What are Thermoelectric Plants?
Thermoelectric power plants, also known as thermoelectric plants, are units for generating electricity from the heat released by the burning of fossil fuels, such as natural gas, mineral coal, diesel oil, petroleum, fuel oil, and also the burning of plants.
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It is important to highlight that nuclear power plants are also types of thermoelectric power plants, as they use the heat generated by the breakdown of atoms, nuclear fission, with the purpose of producing steam for generating electricity, the same process happens in the case of burning the other fuels.
How does a thermoelectric plant work?
In power plants, energy is generated by burning fuel in the combustion chamber (or boiler), which The heat generated in this process causes the water located on the walls of the chamber to boil, transforming it into steam. Under high pressure conditions, the steam turns the blades of a turbine which, in turn, drives an electric generator.
From the generator, the electrical energy produced by the movement of the blades is conducted to a transformer and from there taken to wires to be distributed for consumption by the population.
Hot water from the chamber tubes is cooled in a condenser and returned to repeat the cycle.
Types of Thermoelectric Plants
- Oil plant;
- Coal power plant;
- Nuclear plant;
- Natural gas plant.
Advantages of Thermoelectric Energy
- They are faster to build compared to hydroelectric plants.
- They are alternatives for countries with a limited energy matrix.
- Installation can be done in locations close to consumption regions, reducing the cost of towers and transmission lines.
Disadvantages of Thermoelectric Energy
- Due to the use of fossil fuels to burn and generate energy, there is a large release of pollutants into the atmosphere, responsible for by the greenhouse effect and the increase in global warming, which makes this type of energy highly harmful to the environment environment.
- High consumption of water in the production and supply of the cooling system of its turbines
- The energy sources used by thermoelectric plants are not renewable, most of which are fossil-based, which increases the unavailability of these resources in the medium and long term.
- Due to the price of fossil fuels, the final cost of this type of energy is higher than that generated by hydroelectric plants.
Main Thermoelectric Power Plants in Brazil
- Thermoelectric Cuiabá I (Cuiabá-MT) – Power: 470 MW
- Uruguaiana thermoelectric plant (Uruguaiana-RS) – Power: 480 MW
- Araucária thermoelectric plant (Araucária-PR) – Power: 410 MW
- Muricy thermoelectric plant (Camaçari-BA) – Power: 147 MW
- Norte Fluminense Thermal Power Plant (Macaé-RJ) – Power: 740 MW
- Euzébio Rocha thermoelectric plant (Cubatão-SP) – Power: 220 MW
- Thermoelectric Luís Carlos Prestes (Três Lagoas-MS) – Power: 386 MW
- Termoceará thermoelectric plant (Caucaia-CE) – Power: 220 MW
- Thermoelectric Bahia I (Camaçari-BA) – Power: 32 MW
- Aureliano Chaves thermoelectric plant (Ibirité-MG)- Power: 226 MW
- Thermoelectric Juiz de Fora (Juiz de Fora-MG) – Power: 87 MW