Turbines and generators both are used in producing electric power, but turbine converts different available energy forms into rotation while generator converts rotation into electricity. Different types of turbines are used depending on type of energy they use and are used to power generators. Turbines are also used for other purposes such as powering ships and airplanes, but generator only produces electricity. Turbines and generators are also built completely differently. Common thing about both is they both rotate.
Turbine generators are used to generate electricity. Different types of turbines are used according to the energy used to power turbine. An aircraft uses jet fuel to power its turbine while a wind turbine uses wind energy. A gas turbine uses natural gas while a steam turbine runs on steam from boilers.
The turbine then runs the generator using the connected turbine shaft. When a generator rotates, coils of wire move through magnetic field, and electricity is produced in wires. This electric current runs through transmission lines to homes here power is utilised.
Recent Trends
Recent times have seen an increasing trend in power generation market that will likely shape it for many years to come. Natural gas and steam turbines seem to replace coal and oil, which is clearly on decline path. Different turbine designs and generator configurations are trending these days.
Modular Turbine Designs are simply aiming to reduce the timeline used to construct a power plant. This reduces the cost of gas turbines and help some power plants to increase electricity production and gain market share. Even modular and compact generators are driven by these turbines
The increasing usage of gas instead of oil to run turbines and generators helps in various ways. Firstly, gas is more efficient and less expensive. The gas generators are environment-friendly compared to diesel generators. This makes power generation less expensive and its supply at low cost to the consumers.
Bi-fuel technology is recently trending for portable generator but it also provides significant fuel saving and environmental benefits when incorporated on larger generators.
Innovations
Innovations in electrical sector is gaining momentum and various measures are been taken to make least possible pollution and still get most efficient output from turbines and generators. Environment friendly measures are taken into account to make the future a better place to live and so innovation in industry is a need of hour.
Companies like Solar Aero are ergonomically designing turbines with no blade for low maintenance cost to bring down wind power price down to coal-fired rates. These are fuller turbine which uses thin metal disks to turn a generator.
Maglev Turbines are the best alternative for conventional turbines since frictional loses are least and they give efficient power output. These frictionless units can harness slower moving turbines to capture more electricity.
Miniature hydroelectric generators are being researched to produce power at small level and runs household devices. These may be the future mini hydropower plants installed in all of ours houses.
Opportunities & Challenges
Research on various technologies to improve the design of turbine and generators have been done. But the obstacle arises when implementation of such technologies is to be done. Therefore, various opportunities lie in front of an engineer to solve these challenges and implement the results of a research.
Another challenge is the forecasting of electrical energy. It can never be predicted for long term; therefore, various opportunities lie in this area to assess the impact of implementation.
Power electronics implementation with electric turbines and generators can also give a prominent source to get more efficient and reliable power. Research in these areas and proper implementation can further help in covering the increasing demands of power supply.
Cooling of large electrical turbine and generator system is a major issued faced by the engineers these days. So there lies an opportunity to design a proper cooling and lubricating system that can diminish losses and helps in curbing the heating problems.
Over 200 million people in India has no access to electricity. However, many of the power generators are idling for lack of electricity demand. The challenge is to supply this idle power to those in need or to implement portable generators near to those who have no access to electricity.
Future Outlook
Globally, generators are benefitting with increasing concerns about energy security, which in turn has led prospective generator end-user seek ways for operating more efficiently and safely. In emerging nations worldwide, regular power outages have hindered smooth business operations and implementation of generators has become the key for these entities for functioning throughout a power outage.
According to Fact.MR’s report on Generator Market for forecast period 2017-2016, Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the fastest expanding market for generator. Rapid industrial expansions in countries like China and India witness huge demand of generators due to unstable power supply.
In terms of usage, revenues from stationary generators will remain quite larger than front their portable counterparts. Even sales of larger rated generators remain dominant in the market due to industrial expansion.
Report also says that sales of generators in residential segment will showcase the fastest growth through 2026. With growing emphasis on green technology, diesel generators will show decline in their demand.
Munazama Ali,
Asst Prof – Dept of Electrical Engineering,
Islamic university of Science and Technology,
Kashmir
Shreyansh Upadhyaya,
Pursuing Master’s from Delhi Technological University,
New Delhi.
