Notes on Diesel Power Plant

A diesel power plant is a power generation facility that uses a diesel engine as the prime mover to produce electricity. It is commonly used in areas with relatively low power demand, as backup power sources, or in locations without access to a reliable power grid.

Here's an overview of its applications, advantages and disadvantages:

Applications:

Diesel Power Plant finds wide application in the following fields:

1. The diesel power plant is used for electrical power generation in capacities ranging from 100 to 5000 HP.
2. They are commonly used for mobile power generation and are widely used in transportation systems of railroads, ships, automobiles, and airplanes.
3. They can be used as standby power plants.
4. They can be utilized as peak load plants for other power plants.
5. Diesel power plants have become more economical due to their higher efficiency for industries with minor power requirements, such as 500 kW.

Advantages:

The advantages of diesel power plants are listed below:

1. The design of the diesel power plant is straightforward to install.
2. The layout of the diesel power plant is quite uncomplicated.
3. It requires a minimal amount of cooling water.
4. Standby losses are considerably lower compared to other power plants.
5. Operating costs for fuel are low.
6. Less fuel storage capacity is necessary.
7. There are no issues with ash disposal.
8. Monitoring requires significantly less time.
9. The diesel power plant is more efficient than a steam power plant for small-capacity generation.
10. It can be quickly started and loaded.
11. These plants can easily handle varying load demands without complications.

Disadvantages:

The disadvantages of diesel power plants are listed below:

1. High Maintenance and operating costs.
2. The plant cost per kW of power is comparatively higher.
3. The working life of a diesel power plant is short due to high maintenance.
4. The plant produces too much noise.
5. Diesel power plants are challenging to construct on a large scale.