How Electricity is Generated in one of the World's Largest Coal-Fired Power Stations - KUSILE

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  • Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
  • An educational documentary about how electricity is generated at Eskom's Kusile power station in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa.
    The video take the viewer inside a coal fired power station.
    Filmed in October 2022.
    #Kusile #powerstation #coal #kusilepowerstation #Electricity #powergeneration #eskom
    Full interview with power station manager: • An interview with Esko...
    0:00 Introduction
    0:52 The Water Treatment Plant
    4:07 Fuel Oil
    7:15 Coal Stockpiles
    10:24 Crushing and Burning the Coal
    19:34 Overview of Steam and Turbines
    21:04 The Generator Floor
    28:05 Cooling the Generator
    33:40 Overview of Measuring Generator Voltage and Current
    35:42 Generator Busbars
    36:24 Stepping up the Generator Voltage
    39:32 Why Voltage must be Stepped Up
    44:26 The Sound of 400kV
    46:43 The Dry Cooling System
    47:37 The Sound of Kusile's Dry Cooling System
    50:12 Powering the Plant: Unit Transformer
    53:23 Byproducts and Pollution
    56:25 The Control Room
    1:00:30 Managing the Power Plant
    1:13:33 Credits
    This documentary was made independently and there is no affiliation or payment from any political party or company. We visited Kusile in 2022 on a site visit with engineering students from the University of Johannesburg and I realised that there needs to be an educational video showing the details of how a power station works. Thanks to Eskom for allowing us to film and make this documentary.
    Produced, narrated, and directed by Philip Baron.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 214

  • @ecologicaltime
    @ecologicaltime  5 місяців тому +6

    0:00 Introduction
    0:52 The Water Treatment Plant
    4:07 Fuel Oil
    7:15 Coal Stockpiles
    10:24 Crushing and Burning the Coal
    19:34 Overview of Steam and Turbines
    21:04 The Generator Floor
    28:05 Cooling the Generator
    33:40 Overview of Measuring Generator Voltage and Current
    35:42 Generator Busbars
    36:24 Stepping up the Generator Voltage
    39:32 Why Voltage must be Stepped Up
    44:26 The Sound of 400kV
    46:43 The Dry Cooling System
    47:37 The Sound of Kusile's Dry Cooling System
    50:12 Powering the Plant: Unit Transformer
    53:23 Byproducts and Pollution
    56:25 The Control Room
    1:00:30 Managing the Power Plant
    1:13:33 Credits

    • @norbertwetoyi6550
      @norbertwetoyi6550 4 місяці тому

      They are still using brushes on generator 😮😮😮. It's very tiresome, inspection and maintenance.

  • @tibos963
    @tibos963 5 місяців тому +106

    We need channels like this to actually give engineers bk their voice,instead of politicians and journalists who actually failed maths

  • @phalengholdings8239
    @phalengholdings8239 5 місяців тому +23

    i am so proud of this guy, he speaks sense with confidence, i see the next CEO of eskom who understands the process of power generation

  • @mphilisintonyela
    @mphilisintonyela 4 місяці тому +7

    Musa Ngwane knows his job,it sounds like he knows everything there as a senior engineer. He is the person who should explain to the county when things are not working.
    He should be the minister of electric or the next Eskom ceo.
    Great stuff, Mfo ka Ngwane.

  • @phillipmmameshi3518
    @phillipmmameshi3518 6 місяців тому +41

    Excellent content and greatly presented. As someone who who studied mechanical engineering, I could relate easily. I just don't understand why it's taking so long to complete this project, seems like it is cash cow for certain connected individuals.

  • @ScissorN
    @ScissorN 5 місяців тому +11

    I am proud to have been part of the team that built this powerstation, i was there when Unit 1 was built and left few days after it got commissioned😅 we used to earn a lot of money yoh as Artisans i miss those days

  • @manwithoutcountry1
    @manwithoutcountry1 6 місяців тому +35

    KUSILE is a ATM for the connected.

  • @tapiwajokomo2766
    @tapiwajokomo2766 5 місяців тому +12

    Thank you for this very informative and technically well explained documentary. Hats off to all the dedicated Engineers and Technicians who are keeping this vital infrastructure running 24/7.

