"Sustainable" in this context refers to the source of the energy. If the thermal power plant burns petroleum for example, it is not sustainable, since there is a fairly limited supply of petroleum.
Thermal energy
which energy transformation occurs first in a coal burning power plant
In a thermal power plant, the conversion of thermal heat into rotational energy is achieved. This can be achieved by using the thermal heat from burning coal or from burning oil or from burning gas or from steam generated by solar means (insolation). In a coal power plant the thermal heat obtained from burning coal is converted into rotational energy, which drives the generator and eventually, electrical power is generated.
From the nuclear reactor comes thermal energy (heat), which is then turned into electricity.
A toaster converts electrical energy into thermal energy. Some of that electrical energy may have come from a nuclear power plant.
Gasoline can combusted and given out thermal energy but I suspect the questing ask about thermal energy plant. Thermal energy plant usually referred to Geothermal power plant or Solarthermal power plant. Geothermal plant run on the thermal energy from earth and Solarthermal run on the solar radiation transformed to heat. If the question ask for the latter then no, thermal energy plant doesn't run on gasoline.
Thermal energy
Thermal energy
To produce electricity by the use of thermal energy in the form of heat.
Yes it is true that a power plant that uses fossil fuels transforms chemical energy to thermal energy to mechanical energy to electrical energy
which energy transformation occurs first in a coal burning power plant
No. Solar power is not the same as thermal energy. Thermal energy is the random kinetic motion of microscopic molecule. Solar power on the other hand is derived from electromagnetic waves. For example: lets take a plant. If you put a plant in a dark room and heat the plant, the plant will still die even though it is supplied with thermal energy. However if you now add light(of specific wavelengths) the plant will thrive. So the plant can discern the difference between thermal energy and solar energy. Hope that helps
thermal
The ratio of the power sent out by the plant to the energy produced from the fuel, in percent usually
The oil thermal plant refers to the chemical energy that is stored in the fossil fuel like the natural gas, oil shale, fuel oil, and coal. They are usually successively converted into thermal energy, mechanical energy, and electrical energy.
In a thermal power plant, the conversion of thermal heat into rotational energy is achieved. This can be achieved by using the thermal heat from burning coal or from burning oil or from burning gas or from steam generated by solar means (insolation). In a coal power plant the thermal heat obtained from burning coal is converted into rotational energy, which drives the generator and eventually, electrical power is generated.
thermal->Mechanical Kinetic->Electric Potential