1 Brief Introduction to The Electric Power System Part 1 Minimum electric power system A minimum electric power system is shown in Fig
1-1, the system consists of an energy source, a prime mover, a generator, and a load
The energy source may be coal, gas, or oil burned in a furnace to heat water and generate steam in a boiler; it may be fissionable material which, in a nuclear reactor, will heat water to produce steam; it may be water in a pond at an elevation above the generating station; or it may be oil or gas burned in an internal combustion engine
The prime mover may be a steam-driven turbine, a hydraulic turbine or water wheel, or an internal combustion engine
Each one of these prime movers has the ability to convert energy in the form of heat, falling water, or fuel into rotation