Steam power plants constitute one of the fundamental technologies for large-scale electricity generation worldwide. These systems operate on the Rankine thermodynamic cycle, wherein water is converted to high-pressure steam in a boiler, expanded through a turbine to produce mechanical work, and subsequently condensed for reuse. The present paper provides a comprehensive review of the working principles, mechanical design methodology, component selection, and eco-friendly adaptations of steam power electricity generation systems. Key aspects including boiler design, turbine blade engineering, bearing selection, condenser efficiency, and cycle optimization are discussed. The environmental challenges associated with conventional fossil-fuel-driven steam plants are examined alongside emerging solutions such as biomass integration, solar thermal hybridization, and waste heat recovery. The paper concludes that, with continuous technological improvements, steam power generation remains a viable and increasingly sustainable contributor to global energy supply.
Ozarkar et al. (Fri,) studied this question.