  • @Revnge7Fold
    @Revnge7Fold 6 місяців тому +27

    Love your channel dude! Keep up the great work!!

  • @abbym9886
    @abbym9886 5 місяців тому +7

    I am so proud of the engineers at Kusile Power Station. This video made me so happy as the talent at Kusile Power Station was showcased. This video proves that there are capable engineers in South Africa. Keep up the good work all technical staff at Eskom!

  • @Get-into-the-game
    @Get-into-the-game 5 місяців тому +5

    Ae you know, your work station bra yaka danko vir die hard werk sacrificing for your country risking life.

  • @kgotsoD
    @kgotsoD 6 місяців тому +25

    very detailed. This is excellent! Well done to all involved.

  • @hosealumadi5869
    @hosealumadi5869 5 місяців тому +10

    This is a brilliant video. Well explained and I like the notes that popup every now and then

  • @tsikimupombwa5807
    @tsikimupombwa5807 5 місяців тому +7

    @Musa ,very knowledgeable and easy going youngman keep up the good work learnt a lot from this humble engineer!

  • @moosesnWoop
    @moosesnWoop 5 місяців тому +8

    Title should be "How Electricity is NOT Generated in one of the World's Largest Coal-Fired Power Stations"

  • @gilliandeklerk3393
    @gilliandeklerk3393 4 місяці тому +4

    Very professional and informative

  • @nkanyisoaubrey2514
    @nkanyisoaubrey2514 5 місяців тому +8

    WOW THATS WAS WELL EXPLAINED, THANKS FOR DOING THIS DOCUMENTARY...

  • @muzihlungwane5540
    @muzihlungwane5540 5 місяців тому +7

    I'm so happy to see South Africans with the ability to explain and take us through the details of electricity production. It shows some progress in education and capacitating ordinary people in running mega-projects. We need to see more of this type documentation in other fields as well.

    • @denniskhumalo193
      @denniskhumalo193 5 місяців тому

      South Africans are always good, is just the ANC tht has undermined us by importing poor & cheap labour from countries they're in exile and those countries tht said they supported their nonsense freedom struggle cowards. This is a good country more of out ANC government out of power, they're destroyers of good infrastructure built by apartheid government izinja

    • @williamwatitwa3534
      @williamwatitwa3534 3 дні тому

      Anyone with high school education should be able to explain electricity generation

  • @Nikx012
    @Nikx012 5 місяців тому +5

    There are still some very excellent and hardworking people in eskom ❤

  • @synthwave7
    @synthwave7 5 місяців тому +9

    Great channel - thanks for sharing all your knowledge.

  • @R.I100
    @R.I100 5 місяців тому +7

    Biggest problem with Eskom is the high corruption and mafia type business happening inside of eskom.

  • @portiamsipa2818
    @portiamsipa2818 5 місяців тому +2

    Well done very knowledgeable and informative.im Zimbabwean and work at a power station 👌

  • @aml6400
    @aml6400 5 місяців тому +7

    Im glad they being guided by engineering people instead of some marketing person who knows nothing about the plant. Engineers on this clip knows their job because they can explain the process smoothly and in basic terms for anyone to understand.

  • @furn2313
    @furn2313 5 місяців тому +3

    Can't wait til' Eskom hires me to work here

  • @blessingndlovu9037
    @blessingndlovu9037 5 місяців тому +1

    Nice stuff. Very informative and great watch for newly appointed engineer. Keep up the good work!

  • @t.kmartin1026
    @t.kmartin1026 5 місяців тому +4

    "How electricity is NOT generated at the Kusile power plant"

  • @xolanimpila
    @xolanimpila 5 місяців тому +3

    Excellent presentation of the generation process!... Well done!!

  • @Clemiristo
    @Clemiristo 5 місяців тому +3

    Should hav said "Kusile" is a Nguni word, because in Zulu,Xhosa,Siswati and Ndebele its the same

  • @thandomashego9103
    @thandomashego9103 4 місяці тому +1

    Beautiful content, just what we need in South Africa, our own Megastructures content, very inspiring especially for the kids, students and pupils, Please do more, the biggest dams, biggest sewer treatment plants, Biggest Water Treatment Plant, deepest mine, longest road construction projects and so on .... include drone images too, talk to me for that.

