In: Chemistry
Coal powered electricity has only about 30% total efficiency (i.e. from point of combustion to your home) – give a technical explanation of why this is so.
In a coal-fired power station, pulverized coal is mixed with hot air and burnt. The heat generated during combustion of coal is used to convert water in a boiler into steam, which then turns on a turbine connected to a generator.
The total efficiency of a power generation process is given by the ratio of output power to input energy. In this calculation, total efficiency is calculated by considering the energy losses in the individual stages of the power generation process.
In the case of coal-fired power station, major energy loss occurs in the condenser which is used for converting steam back into water for successive power generation cycles. The energy loss in a condenser stage of coal plant ranges from 50 to 55% depending on the coolant and its circulation geometry. Remaining losses are boiler loss (5 %); turbine and generator mechanical losses (2 %); loss due to partial combustion of coal (5 %); power transmission losses (1.5%). The losses also depend on the power load. Considering heat energy supplied to burn the coal in power station as 100 % and subtracting these losses (55 + 5 + 2 + 5 + 1.5) the total efficiency (i.e., useful power) is only 30 %.