After finishing high school, many students struggle to choose a field of study. Industrial engineering, which deals with industrial processes, is a popular option. But before diving in, it's important to understand some basic mechanical terms. Here's a quick rundown:

Rankine Cycle: Rankine cycle is a thermodynamic cycle which predicts performance of mechanical work. the efficiency of the Rankine cycle is quite limited by the high vaporization of the working fluid. In heat engines (found in steam power plants) the Rankine cycle follows a closed loop.

Carnot Cycle: Carnot cycle is a thermodynamic cycle, after state change of any system, at the end it comes in initial state during the process. The system follows a cycle and act as a heat engine, this cycle known as Carnot cycle. The Carnot cycle is an ideal cycle which is not actually available; it's a theoretical construct.

Steam power plant: this is a power generation plant in which the turbines are driven by steam power. Water is heated and phase transformation takes place and it converts into steam. Steam turbines are designed to generate mechanical to electric energy.

Dust collectors: Dust collector devices are designed to reduce high volume dust loads. The process of combustion in a power plant produces solid and fine dust particles. and These particles are floating inside the plant. Some industrial processes produce minor quantities of dust. Smokes and fly ash are the main types of dust. generally, Smokes are produced due to half combustion of coal fuels. and fly ash generated due to solid fuels combustion.

Handling: material handling method varies with types of power plant. Handling of radioactive material requires special care, where ash requires a large area, and coal handling is a large and multi-step procedure in a steam power plant. In power plants, many handling equipment are used such as conveyors, cranes, overhead cranes, and industrial trucks.

Chimney: A ventilation structure which provides removal of smoke and flue gas from power plants. the removal of smoke at a sufficient height to the atmosphere. An industrial chimney is an external construction which is located near the boiler and furnace on a steam power plant.

Cooling towers: cooling tower is a heat rejection device which rejects heat directly to the atmosphere. A condenser is used for transferring the latent heat of steam to water. The purpose of cooling can be perfectly implemented by cooling towers. In power plants, hot water from the condenser is cooled in the cooling tower. It allows water and air to come in contact with each other in opposite directions.

Nozzles:  A nozzle is designed to increase the velocity of fluid; the small cross section area is provided at an enclosed chamber (at the exit).  The structure of the nozzle tube to control the fluid. all the pressure drop takes place in the stationary nozzle blades.

Turbines: A mechanical device which converts mechanical energy into electric energy. The power generation depends upon turbine capacity placed in the plant. Steam turbines are used in steam power plants (superheated steam is useful). The hydroelectric dams used Francis and Kaplan turbines mostly. A turbine is an assembly of shaft, rotor, drums, blade.

Boilers: Boilers is a closed vessel, which converts water into steam with the help of heating applications. High pressure and low-pressure boilers are used according to need. Boiling is a convective heat transfer process which involves phase change from liquid to vapor. The boiler is used for vapor generation. Basically, a boiler is a closed vessel in which steam is produced. The heat is providing above saturation temperature to the liquid. Modern Boiler has widespread application for power plants.

Khemanshu Kumar Sahu

Assistant Professor (Mechanical Engineering)