  • @kgotsoD
    @kgotsoD 6 місяців тому +3

    very detailed. This is excellent! well done to all involved

  • @gibsonmzinda
    @gibsonmzinda 5 місяців тому +6

    Very knowledgeable young engineer .

  • @louisdebruyn4395
    @louisdebruyn4395 5 місяців тому +4

    It should actually say how it is NOT generating power and just keeps on costing us more money

  • @wilsonmanana6468
    @wilsonmanana6468 5 місяців тому +1

    Truly grateful for this content 🙏🏾👌🏾

  • @basilkatakuzinos659
    @basilkatakuzinos659 5 місяців тому +3

    All your videos are amazing,I've become the handyman of my friends and family by learning from your channel, I really like this longer format documentary video, super cool and informational, more so than anything you'll find on TV today.

  • @ayandamasina3816
    @ayandamasina3816 5 місяців тому +1

    Excellent presentation and a get to know of the Power plant, thank you.

  • @justicemahlake97
    @justicemahlake97 5 місяців тому +1

    Excellent content, as one of the guardians I can relate and wish we could have more content like this😊

  • @SibusisoMthembu7729
    @SibusisoMthembu7729 5 місяців тому +3

    This video was very helpful and important thank you

  • @Mshengu
    @Mshengu 5 місяців тому +1

    Very informative, thank you very much for this.

  • @senatlekagiso866
    @senatlekagiso866 5 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for this fascinating presentation, I am not an engineer but really enjoyed this content.

  • @Septumsempra8818
    @Septumsempra8818 5 місяців тому +10

    I'm watching this during load-shedding.

    • @rickmorty7284
      @rickmorty7284 5 місяців тому

      💀💀

    • @metalcake2288
      @metalcake2288 5 місяців тому +1

      Apparently it's not finished yet.

    • @lungalunga1470
      @lungalunga1470 2 місяці тому +1

      ​@metalcake2288 i bet its been 200 years😂AnC criminals are unbelievable

  • @masvingozimuto
    @masvingozimuto 5 місяців тому +1

    Thank you for such an infomative documentary. If possible please may yiu produce another one on broadcasting centres like SABC.

  • @martinblake1158
    @martinblake1158 5 місяців тому +1

    A very informative video explaining the broad process used in coal fired boilers for electricity generation. There are some discrepancies about the process and equipment though, specifically in relation to Kusile.

  • @Mo_Ebee
    @Mo_Ebee 3 місяці тому

    Amazing! Thank you for this.

  • @zubenathisobhuza
    @zubenathisobhuza 6 місяців тому +1

    thank you Dr for such an informative video.

  • @afrikaazanialuti
    @afrikaazanialuti 5 місяців тому +1

    Thank you for this informative video.

  • @moosesnWoop
    @moosesnWoop 5 місяців тому +1

    Awesome interesting video! Will ovefffer a lot of persepctive to the public!

  • @nathamazambs2965
    @nathamazambs2965 5 місяців тому +2

    48:35 change in phase of water is to maintain and creating vacuum which is very important in the efficiency of the turbines

  • @stevengill1736
    @stevengill1736 5 місяців тому +2

    Interesting that hydrogen gas is used for generator cooling....I believe it supresses arcing as well.
    Also, what kind of huge inverter do they have to energize the stator?
    If anyone wants to see what power plant control rooms look like, a YT channel called "The Proper People" features urban explorers that have visited closed power stations.... beautiful engineering and classic art deco architecture.
    This plant is on another level - however one feels about coal, it's clear that they're doing everything they can to make it more efficient. Someday this plant will be energized by geothermal or fusion, who knows?

  • @simphiweradebe542
    @simphiweradebe542 5 місяців тому

    i love informative content like this ;).... keep it up

  • @Msendy101
    @Msendy101 5 місяців тому +4

    The best GM ever! Hands down!!

  • @brucenezambe8026
    @brucenezambe8026 5 місяців тому +1

    Very informative thank you 👌🏼

  • @nkeletsengsabasaba3268
    @nkeletsengsabasaba3268 5 місяців тому +1

    Insightful video

  • @muzinhleko5380
    @muzinhleko5380 5 місяців тому +1

    Great educational content

  • @Ngwanya2010
    @Ngwanya2010 5 місяців тому +1

    This was awesome.

