What are the factors considered while selecting the location for thermal power plants?

Answer 1

Nuclear power plants need to be sited in places where they can dump waste heat. Usually this means they are put next to rivers, the ocean, or a lake, because water is an excellent heat sink.

A nuclear plant should not be placed to close to dense population centers, because of the risk of accident. On the other hand, a nuclear plant needs to be put as near as possible to the customers, to offset transmission losses.

Other issues include security, the political nature of the country, the attitudes of the local people, and so on.

Answer 2

In general, both the construction and operation of a power plant requires the existence of some conditions such as water resources and stable soil type. Still there are other criteria that although not required for the power plant, yet should be considered because they will be affected by either the construction or operation of the plants such as population centers and protected areas. The following list corers most of the factors that should be studied and considered in selection of proper sites for power plant construction:

Transportation network: Easy and enough access to transportation network is required in both power plant construction and operation periods.

Gas pipe network: Vicinity to the gas pipes reduces the required expenses.

Power transmission network: To transfer the generated electricity to the consumers, the plant should be connected to electrical transmission system

Therefore the nearness to the electric network can play a roll.

Geology and soil type: The power plant should be built in an area with soil and rock layers that could stand the weight and vibrations of the power plant.

Earthquake and geological faults: Even weak and small earthquakes can damage many parts of a power plant intensively. Therefore the site should be away enough from the faults and previous earthquake areas

Topography: It is proved that high elevation has a negative effect on production efficiency of gas turbines. In addition, changing of a sloping area into a flat site for the construction of the power plant needs extra budget. Therefore, the parameters of elevation and slope should be considered.

Rivers and floodways: obviously, the power plant should have a reasonable distance from permanent and seasonal rivers and floodways.

Water resources: For the construction and operating of power plant different volumes of water are required. This could be supplied from either rivers or underground water resources. Therefore having enough water supplies in defined vicinity can be a factor in the selection of the site.

Environmental resources: Operation of a power plant has important impacts on environment. Therefore, priority will be given to the locations that are far enough from national parks, wildlife, protected areas, etc.

Population centers: For the same reasons as above, the site should have an enough distance from population centers.

Need for power: In general, the site should be near the areas that there is more need for generation capacity, to decrease the amount of power loss and transmission expenses.

Climate: Parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed affect the productivity of a power plant and always should be taken into account.

Land cover: Some land cover types such as forests, orchard, agricultural land, pasture are sensitive to the pollutions caused by a power plant. The effect of the power plant on such land cover types surrounding it should be counted for.

Area size: Before any other consideration, the minimum area size required for the construction of power plant should be defined.>

Distance from airports: Usually, a power plant has high towers and chimneys and large volumes of gas. Consequently for security reasons, they should be away from airports.

Archeological and historical sites: Usually historical building …are fragile and at same time very valuable. Therefore the vibration caused by power plant can damage them, and a defined distance should be considered.

Answer 3

water