An Otter Tail Company

How a coal-fired power plant generates electricity

This model, based on our Big Stone Plant, explains the systems and processes required to generate electricity at coal-fired power plants.

(power plant image map) Fuel handling components Furnace components Electric generation components Electric transmission Environmental equipment Water handling components

If you'd like to learn more about a specific system or part of the power plant, click on the number or name from this list:

Fuel handling
(1) Rotary dumper
(2) Storage building
(3) Alternate fuel-handling facility
(4) Transfer house

Furnace
(5) Silos
(6) Cyclone furnaces
(7) Boiler furnace
(8) Forced-draft fans

Electric generation
(9) Turbine
(10) Generator

Electric transmission
(11) Transformer
(12) Substation

Environmental equipment
(13) Fans
(14) Precipitator
(15) Ash silo
(16) Stack
(17) Emission monitors

Water handling
(18) Cooling pond
(19) Condenser
(20) Brine concentrator

Return to Coal-fired power plants