  • @vusimahlobo5378
    @vusimahlobo5378 5 місяців тому +4

    Nicely done...

  • @TutukaMining
    @TutukaMining 14 днів тому

    Eskom Top performing General Manager is Mr Terrence Masilela, the power stations are coming back to life because of his , one the best Engineers buy far😇😇

  • @jorgeparis5262
    @jorgeparis5262 5 місяців тому +1

    I love it. Nice Content

  • @hothmandon
    @hothmandon 7 днів тому

    Simcity 2000 first taught me the word "power plant" when I was 6 years old. Back then, I thought it was the facility that grew special plants that gave off electricity. That's when I had to learn the hard way that it's more complicated than that.

  • @drmanhattanjunior3254
    @drmanhattanjunior3254 20 днів тому

    i fell in love with boilers from starting my new job dealing with a 5mw firetube boiler, i have been running it for five years from water to the final product, what a beautiful feat of engineering i just wished people didn't take this stuff for granted, we would be making a lot better decisions politically.

  • @pierreschreuder7328
    @pierreschreuder7328 3 місяці тому

    Such a knowledgeable man whose work is spoiled by politics and corruption.

  • @takithetutor8300
    @takithetutor8300 5 місяців тому +3

    Great turbine spinners, except the POLLUTION

  • @draatman
    @draatman 4 місяці тому +1

    can use this as a training video well done

    • @ecologicaltime
      @ecologicaltime  4 місяці тому

      thank you that is the purpose of this video

  • @forevabright
    @forevabright 5 місяців тому +2

    this is the level i want to become on my job. i want to know everything about it

  • @nkullykabini9845
    @nkullykabini9845 5 місяців тому +1

    nice 1 👏🏽

  • @Anon4Ever29
    @Anon4Ever29 4 місяці тому

    Fascinating

  • @ThisRandomUsername
    @ThisRandomUsername 5 місяців тому +3

    This was a very interesting watch. It would have been nice if you were to ask what their efficiencies are. One of the advantages of supercritical power plants is their high efficiency, but it would be nice to know the actual efficiency numbers.

    • @gregorymalchuk272
      @gregorymalchuk272 5 днів тому

      38% maximum for a subcritial power station to 42% to 47.5% thermal efficiency for a supercritical power cycle.

    • @ThisRandomUsername
      @ThisRandomUsername 3 дні тому

      @@gregorymalchuk272 Thanks Gregory! So this power station is not too far behind the most efficient. It's sad that we cannot operate at much higher temperatures to increase efficiency more, but I assume that would need a different working fluid.

    • @gregorymalchuk272
      @gregorymalchuk272 3 дні тому

      @@ThisRandomUsername Materials science and first cost including cost of materials is what limits initial steam conditions. The hottest superheaters are barely dabbling with austenitic stainless steels. I don't know of any station using inconel or other super alloys in superheaters. One way around this is increasing the average temperature of heat addition to the cycle with double reheat. All of the most efficient thermal power stations are double reheat, Philo Unit 5, Eddystone, Nordylland, Avogdore, Wai Gao Qiao Unit 3, etc.

  • @44Mat
    @44Mat 5 місяців тому +1

    How the Hell did you get access to this footage this is Excellent😎😎😎😎....

  • @handlemk
    @handlemk 5 місяців тому +1

    Excellent.. wow...

  • @fezilebrilliant672
    @fezilebrilliant672 5 місяців тому +2

    While they told us the coal is wet that’s why we have load shedding

  • @KatlehoMotake
    @KatlehoMotake 5 місяців тому +2

    Film a nuclear power station next, please.

  • @MduduziTshabalala
    @MduduziTshabalala 5 місяців тому +1

    This is incredible

  • @topweddingsa4059
    @topweddingsa4059 5 місяців тому +1

    Well done

  • @mothagp6754
    @mothagp6754 5 місяців тому +2

    @sasol we need something like this for the production of petrol from coal

  • @brucemcdonald8529
    @brucemcdonald8529 5 місяців тому +2

    Thanks for an informative look at how and where our electricity comes from. Questions -When a power station first starts up, from what you've shown, it would require outside power, yes? If so, where would that come from? Once it is producing "its own power", I assume the power station consumes its own power, where required, yes?

