The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering of Paavai College of Engineering organized an industrial visit to Mettur Thermal Power Station–I, located in the Salem district, for the second-year students on 29.10.2025 (Wednesday). A total of forty-six students from the third semester of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering branch, accompanied by three faculty members — Dr. N. Mohanapriyaa, Mr. R. Jeevanandh, and Mr. K. Amarnath — participated in the visit.
The objective of the industrial visit was to provide students with practical exposure to the generation, transmission, and distribution of electrical energy in a thermal power plant. The visit aimed to help students understand the working principles of large-scale electrical systems, along with the control mechanisms and protection schemes used in power generation.
The visit commenced with an introductory session by the plant officials, who briefed the students on:
The installed capacity and overall power generation process of the station
Coal handling, boiler operation, and steam turbine functioning
The electrical generator setup, transformers, and switchgear arrangements
Control room operations, monitoring systems, and protection relays used to ensure safe and stable power supply
Students also visited various sections of the plant, including the coal handling unit, boiler and turbine hall, generator and transformer yard, and the 110 kV switchyard, where the generated power is stepped up and transmitted to the grid.
The industrial visit provided hands-on learning and practical insights that reinforced theoretical concepts covered in courses such as Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Power System Operation and Control, and Electrical Machines. The visit was organized by Dr. A. Rathinam and Prof. D. Saravanan.
