SOURCES OF ENERGY

Energy sources are classified into two groups renewable and nonrenewable. Renewable and nonrenewable energy can be converted into secondary energy sources like electricity and hydrogen.

1. Renewable energy sources are replenished in a short time. Wind, water, and solar energy are
renewable sources that are mainly used to create electricity.

2. Nonrenewable energy sources are in limited supply. Petroleum and coal are examples of nonrenewable
energy sources that are used to create electricity and to manufacture many products that we use.

Source: Energy Information Administration (Oct 2008)

POWER PLANTS
Power plants produce enormous quantities of electrical energy to be used by consumers on a daily basis. Power plants produce electricity with a generator. Power plants have a turbine which is connected to the generator. As the turbine is rotated, it causes the wire coil in the generator to turn inside the magnet. Mechanical energy is transformed into electrical energy, or electricity. The turbine in a power plant may be rotated by steam, wind, or water.

Steam power plants obtain energy from burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, or natural gas, or biomass materials, such as wood, to produce heat to change the water into steam. Steam is also produced from solar energy and geothermal energy. Wind energy is capable of turning the turbine blades directly without the need to produce heat. Water (hydropower and tidal energy) is also capable of turning the turbine blades directly without the need to produce steam. A nuclear power plant is similar to a steam power plant. When the nucleus of atoms split, a tremendous amount of heat and light energy is released. These power plants use this released energy to heat water. The water changes into steam. The steam moves the turbine blades.

STEAM POWER PLANTS

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A fossil fuel, such as coal, or a biomass fuel, such as wood, is burned to produce heat. The water changes into steam. The steam moves the turbine blades which rotate either the wire coil or the magnet inside the generator to move electrons.

Energy Transformations at the Steam Power Plant

Fuel burns Water changes into steam
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Steam moves the turbine

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Generator produces electricity

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

FOSSIL FUELS:
There are three fossil fuels coal, oil, and natural gas. They contain chemical energy. Fossil fuels are burned in a steam power plant to heat water into steam to turn the turbine. Fossil fuels were all formed in the same manner. The age they were formed is called the Carboniferous Period. It was part of the Paleozoic Era. "Carboniferous" gets its name from carbon, the basic element in coal and other fossil fuels. The Carboniferous Period occurred from about 360 to 286 million years ago. At the time, the land was covered with swamps filled with huge trees, ferns and other large leafy plants, similar to the picture. The seas were filled with algae the green stuff that forms on a stagnant pool of water. Algae are actually millions of very small plants. As the plants and algae died, they sank to the bottom. They formed layers over many thousands of years. More and more rock piled on top of more rock, and it weighed more and more. It began to press down on the layers. The layers were squeezed and squeezed until it eventually, over millions of years, turned into coal, oil or petroleum, and natural gas. All fossil fuels contain hydrogen and carbon molecules in different amounts. All fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources and are a form of potential chemical energy.

Solid Fossil Fuel Coal

Coal generally formed from plants in swamps. It is mined in two different ways: Surface mining This type of mining is also called strip mining. This method is utilized in Texas because the coal is close to the surface. problems: Habitats are ruined; difficult to reclaim the land; expensive equipment; process is slow Sub-Surface mining This method is used where the coal is buried deep underground. problems: Dangerous due to poor air quality, lack of light and ventilation, warm temperatures, cave-ins.

Liquid Fossil Fuel Petroleum

The first oil well in the United States was drilled Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. The first oil well in Texas was Spindletop located in Beaumont. Oil is found in sedimentary rocks, usually limestone or sandstone. It accumulates in the pore spaces between the grains of the rocks. It is not found in large pools. Because oil sticks to the rocks, only about one third of it is removed using the traditional pumping method. The United States imports much of its oil from foreign countries. How could we alleviate this need? After being pumped from underground, crude oil must be sent to a refinery for purification. Petroleum Examples: ink, crayons, dresses, toilet seats, aspirin, tents, lipstick, cameras, luggage, balloons

Gaseous Fossil Fuel Natural Gas

Natural gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Natural gas is usually found in the same location as oil. Because gas is less dense, it is found on top of oil. Pockets of natural gas can also be found in coal mines. Why is this occurrence dangerous? (suffocation / explosion) To make natural gas safer to use, an odor is added to it to make it easier to detect leaks. Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. For this reason, gas may be utilized for cooking. Gas is also the most efficient fossil fuel because all of it is used during burning.

Biomass Fuel
Biomass consists of organic material. Organic material was once a living thing.

Bioconversion is the process of burning biomass materials to produce energy. Biomass materials contain chemical energy, and are burned in a steam power plant to heat water into steam to turn the turbine. There are two ways to utilize bioconversion for energy: 1. Producing energy from plants Plant material in any form, from algae to wood, can be burned directly, or converted to liquid or gaseous fuels which may be burned for energy. 2. Producing energy from wastes Organic waste such as paper, wood, food and sewage can be burned to heat water and produce steam. Organic wastes may also be converted into liquid fuel. All biomass materials are renewable resources and are a form of potential energy.

SOLAR ENERGY
Solar energy is energy from the sun. Since this energy will not ever run out, it is considered an inexhaustible energy supply. Solar energy is a renewable resource and is a form of kinetic energy. Solar energy may be utilized in three ways: generating electricity using solar power plants generating electricity using solar cells solar heating

1. Solar Power Plants

A solar power plant is similar to a steam power plant. However, these power plants use the suns energy to heat water. The water changes into steam. The steam moves the turbine blades, which rotate either the wire coil or the magnet inside the generator to move electrons.

