What is a diesel electric power plant ?

Kathmandu :  As part of our weekly series on ‘Urja Gyan’, published every Friday, this week’s (Katik 9) topic we have made an effort to provide information about Diesel Engine and its advantages and disadvantages. Last week, we presented an informative piece on various dimensions of electricity.

1. Diesel Engine:

We all know that we need to move a generator or dynamo by any means for producing electricity. While in case of hydropower, generator is rotated with help turbine and whereas in diesel electric plant, the rotating elements are moved by a diesel engine. A diesel engine firstly converts the chemical energy present in diesel into mechanical energy.

2. Advantages of diesel engine:

• Installation is fast and requires little space.
• A diesel plant can be started fast and the load detailed to it within a short period of time.
• Can be used as backup
• It can even be driven on different types of fuel. Similarly, the multi-fuel plant that generates 39 MW produced in Duhabi runs on diesel and Light Diesel Oil (LDO).
• It is also cheaper per megawatt.

3. Disadvantages of diesel engine:

• Diesel as a fuel is very costly. Due to the rising prices of diesel, Nepal spends more on importing goods than it earns.
• The smoke is a big one when it comes to air pollution. Diesel Plants are usually placed near cities and due to their character, they make too many noise that causes people nightmares.
• It's only going to last for not much more than 10-12 years if run full time.
• If certain components fail, they have to be imported.

Multiple choice questions

1. Generally what can be understood from engine CC ?

            (a) Power

            (b) Size

            (c) Fuel tank size

            (d) Type of engine

Answer: Power

2. Which one is more efficient, petrol or diesel?

            (a) Petrol

            (b) Diesel

            (c) Both are the same

            (d) It cannot be said

Answer: Diesel

3. What provides fuel into the combustion chamber in a engine running on petrol/ gas?

            (a) Nozzle

            (b) Carburetor/Fuel Injector

            (c) Fuel Pump

            (d) Fuel Filter

Answer: Carburetor/Fuel Injector

4. In Nepal, diesel power plants are primarily used for which purpose?

            (a) Base load

            (b) Peak load

            (c) Standby

            (d) Both (b) and (c)

Answer: Both (b) and (c)

5. Which type of engine has higher efficiency?

            (a) 2-stroke

            (b) 3-stroke

            (c) 4-stroke

            (d) 6-stroke

Answer: 4-stroke

6. What type of fuel is utilized in the 14.1 MW electricity plant located in Hetauda?

            (a) Furnace oil

            (b) Light diesel oil

            (c) High-speed diesel

            (d) Aviation fuel

Answer: High-speed diesel

7. What is the function of a flow meter installed on a diesel tank?

            (a) Measures the flow of fuel

            (b) Checks the quality of the fuel

            (c) Records the amount of fuel

             (d) Filters the impurities from the fuel

Answer: Records the amount of fuel