Correct Answer - Option 4 : nuclear power plant
Advantages of Nuclear Power Plant:
- The amount of fuel required is quite small. Therefore, there is the minimum cost of fuel transportation.
- A nuclear power plant requires less space as compared to any other type of the same size.
- It has low running charges as a small amount of fuel is used for producing bulk electrical energy.
- This type of plant is very economical for producing bulk electric power.
- It can be located near the load centres because it does not require large quantities of water and need not be near coal mines. Therefore, the cost of primary distribution is reduced.
- There are large deposits of nuclear fuels available all over the world. Therefore, such plants can ensure a continued supply of electrical energy for thousands of years.
- It ensures the reliability of operation.
Disadvantages:
- The fuel used is expensive and is difficult to recover.
- The initial cost of a nuclear plant is high.
- The erection and commissioning of the plant require greater technical knowledge.
- The fission by-products are generally radioactive and may cause a dangerous amount of radioactive pollution.
- If we compare Hydro Power Plant with Nuclear Power plants then we found that the initial cost of Hydro Power Plant is high, if we consider the cost of fuel transportation then we found that there is no fuel transportation cost applied to Hydro Power Plant because in Hydro Power Plant water is act as fuel.
- Hence, according to the question, Nuclear Power Plant has the highest initial cost and minimum cost of fuel transportation.
Advantages of Hydro-electric power plant:
- It has minimum or negligible fuel cost and there is no transportation cost on fuel because water act as fuel for the generation of electrical energy.
- It has very small running charges because water is the source of energy which is available free of cost.
- It is simple in construction and requires less maintenance.
- It takes very little time for starting.
- It is robust and has a longer life.
- In addition to the generation of electrical energy, they also help in irrigation and controlling floods.
Disadvantages of Hydro-electric power plant:
- It has a high initial cost because of the construction of the dam.
- There is uncertainty about the availability of a huge amount of water due to dependence on weather conditions.
- Skilled and experienced hands are required to build the plant.
- It requires a high cost of transmission lines as the plant is located in hilly areas that are quite away from the consumers.
Comparison between different Power Plant:
| Item |
Thermal Power Plant |
Hydro Power Plant |
Nuclear Power Plant |
| Site |
Such plants are located at a place where ample supply of
water and coal is available, transportation facilities are adequate |
Such plants are located where large reservoirs can be obtained by constructing a dam
e.g. in hilly areas. |
These plants are located away from thickly populated areas to avoid radioactive pollution. |
| Initial Cost |
Initial cost is lower than those
of hydroelectric and nuclear
power plants |
Initial cost is very high because of dam construction and
excavation work. |
Initial cost is highest because of huge investement
on building a nuclear reactor |
| Running Cost |
Higher than hydroelectric and
nuclear plant because of the requirement of huge amount of
coal. |
Practically nil because no fuel
is required. |
Except the hydroelectric plant, it has the minimum running cost because small amount of fuel can produce relatively large amount of power |
| Cost of fuel transportation |
Maximum because huge
amount of coal is transported
to the plant site. |
There is no transportation cost because water act as fuel |
Minimum because small
quantity of fuel is required |
| Maintenance cost |
Quite high as skilled operating
staff is required. |
Quite Low |
Very high as highly trained
personnel are required to
handle the plant. |
Transmission and
distribution cost |
Quite low as these are generally
located near the load centres |
Quite high as these are located
quite away from the load centres |
Quite low as these are located near load centres |
| Overall efficiency |
Least efficient. Overall efficiency
is about 25% |
Most efficient. Overall efficiency is about 85%. |
More efficient than steam
power station |
| Standby losses |
Maximum as the boiler remains in operation even when the turbine is not working |
No standby losses |
Less |