A) Solar Tower

B) Solar Trough Collector

Energy Transformations at the Solar Power Plant

Sunlight Water changes into steam
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Steam moves the turbine

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Generator produces electricity

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

2. Solar Photovoltaic Cells

A solar cell is a small silicon chip. Particles in sunlight called photons knock electrons loose from the solar cell to make electricity. Solar cells are small and do not make large amounts of electricity. Therefore, many solar cells are generally used at one time. Example: solar calculator Energy Transformations in the Solar Cell
Sunlight shines on the solar cell
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical kinetic nuclear gravitational

Electricity is produced
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical kinetic nuclear gravitational

3. Solar Heating
There are two types of solar heating systems active and passive. a. Active systems These systems have moving parts such as pumps and fans. They are utilized to heat water and air. The systems include boxshaped parts which are usually located on the roof of a building. the top of a solar collector is made of glass underneath the top is a pipe filled with water or air the bottom is made of aluminum which is painted black b. Passive systems These systems are built into the design of a building, and have no parts. To passively heat a house, large windows are built on the south side. Heat retaining walls are also built. Energy Transformations in the Solar Heating (active system)
Sunlight
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Pipe is heated
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Water /air are heated

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

NUCLEAR ENERGY
Nuclear energy is found in the nucleus of atoms. There are two types of nuclear energy fusion and fission. Currently, fission is utilized to generate electricity. The process of fusion is not yet efficient and cost effective. Nuclear fusion is a process which produces nuclear energy by fusing or joining atoms. Nuclear fission is a process which produces nuclear energy by splitting atoms.

1. Nuclear Fission
During fission, the nucleus of an atom is split. In nuclear power plants, atoms of uranium are split. When a uranium atom is split, this causes a chain reaction which splits more and more uranium atoms.

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Uranium is a nonrenewable resource and is a form of potential energy. When the nucleus of atoms split, a tremendous amount of heat and light energy is released. A nuclear power plant is similar to a steam power plant. These power plants use this released energy to heat water. The water changes into steam. The steam moves the turbine blades, which rotate either the wire coil or the magnet inside the generator to move electrons. Part of the electricity used in our community is generated in a nuclear power plant in Granbury, Texas, named Commanche Peak.

2. Nuclear Fusion
During fusion, the nucleus of an atom is fused or joined with the nucleus of another atom. The sun converts its energy in this way. Inside the sun, two hydrogen atoms are combined to form one helium atom. This nuclear reaction produces a large amount of energy in the form of heat and light. Scientists are attempting to develop a method to use nuclear fusion to produce electricity on Earth. A type of hydrogen found in ocean water may be utilized for the fusion process. Theoretically, it only takes a few atoms of this hydrogen to produce large amounts of energy; the fuel supply may last forever. Currently, the process of fusion eazyvg.linuxoss.com is not yet efficient and cost effective. Ocean water hydrogen is a renewable resource and is a form of potential energy.

Energy Transformations at the Nuclear Power Plant

Uranium Water changes into steam
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Loop 2 water into steam

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Steam turns the turbine

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Generator produces electricity

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal power is generated whenever water comes in contact with hot rocks below the Earths surface. The rocks give off heat that makes the water hot enough to turn into steam. A geothermal power plant is similar to a steam power plant. These power plants use the steam from the geothermal energy to move the turbine blades, which rotate either the wire coil or the magnet inside the generator to move electrons. Power companies can drill wells and pump the hot water or steam to the surface. In areas where no underground water exists naturally, water may be pumped into the ground to be heated by hot rocks. Geothermal heat sometimes escapes to the surface in the form of geysers, volcanoes, hot springs or steam vents (in the bottom of oceans).

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/geothermal/geothermal.html

Geothermal energy is a renewable resource and is a form of kinetic energy. Energy Transformations at the Geothermal Power Plant
Hot rocks Water changes into steam
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Steam moves the turbine

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Generator produces electricity

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

WIND ENERGY
Wind energy is one of the oldest sources of energy known. Heat causes low pressure areas, and cold temperatures cause high pressure areas. Air flows from high pressure areas into low pressure areas. This movement of air creates wind. Wind machines have giant blades shaped like a propeller. The blowing wind turns the blades of the wind machine which then rotates either the wire coil or the magnet inside the generator to move electrons.
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Wind energy is a renewable resource and is a form of kinetic energy. Energy Transformations at the Wind Energy Power Plant Moving air or wind
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Moves the turbine blades

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Generator produces electricity

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

HYDROPOWER OR WATER ENERGY

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Hydroelectric power plants are sometimes constructed at the site of naturally occurring water power, such as a waterfall. Most often, dams are built at a river. The water is released periodically from the reservoir behind the dam, and it flows down through openings in the dam through pipes, or penstocks to the powerhouse. The water turns the blades of the turbine which then rotate either the wire coil or the magnet inside the generator to move electrons. Hydropower or water energy is a renewable resource and is a form of kinetic energy. Energy Transformations at the Hydropower or Water Energy Power Plant Moving water
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Moves the turbine blades

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Generator produces electricity

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

TIDAL ENERGY
Everyday large amounts of water moves onto the shore as the tide rises (high tide), and then moves back away from the shore as the tide falls (low tide). This tremendous change in the level of water is caused by the effect of the moons gravitational pull on the Earth.

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A dam is built where there is a large difference between high tide and low tide. As the high tide causes the water level to rise behind the dam, the potential energy increases. The power of the moving water turns the turbine blades as the water falls (just as it does in the hydropower plant). The water turns the blades of the turbine which then rotate either the wire coil or the magnet inside the generator to move electrons. Tidal power or water energy is a renewable resource and is a form of kinetic energy.

There are also power plants powered by waves! Some tidal power plants use the movement of the water as it moves onto the shore and out again.

Energy Transformations at the Tidal Energy Power Plant Tide water rises/falls
radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Moves the turbine blades

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational

Generator produces electricity

radiant thermal electrical sound chemical mechanical nuclear gravitational