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	Combined cycle

	Heat engine
	Turbine
	Alternator
	Transformer
	Pump
	Condenser
	Catalyzer
	Dust collector

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A turbine is a rotary engine that converts the rotational energy of a fluid (liquid or gas) into motion and mechanical energy. In combined cycle plants, the fluid used is overheated steam. The essential element of a turbine is the rotor, formed by a wheel with blades. The mechanical energy acquired by the rotor is then transmitted to a driveshaft, which is used to activate an electric generator called alternator.

Over 60% of the electricity produced worldwide comes from burning fossil fuels: coil, fuel-oil and gas. And this percentace is bound to increase, reaching 68% by 2010 according to estimates of the International Energy Agency (IEA). Even in Europe, where nuclear production is widely implemented, the share of conventional thermoelectric generation surpasses half the total. In Italy, in 1999 the thermoelectric component (209 TWh) represented almost 80% of the total gross production. Taking into account the facilities' capacity, still in 1999, in Italy, conventional thermal power plants had a total net power of 52,584 MW, representing 71% of the total, a percentage similar to the one recorded in the World.)