84 Electrical Power Systems Technology
Load Factor (Demand)
Capacity Factor
Boiler
Superheater
Desuperheater
Feedwater
Reaction Turbine
Economizer
Feedwater Heater
Condenser
Feedwater Purifier
Coal Pulverizer
Hydroelectric System
Hydraulic Turbine
Pumped Storage Hydroelectric System
Nuclear Fission System
Nuclear Reactor
Moderator
Boiling-Water Reactor (BWR)
Pressurized-Water Reactor (PWR)
ELECTRICAL POWER PLANTS
Most electrical power in the United States is produced at power plants
that are either fossil fuel steam plants, nuclear fission steam plants, or hy-
droelectric plants. Fossil fuel and nuclear fission plants utilize steam tur-
bines to deliver the mechanical energy needed to rotate the large three-
phase alternators that produce massive quantities of electrical power. Hy-
droelectric plants ordinarily use vertically mounted hydraulic turbines.
These units convert the force of flowing water into mechanical energy to
rotate three-phase alternators.
The power plants may be located near the energy sources, near cities,
or near the large industries where great amounts of electrical power are
consumed. The generating capacity of power plants in the United States
is greater than the combined capacity of the next four leading countries of
the world. Thus, we can see how dependent we are upon the efficient pro-
duction of electrical power.