Close Menu

Power Plant Instrumentation

Semester 2

This course provides a comprehensive study of the instruments that are used to measure and control the processes of electricity power generation. The student is first exposed to an in-depth analysis of the processes of controlling the generation of electricity from tradition fuel sources. This is followed by a study of the instrumentation and control aspects of alternative form of electricity generation. Special emphasis is made to sensitize students to the environmental impact of these systems. Design ethics and design for safety are embedded in this course. A Case study of specific application of instruments in the control processes of power plants is an integral part of this course.

Syllabus: 
  • Power plant:
    • unit overview, Types of boiler, Exhaust Gas Boilers and Incinerators, turbine generators, condensers, material handling systems. Comparison of thermal power plant, hydroelectric power plant, Nuclear power plant, solar power plant, Wind power plant
  • Boiler Instrumentation:
    • control and optimization, Combustion control, air to fuel ratio control, 3-element drum level control, steam temperature and pressure control, oxygen/CO2 in flue gases, furnace draft, boiler interlocks, sequence event recorder, supervisor control, data acquisition controls, burner management systems and controllers. Start-up and shut-down procedures, Boiler safety standard, Boiler inspection procedures. Boiler load calculation, boiler efficiency calculation. Instrumentation for Boiler ancillaries viz. water treatment, electro-static precipitator, soot blower, economizer, de aerator, super heater, chemical dosing systems, air pre-heater, coal and ash handling systems, fuel storage and distribution, Bag House Filters.
  • Turbine instrumentation and control:
    • start-up and shut-down, thermal stress control, condition monitoring & power distribution instrumentation. Synchronous, Induction generators
  • Hydroelectric power generation, regulation & monitoring of voltage & frequency of output power. Pollution & effluent monitoring & control. Energy Management, electrical sub-station controls.
  • Power Generation using non-conventional energy sources viz. Wind Power, solar Power, Tidal Power, Plant safety & redundancies.
  • Nuclear Power Generation & control Station.
  • Diesel Generator Controls
Evaluation: 

One 2-hour final exam                     60%

One 1-hour in-course test                20%

Case Study of a Power Plant Instrumentation System (Practical investigation)     20%

Students will select a local electricity power plant and produce a comprehensive assessment of its instrumentation and control processes for selected systems.

Learning Objectives: 

After completing this course, students should be able to:

  • Explain the operation traditional power plants and describe the instruments that make up their measurement and control systems
  • Analyze the various instruments used in power plant control systems and make recommendations for improving the control processes
  • Design instrumentation systems for electricity generating plants
  • Explain the environmental impact of electricity generation and show how adequate control processes may reduce or eliminate these impacts
  • Describe the requirements and regulations for plant safety
ELET3430

Text Book:

Nag, P. K. (2008) Power Plant Engineering – 3rd Edition. Tata McGraw- Hill Publishing Companies. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-064815-9

Supplemental Reading :

Singh, S. K. (2009) Industrial Instrumentation and Control. Tata- McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-026222-5

Internet Resources:

Course Code: 
ELNG3060
Credits: 
3 Credits
Level: 
Level 3
Top of Page