    • @heinvosloo45
      @heinvosloo45 5 місяців тому +4

      There must be external power during the start-up. This is obtained via the transmission grid by another power station or, if none are available during a national blackout, this power will be obtained from pumped storage stations in the Drakensberg

    • @brucemcdonald8529
      @brucemcdonald8529 5 місяців тому

      @@heinvosloo45 Thank you Hein.

    • @ecologicaltime
      @ecologicaltime  5 місяців тому +1

      52:59 the power station can become a load on the grid and energy flows from grid to plant when plant is not generating

    • @modisamashishi216
      @modisamashishi216 5 місяців тому

      There's a unit out of the 6 units that is called auxiliary unit, it supplies all the electrical component with power...hope that answers you.

    • @brucemcdonald8529
      @brucemcdonald8529 5 місяців тому

      @@modisamashishi216 Many thanks Modisa. Always wondered and now I know.

  • @naughtiusmaximus830
    @naughtiusmaximus830 6 місяців тому +2

    Demineralized water tears the shit out of stainless steel.

  • @jameserskine532
    @jameserskine532 5 місяців тому +1

    nice power station, would hate for this to break down or have any maintenance issues

  • @souravsekharnayak
    @souravsekharnayak Місяць тому +1

    You didn't explained excitatir system and grid synchronization at all.

  • @user-vx4gn5el1p
    @user-vx4gn5el1p 5 місяців тому

    Maybe consider g pin to the rotors to run it syst drive with magneto force.

  • @user-mm8jf3vk7q
    @user-mm8jf3vk7q 4 місяці тому

    so when will it actually be in full commission? It's been years and still not in full production...

  • @Siyanda266
    @Siyanda266 5 місяців тому +2

    So this thing of telling us that there’s wet coal is a lie to keep us in Loadshedding

  • @SA-Napalm
    @SA-Napalm 5 місяців тому +1

    Love how it opens.. once it's complete... for 5 sacks.. its gone on long enough. Should have just bought solar panels and batteries..

  • @01thomasss
    @01thomasss 4 місяці тому +1

    Why must coal be supplied to Kusile by truck? Wasn't Kusile built at this location so that coal could be supplied by conveyor belt, as at other power stations?

    • @ecologicaltime
      @ecologicaltime  4 місяці тому +1

      its a pity that coal is brought in via trucking and the supply is not very close to the plant.

  • @souravsekharnayak
    @souravsekharnayak Місяць тому

    You have to explain excitator system and grid synchronisation. You blurred the central control room.

    • @ecologicaltime
      @ecologicaltime  Місяць тому

      Eskom did not allow us to show the footage in the control room owing to the law in SA. The control room is considered a key point and not allowed to be in the media.

  • @mike160543
    @mike160543 5 місяців тому +2

    Three crucial units at Kusile, the problematic, unfinished power station beset by fire and the collapse of a flue duct, which is at the heart of the corruption case against former acting Eskom CEO Matshela Koko, are all expected to be back online by the end of the year.11 Sept 2023
    “Only 10 years late and 1000% over budget

  • @jackcampbell2479
    @jackcampbell2479 5 місяців тому +1

    I love it

  • @Jplay573
    @Jplay573 3 місяці тому +1

    I work in a coal powered plant!

  • @mxolisivilakazi5585
    @mxolisivilakazi5585 5 місяців тому +3

    There actually no need to use the HP, IP and LP stages of having the generator turned.. I work for a company that’s uses methane gas fueled SGT 400 SIEMENS turbines which run at minimum 9600 output power where 2 eskom turbines can be interconnected and run at the same speed. How I hope super heated steam can be done away with and have methane gas generate our electricity NO MORE LOADSHEDDING FOR SA.

    • @George246-zg1zw
      @George246-zg1zw 5 місяців тому

      Nice thought but as long as we have the ANC interfering in any system things are not going to work like intended. Railways Harbours Post Office Denel you name it and we can see the decay. There was a similsr video about a power station in the U.K.. difference is like chalk an cheese.

    • @philipread7741
      @philipread7741 5 місяців тому +1

      Those big gas turbines drive a generator off their output shaft. The hot exhaust gases go to steam generator raise steam for use in a steam turbine to drive generator also. Its called a combined cycle gas turbine power plant. You won't get away easily from steam in thermal power generation.

