Overview

Coal-fired power plants are thermal power plants. The combustion of coal produces heat. This is used to heat water. The result is steam, which then flows through a turbine. The turbine rotor drives a generator which produces electricity.
Coal consists mainly of carbon and hydrogen, which react with atmospheric oxygen during combustion to form carbon dioxide and water vapor. Since the flue gas additionally contains certain fractions of other combustion products, it is cleaned in three stages in systems designed specifically for this purpose.
Unfortunately, the laws of nature do not permit the complete conversion of the fuel’s energy into electricity. Consequently, a part of the energy obtained from the coal is given off into the environment with the cooling water and the flue gas. The task of our engineers is to minimize this fraction in order to conserve fuel resources and generate as little carbon dioxide as possible.

 
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