energy and its transformation
non-conventional electric power plants
environmental impact
conventional electric power plants
energy sources
natural resources from which we obtain different forms of energy that can be transformed for a specific use
household
the operating of electricl applicances, heating systems, hot water systems, heat for cooking and for meats of transport
industrial
the operating of factories and companies, construction, agriculture and so on.
classification
by availability in nature and capacity for renegeration
by origin
by use in each country
by environmental impact
electricity
is the most widely used form of energy in indutralised societies
it can be easy transformed
it can be transported long distances
electric power plants
are facilities where primary or secondary energy is transformed into electricity
How an electric power plant works
the turbine converts mechanical energy into the rotating movement of a shaft
an alternator has fixed part and a moving part connected to the turbine shaft
transport and distribution of electrical energy
transporting it by high voltage cables
decreasing the voltage
increasing the voltage to prevent significant energy loss
distribution
fossil fuel thermal
hydroelectric
nuclear
This type of plant tm.ludes a nuclear fission reactor that produces the pressurised steam needed to move the turbine rotor
water is heated in a boiler by the heat generated from the combustion of a fossil fuel (natural gas or coal)
combined cycle power plant
electricty ts generated as a result of two combined cycles. During the first cycle,a gas turbine is used that includes a compressor.
Air is mixed with the gas and is burnt, which generates electricity.
The combustion gases are transformed to a boiler
This type uses the potential energy provided by the height of the stored water in a dam, converting it into kinetic energy.
gravity-driven hydraulic power plants
pump-driven hydraulic power plants
Geothermal
Biomass
solar power plants
wind power plants and wind farms
ocean
These power plants use the kinetic energy of the wind to move the blades of a rotor at the top of a tower (wind turbine). Wind farms are a clean form of generating electricity.
photo- termal
photovoltaic
In this type of power plant, they use heat generated by solar radiation.
In these power plants, solar radiation is transformed directly into electricity by panels of photovoltaic cells
ºGeotermal energy may be used directly-for hot water and heating - and indirectly- the heat generates steam
Biomass
consists of all organic compounds that are produced throught natural processes. Biomass is subjected into different physical and chemical processes in order to produce fuel.
They use the energy from the seas and oceans
environmental impacts
waste treatment
some solutions
environmental impact assessment
It is mandatory to carry out an environmental impact assessment to find changes in the environment
extraction of natural resources
fuel transport
electricity generation
hydroelectric power plants
conventional thermal power plants
nuclear thermal power plants
final energy use
energy diversification
energy savings
efficiency
waste generated by thermal power plants
waste from nuclear power plants