What Are The Different Types of Generators Used In A Power Plant?
A generator is the crucial component of any power plant that supplies electricity to industrial, commercial, and residential destinations. The term largely refers to the devices that are responsible for turning the raw materials like fuel and natural resources into consumable power. Over the years, this electricity has been created by generators that convert resources like coal, natural gas, diesel, etc into power. Now, these resources consist of renewable options like wind, solar, and nuclear as well.
Generators use the available resources to produce electric energy in the form of voltage and current based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. The electricity that is generated can be any of the two fundamental types which is AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current). Both types of currents are generated using the same production technique from different types of generators depending on the final need. For instance, AC generators deliver electricity for home use whereas a DC generator would produce electricity for vehicle engines. Apart from this major distinction, the different types of generators can be categorized by several dimensions with the most prominent one being which resources they use to produce electricity.
Following are the different types of generators that are generally used at a power plant:
Diesel Generators
These machines tend to be more efficient and long-lasting with proper maintenance in spite of rigorous use. Diesel generators are easier to operate and can be started quickly even in cold climates. Another benefit is that diesel is readily available and not as flammable as other fuel sources. On the other hand, diesel generators are not well suited for all environments. Wetness can lead to unwanted moisture in the fuel and it is extremely tough to pump the fuel during outages. Diesel can also be stored only up to 24 months and the engine emissions for this resource is quite high. For more environmental benefits, there is always the biodiesel fuel option which is a mixture of diesel and a biological source like vegetable oil or animal fat.
Gasoline Generators
This is the most common kind of generator since gasoline is readily available and these machines are available at low cost. These generators are great portable models due to their small size. However, gasoline can only be stored for less than a year and is usually priced higher than diesel, propane, and natural gas. Similar to diesel, these generators produce high emissions and do not tend to start well in colder temperatures.
Natural Gas Generators
These generators get the resources through natural gas lines that run straight into the site which means it almost never runs out and doesn’t need to be refilled. This, however, means that portability isn’t an option even though natural gas is readily available without a power supply. They start well in cold conditions while other points to note are that the gas lines make the installation process expensive and broken gas lines could lead to hazardous leaks.
Propane Generators
Propane is another readily available resource with a longer shelf life and a cleaner burn than gasoline and diesel fuels. These generators are generally long-lasting with low emissions. On the other hand, they are expensive to install and operate and must be done by a qualified technician with gas line factors similar to natural gas generators.
Natural Energy Source Generators
Other than the above sources, there are also natural renewable options with solar being the most prominent environmentally friendly options. The popularity of solar generators is growing along with the technology that make it an efficient, cost effective, and abundantly available power generation solution. There are also wind powered generators and hydroelectric generators which use the unlimited sources of wind and water to generate electricity.