    • @gregorymalchuk272
      @gregorymalchuk272 5 днів тому

      The only cost-effective way to use methane for base load power generation is to use the hot turbine exhaust to boil water to drive a steam turbine which provides about a third of the power.

  • @denlsgoulden2307
    @denlsgoulden2307 3 місяці тому

    Same as we have here in UK, 3000rpm to give 50Hz. Sadly we are getting rid of all our coal fired stations, not much in the way of effective replacements though 🙄

  • @Hamilton_ZA
    @Hamilton_ZA 5 місяців тому +1

    I'm watching this is stage 5 darkness 😂😂😂

  • @TutukaMining
    @TutukaMining 14 днів тому

    Eskom Top Performing Power Station General Manager to date is( Mr Terrence Masilela ), powers are coming back to life under his leadership best engineer by far.😅😅

  • @erick7862
    @erick7862 5 місяців тому

    How does that tank hold 1.2m cubic meters of oil? That’s 1.2b liters

  • @craigfrancisy24u
    @craigfrancisy24u 5 місяців тому +2

    So how is it possible that we use more electricity after 16:00when companies close at that time an all workers are traveling at that time

    • @philipread7741
      @philipread7741 5 місяців тому

      Evening peak.Every country has a different peak time. Depends on climate, heating or air conditioning demands. Or people cooking food and making hot drinks.

    • @ecologicaltime
      @ecologicaltime  4 місяці тому

      the demand ramps up from afternoon as the millions of people go home to cook and bathe collectively is a huge demand. This is also the time when consumers use most of their electricity, lights, TVs etc...

  • @santoshpatnaik30
    @santoshpatnaik30 2 місяці тому

    Sir any 2 reasons why coal self ignited???

  • @denlsgoulden2307
    @denlsgoulden2307 3 місяці тому

    I would suggest the reason they dont use cooling towers in this application os nevause of a lack of cooling water supply in that location. Also as far as efficiency is concerned, it will take a lot of works power to energise those forced cooling fans 🙄

  • @simplytrolling6869
    @simplytrolling6869 6 місяців тому +3

    Current does not flow through any conductor… it flows around conductors…

    • @ecologicaltime
      @ecologicaltime  5 місяців тому +4

      100% thank you. Technically electricity isn't generated either but that is the common language.

    • @modisamashishi216
      @modisamashishi216 5 місяців тому +1

      I think you mean the magnetic field, but current flows through the conductor.

    • @simplytrolling6869
      @simplytrolling6869 5 місяців тому +1

      @@modisamashishi216 dc current flows through the bulk cross section of conductors, while ac travels the skin or surface of layer of conductors.

    • @ntokozozondi3528
      @ntokozozondi3528 5 місяців тому

      ​@@simplytrolling6869so you mean I can touch the core of a live conductor and not get electrocuted??? 😮

    • @nogwajatv5588
      @nogwajatv5588 5 місяців тому

      Modern Powerstation no Cooling Towers

  • @siegfriedwurth5928
    @siegfriedwurth5928 6 місяців тому +4

    All bullsh*!t this plant cost three times what it should have.

    • @ecologicaltime
      @ecologicaltime  6 місяців тому +12

      the high cost overruns are unacceptable, but this is a video for teaching purposes of how electricity is generated. Same as in other power stations.

    • @sizla8837
      @sizla8837 5 місяців тому +2

      ​@@ecologicaltime😢 They looking for any opportunity to talk s**t about Eskom instead of understanding the production, the media in this country hasn't done close a job to your presentation which is a tragedy 😢

  • @dienar3717
    @dienar3717 5 місяців тому +7

    Kusile is one of the prime examples of ANC corruption, a disgrace, a horror, nothing to be proud of.

  • @ericliu5491
    @ericliu5491 18 днів тому

    South Africa should use Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) to replace coal for electricity generation so that it can achieve net zero CO2 emissions.

  • @janklaas6885
    @janklaas6885 5 місяців тому +1

    📍52:59

  • @hermangoosen7756
    @hermangoosen7756 5 місяців тому +6

    What an engineering disaster. I subcontracted on this project and re-done some jobs three times over due to other contractors destroying the work. There is a good reason why it went billions over budget and everything is constantly breaking down. Corruption ans sub standard construction work.