Power Generation Engineering — MCQs – EE

1. Which of the following is a non-renewable source of energy?
(A) Solar energy
(B) Wind energy
(C) Coal
(D) Tidal energy

2. The major part of electricity generation in the world is through
(A) Nuclear power plants
(B) Thermal power plants
(C) Hydro power plants
(D) Solar power plants

3. The efficiency of a modern thermal power plant is around
(A) 15%
(B) 25%
(C) 35%
(D) 50%

4. The fuel used in a nuclear power plant is
(A) Uranium
(B) Coal
(C) Diesel
(D) Natural gas

5. The function of the economizer in a boiler is to
(A) Superheat the steam
(B) Reduce exhaust gas temperature
(C) Preheat the feed water
(D) Increase air temperature

6. Hydroelectric power plants convert
(A) Heat energy into electrical energy
(B) Kinetic energy into electrical energy
(C) Potential energy into electrical energy
(D) Chemical energy into electrical energy

7. Which of the following power plants has the minimum operating cost?
(A) Nuclear power plant
(B) Diesel power plant
(C) Thermal power plant
(D) Hydro power plant

8. In a thermal power plant, the majority of the heat losses occur in
(A) Boiler
(B) Condenser
(C) Turbine
(D) Generator

9. The ideal working fluid in a steam power plant is
(A) Water
(B) Air
(C) Mercury
(D) Carbon dioxide

10. The main component of natural gas is
(A) Ethane
(B) Propane
(C) Methane
(D) Butane

11. The main disadvantage of a hydroelectric power plant is
(A) High operating cost
(B) Long construction period
(C) Pollution
(D) High fuel cost

12. In a thermal power plant, ash is collected in
(A) Chimney
(B) Condenser
(C) Electrostatic precipitator
(D) Economizer

13. The load factor of a power plant is the ratio of
(A) Average load to maximum load
(B) Maximum load to average load
(C) Installed capacity to maximum load
(D) None of the above

14. The solar cell converts
(A) Heat energy to electrical energy
(B) Solar radiation to electrical energy
(C) Solar radiation to mechanical energy
(D) Solar energy to chemical energy

15. Wind power plants use
(A) Turbines
(B) Alternators
(C) Compressors
(D) Boilers

16. The geothermal power plant uses energy from
(A) Ocean waves
(B) The Earth’s heat
(C) Solar radiation
(D) Wind

17. A diesel engine power plant operates on
(A) Otto cycle
(B) Diesel cycle
(C) Rankine cycle
(D) Carnot cycle

18. The function of a condenser in a steam power plant is to
(A) Convert water into steam
(B) Condense exhaust steam into water
(C) Increase steam temperature
(D) Maintain boiler pressure

19. The alternator in a power station converts
(A) Electrical energy into mechanical energy
(B) Mechanical energy into electrical energy
(C) Chemical energy into electrical energy
(D) Thermal energy into mechanical energy

20. The main objective of load forecasting is
(A) To increase plant size
(B) To estimate future power demand
(C) To reduce fuel consumption
(D) To increase transmission losses

21. The capital cost of which plant is highest?
(A) Hydro plant
(B) Thermal plant
(C) Nuclear plant
(D) Diesel plant

22. The unit for measuring electrical energy is
(A) Watt
(B) Watt-hour
(C) Volt
(D) Ampere

23. Which of the following has the least maintenance cost?
(A) Hydro plant
(B) Thermal plant
(C) Nuclear plant
(D) Diesel plant

24. The main byproduct of coal combustion in a thermal plant is
(A) Ash
(B) CO₂
(C) SO₂
(D) All of the above

25. The most suitable site for a hydroelectric power plant is where
(A) High head and large water flow are available
(B) Low head and small water flow are available
(C) Low rainfall area
(D) None of these

26. The efficiency of a hydroelectric power plant is around
(A) 20–30%
(B) 50–60%
(C) 70–80%
(D) 85–90%

27. The heat rate of a power plant is a measure of
(A) Efficiency
(B) Load factor
(C) Energy produced
(D) Cooling rate

28. In nuclear reactors, the moderator is used to
(A) Absorb neutrons
(B) Slow down neutrons
(C) Reflect neutrons
(D) Accelerate neutrons

29. The most commonly used moderator in a nuclear reactor is
(A) Heavy water
(B) Graphite
(C) Beryllium
(D) Both (A) and (B)

30. The capacity of a power plant is expressed in
(A) Amperes
(B) Volts
(C) Watts or Megawatts
(D) Ohms