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Originally Posted by Interpreter  I don't see any problem in laying underground electricity cables. Many years ago there were machines which dug a trench, laid a cable or pipe and back-filled the trench. The only difficulty being access due to the many buildings which are in the way.
It is unfortunate that British technology lags behind other countries in the production of efficient power stations. Generally powerstations run at 2000 psi pressure. Running them at 3000 psi gives a great increase in output for a lower amount of input. Other countries have managed to produce superheated boilers, but we have not.
Modern powerstations produce very little polution due to the use of efficient precipitators. Cameras monitor the output from chimneys and what people think of as polution coming from these powerstations is actually condensed steam. It must be a bind living downwind of a powerstation as it must always be raining!
I think that the only real way forward is Nuclear fusion. Although having a piece of the sun held in place my magnetic fields looks more science fiction than science fact. The days of coal fired boilers powering hydrogen cooled generators must surely be coming to an end. |
No problem running cables underground. However what would be the physical size of an underground cable to transmit say 300MW to say 2400MW in the case of a power station over several miles????
Tell me how you would go about, even if it was technically possible, laying an underground cable through the Scottish Highlands or The Lake District ??????? Mechanical cable laying diggers ?????????
Fuel fired power stations in the UK are as efficient in terms of 'thermal efficiency' as any where else in the world. Some countries do have more power from nuclear and because of the operation of such stations they run at a higher 'load factor' and can be said to be more efficient in terms of energy output.
All power stations have 'SUPER-HEATED STEAM' going to the turbines, that in turn drive the alternators, yes even in the UK. Super-heated steam is associated with the high pressure you mention and that pressure becomes critical if optimum conditions have to be met. It is not the case that you just increase pressure from 2000psi to 300psi as you say. Would be very difficult to generate very much at low pressure, would it not? Pressure does become lower as passes through the various stages in the turbine however as energy is extracted from the pressurised steam.
Would be interested to know where there are 'hydrogen cooled' generators in coal fired stations.( by the way it is the TURBINES that requires cooling for optimum operation not the generators/alternators) From my experience in 40 years in the supply industry water was used as the cooling medium. That is why some stations are built on the coast where sea water is abundant or where cooling towers are necessary in power stations built inland, such as in Yorkshire etc)
Sorry for going on a bit but felt some points needed clarification!
John D