is then burned together with gas in a gas-fired power plant (PLTG). The results of the combustion are then filtered through a special air filter so that they can enter and drive a turbine or generator. The energy source in the form of gas is claimed to have pressure that is strong enough to drive a turbine which is then converted into large electrical energy as well.
7. Diesel Power Plant
This type of power plant is not widely known because it is rarely used to produce electrical energy. This is because the diesel power plant (PLTD) costs quite a high operational cost and is not environmentally friendly.
This diesel power plant requires diesel fuel to drive the turbine. In fact, diesel fuel is a non-renewable fuel and requires quite a high cost.
After being able to move using diesel fuel, the diesel engine will produce pure mechanical energy to drive the turbine generator to produce electric power.
8. Nuclear Power Plant
Nuclear power plant or PLTN is a power plant that utilizes the fission reaction of the uranium nucleus in a nuclear reactor to produce heat. Where the heat will produce steam which is flowed into the turbine to drive the generator so as to produce electrical energy.
PLTN is one of the environmentally friendly power plants. This is because this power plant does not use fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. We all know that the impact of fossils can cause acid rain, global warming and endanger human health.
Even though it is environmentally friendly, the use of nuclear power plants must still receive attention because the radiation generated can damage the human body and can cause disability or even death.
9. Wave Power Plant
Tubular power plant or PLTO is a power plant that utilizes sea waves. The movement of the ocean waves rolling up and down is a source of energy that is quite large.
Waves have a high power density and are an alternative energy that makes it possible to become a renewable energy source. PLTO is an environmentally friendly power plant because in the process of generating electricity it does not produce emissions
10. Garbage Power Energy
Who would have thought that waste, which is often a problem for an area and even a country, could become electrical energy. Apart from using the 3R system ( Reuse , Reduce , Recycle ) to protect the environment, waste can also be used as compost and energy for electricity generation, or better known as PLTSa.
Garbage-powered electrical energy or PLTSa is electrical energy that comes from waste. Which waste is separated first which can be recycled or not. Then the waste that cannot be recycled or reused is put into the incinerator to be burned at temperatures above 1300°C.
This type of power plant is certainly very good to be applied to reduce the amount of waste that exists. Many countries have also used PLTSa, such as America, Japan, the Netherlands and Europe. Where these countries have used waste as a source of energy ( waste to energy ) for a long time (decades) and have proven effective in solving waste problems.
The community does not need to worry about PLTSa pollution because the various pollution that will be produced can already be anticipated by countries that have used PLTSa first. We certainly hope that Indonesia will build more PLTSa.
11. Tidal Generating Electrical Energy
Electrical energy for tidal power generation or called PLTPS (tidal energy) is one of the renewable energies. The working principle of this power is the same as that of a hydroelectric power plant. In this power plant, water will be used to drive turbines with generators so that they can produce electricity
12. Gas Steam Power Plant
Steam gas power plant or PLTGU is a combination of PLTG and PLTU. The high-temperature exhaust gas from the PLTG will be reused as a steam heater in the boiler/boiler to produce high-pressure steam which will drive the turbine in the generator so that it can produce electricity.
Power plants do have many kinds. Even so, usually each type of power plant will be adapted to the conditions of a region or a country. Thus the discussion about the various types of power plants, I hope all the discussion above can be useful for Sinaumed’s.
Sinaumed’s can get more information about various types of power plants by reading the books available at sinaumedia.com . As #FriendsWithoutLimits we always try to give the best. Reading lots of books and articles will never hurt you, because Sinaumed’s will get #MoreWithReading information and knowledge .
Author: Yufi Cantika Sukma Divine
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