Coal Fired Power Plants Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Coal Fired Power Plants?

Coal fired power plants are a type of power station that uses coal as its fuel source to generate electricity. They are the most common form of electricity generation in many countries, and have been used for over a century. Coal-fired power plants provide an essential source of energy to many parts of the world, while at the same time creating environmental challenges such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In this essay, I will outline how coal-fired power plants work, discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and explain why they remain popular sources of energy generation despite the environmental concerns.The process begins with pulverizing coal into a fine powder which is then burned inside a boiler to produce hot gases and steam. The steam is then piped through turbines connected to generators which convert it into electricity. Heat from burning coal is also used to heat water in boilers which produces additional steam used by some types of turbines for further electricity production.One advantage of using coal as a fuel source is its abundance; there are vast reserves available around the world which make it an attractive option for generating large amounts of energy quickly and affordably. Coal can also be mined relatively cheaply compared to other forms of fuel like oil or natural gas so it’s often cheaper than these alternatives when building new power plants. Additionally, because existing infrastructure already exists for transporting coal from mines to power plants, operating costs tend to be lower than those associated with other forms of energy production such as nuclear or renewable sources like solar or wind power. However, there are several significant downsides associated with using coal-fired power plants that must be taken into consideration before deciding whether or not they should continue being used in our current energy mix: firstly, burning fossil fuels – including coal – releases air pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) that contribute significantly towards acid rain formation; secondly emissions from burning fossil fuels can also contribute significantly towards climate change due to their high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2); thirdly burning fossil fuels produces ash particles that can harm human health when inhaled; finally mining operations required for extracting raw materials necessary for producing electricity at a coal-fired plant can damage local ecosystems if not properly managed.