Diesel
Electric
Power
Plants
Since the invention of diesel engine at the end of the nineteenth century this engine has found increasing application either as continuous or as a peak source of electric power due to its excellent qualities in respect of economy of operation.
Diesel electric plants in the range of 2 to 50 MW capacity are used as central stations for small supply authorities and works and they are universally adapted to supplement hydroelectric or thermal stations where stand by generating plants are essential for starting from cold and under emergency conditions.
In
many
countries,
the
demand
for
diesel
electric
plants
is
increased
for
electric
power
generation
because
of
difficulties
experienced
in
construction
of
new
hydraulic
plants
and
enlargement
of
old
hydro-plants.
A
long
term
planning
is
required
for
the
development
of
thermal
and
hydro-plants
which
cannot
keep
the
pace
many
times
with
the
increased
demand
by
the
people
and
industries
The
diesel
units
used
for
electric
generation
are
more
reliable
and
long
lived
piece
of
equipment
compared
with
other
types
of
plants.
In
Denmark,
a
15
MW
unit
was
in
existence
as
far
back
as
the
early
1900s.
The
20
MW
set
of
four
engines
is
available
in
Belgium
which
was
established
long
back.
The
present
trend
is
to
increase
the
unit
capacity,
and
unit
capacity
of
40
to
100
MW
is
expected
by
the
end
of
this
century.
In
some
countries
like
iran
few
power
plants
work
with
diesel
engines
to
supply
large
network
where
prices
of
fuel
are
in
favour
of
adopting
diesel
plants.
With
the
rapid
development
of
electric
generation
by
other
sources
after
independence
made
diesel
plants
to
disappear
from
field
as
their
generation
cost
was
considerably
high.
Many
small
units
in
the
range
of
1
to
5
MW
were
used
in
India
before
independence
to
take
the
localised
load
as
to
supply
electricity
to
small
industrial
units
or
district
towns.
The
diesel
plants
are
more
efficient
than
any
other
heat
engines
of
comparable
size.
It
is
cheap
in
first
cost.
It
can
be
started
quickly
and
brought
into
the
service. It can burn a fairly wide range of fuels. Its manufacturing periods are short and, therefore, a diesel station may be rapidly extended to keep pace with load growth by adding generating units of suitable sizes.
With
such
a
formidable
list
of
merits
to
its
credit,
it
does
not
monopolizes
the
power
production
market.
Because
there
are
definitely
some
hurdles
in
the
way
of
adopting
these
units
for
power
generation
as
well
as
other
power
plants
are
in
good
competition
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