The efficiency of internal combustion engine is higher than that of steam turbine, so why do power plants generally use steam turbine instead of internal combustion engine?

1. The fuel of internal combustion engine is oil or gas, which is expensive and poor in economy. Fuel sources are easily restricted; After oil exploitation, it needs secondary refining and processing. The main uses of oil are small machinery and transportation tools, and the transportation and preservation of gas are complicated, mainly used for fixed facilities.

2. The fuel of the steam turbine is not limited, as long as it can generate heat energy. At present, coal and nuclear energy are widely used, and natural gas and oil are also used in a small amount. Coal is more economical and can be used directly after simple processing after mining. The source of coal is abundant, because the main purpose of a large amount of coal is to burn boilers.

3. Ultra-high power internal combustion engine (piston) has complex manufacturing process and high maintenance cost. A super-large steam turbine generator set can support n diesel generator sets. A power plant using super-large turbo-generator sets only needs a few hundred people. Can you imagine how many people are needed, how much space is occupied, how many chimneys are needed, how much maintenance work is needed every day, how much diesel is consumed every day, and how to supply diesel (there are special refineries)?

4. High-power internal combustion engine (gas turbine power generation) has been used in a small number of domestic applications, mainly for peak shaving and power generation near energy producing areas, limited by high oil and gas prices and high processing and transportation costs.