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Combined Operations Of   Power Plants

Combined Operations of Power Plants

It is the aim of the national economy to create the maximum amount of generating capacity with the available funds and to generate power at as cheap rate as possible. Power supply industry is highly capital intensive and therefore it is desirable to utilise in optimum manner once generating facilities become available. Before the investment of huge amount in this industry, the most economic generating scheme should be selected to supply power at lowest cost.

Once the generating facilities (different power plants) are made available, it is important to have integrated operation of neighboring power systems so that maximum energy generation takes place from power stations like thermal and nuclear and maximum energy and capacity are utilised from the hydro stations. This can be only achieved by closely combined operation of different power systems which if operated individually cannot be utilised to the maximum advantage. Therefore, it is necessary that the power systems of the different states must be interconnected to yield the maximum benefit.

The U.S national power survey estimated that the reserve .capacity of power systems required in U.S. can be reduced from 17% to 8% by 198I, with the same reliability if fully coordinated .operation of all the country's resources was carried out. In India also, the reserve capacity requirements can be considerably reduced by having fully coordinated operation. Interconnected power system can provide large savings both in Capacity and fuel cost.

In order to achieve optimum utilisation of resources and at the same time ensuring reliability and continuity of power supply, proper administration and technical set-up has to be created. No doubt, the rapid pace of interconnection between the power systems can greatly improve the continuity, security and integrity of power supply if it is associated with sound mechanism for monitoring and control. .