alternate energy
Geothermal energy
What is geothermal energy, and how can we use it in society?
Geothermal energy is the use of the Earths very own energy. It’s renewable, clean and can range to easily acquirable hot springs on the surface or hot rock found a few miles below the surface. Or you can go a bit deeper and hit the extremities of the molten rock (magma).
In the US around 80% of all geothermal hotspots are found on the western states i.e. Alaska and Hawaii. Wells are drilled deep into the underground reservoirs in order to use the steam to turn the turbines and generators. Others however use a liquid, which is boiled by the hot water why then vaporizes and turns the turbine. The hot springs near or on the surface are used to provide heat to not only homes but to green houses, fish farms and industrial processes such as pasteurizing milk.
There are three ways we can use geothermal energy.
Direct Geothermal Energy.
This is where we use the near surface hot springs to be pumped directly into our houses and office buildings. It is pumped through a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat in the water to the heating systems of the buildings. Once the waters heat has peen used it is piped back into the spring and heated back up.
Geothermal Heat pump
Geothermal Heat Pumps are used to take the warmth from the ground (which stays at a constant 10-15°C all year). This heat alone is used to heat or cool homes and offices, the fluid flows in a series of pipes underground and then into a building, and then being looped back to the ground. But when it reaches the building it hits a heat exchanger, which absorbs the heat from the water and pumps it through the vents. When it is summer however the heat exchanger takes heat from the building and transfers it to the water that is then sent into the ground.
Geothermal power plant
A geothermal power plant works in three different ways. The first and most common is the “dry steam plants” which takes steam directly
What is geothermal energy, and how can we use it in society?
Geothermal energy is the use of the Earths very own energy. It’s renewable, clean and can range to easily acquirable hot springs on the surface or hot rock found a few miles below the surface. Or you can go a bit deeper and hit the extremities of the molten rock (magma).
In the US around 80% of all geothermal hotspots are found on the western states i.e. Alaska and Hawaii. Wells are drilled deep into the underground reservoirs in order to use the steam to turn the turbines and generators. Others however use a liquid, which is boiled by the hot water why then vaporizes and turns the turbine. The hot springs near or on the surface are used to provide heat to not only homes but to green houses, fish farms and industrial processes such as pasteurizing milk.
There are three ways we can use geothermal energy.
Direct Geothermal Energy.
This is where we use the near surface hot springs to be pumped directly into our houses and office buildings. It is pumped through a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat in the water to the heating systems of the buildings. Once the waters heat has peen used it is piped back into the spring and heated back up.
Geothermal Heat pump
Geothermal Heat Pumps are used to take the warmth from the ground (which stays at a constant 10-15°C all year). This heat alone is used to heat or cool homes and offices, the fluid flows in a series of pipes underground and then into a building, and then being looped back to the ground. But when it reaches the building it hits a heat exchanger, which absorbs the heat from the water and pumps it through the vents. When it is summer however the heat exchanger takes heat from the building and transfers it to the water that is then sent into the ground.
Geothermal power plant
A geothermal power plant works in three different ways. The first and most common is the “dry steam plants” which takes steam directly
Bibliography: http://energy.gov/eere/geothermal/history-geothermal-energy-america http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/GeothermalEnergyHistory.php http://www.nature.com/scitable/spotlight/solar-energy-8731061 http://www.ecotopia.com/ases/solartoday/dawnofthesolarera.pdf http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2005/12/05/1523490.htm http://www.telosnet.com/wind/