INTRODUCTION TO POWER GENERATION

The energy sources have been split into three categories: fossil fuels,
renewable sources, and nuclear sources. The fossil fuels here are coal, petroleum, and natural gas. The
renewable energy sources are solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal power. The nuclear
powered sources are fission and fusion.
1) FUELS
The theory behind fossil fuels is actually quite simple. Burning coal, natural gas, and petroleum
releases
energy stored in the fuel as heat. The energy contained by the fuels is derived from the energy of the
sun.
The heat that is recovered upon combustion of the fuel can be used by us in several ways. Industrial
processes that require extremely high temperatures may burn a great deal of very pure coal known as
―coke‖ and use the energy released to directly heat a system. Some people make use of clean burning
natural gas to heat their homes. Combustion of fossil fuels can also be used to generate electricity; the
fuel is burned to heat water, and the steam from the boiling water spins turbines that power a
generator, thereby manufacturing electricity. In coal and natural
gas systems, a fossil fuel is burned to heat water. The steam pressure from the boiling water turns
propellers called turbines. These turbines spin coils of wire between magnets to produce electricity.

2) HYDROPOWER
Hydro powered systems also make use of turbines to generate electrical power; however, they
do so by
using the energy in moving water to spin the turbines. Water has kinetic energy when it flows
from higher
elevations to lower elevations.. In larger scale
hydroelectric plants, large volumes of water are contained by dams near the generator and
turbines. The
forebay is a storage area for water that must be deep enough that the penstock is completely
submerged.
The water is allowed to flow into the electricity-generating system through a passage called
the penstock.
The controlled high-pressure water spins the turbines, allowing the generator to produce an
electric
current. The powerhouse contains and protects the equipment for generating electricity. The
high-pressure
water exits the system through a draft tube. The fish ladder attempts to minimise the
environmental
impact of hydroelectric systems by providing a path for migrating fish to take

Advantages
-renewable source of energy.
- Minimal environmental impact.
-Viable source--relatively useful levels of energy production.
- Can be used throughout the world.
Disadvantages
- Smaller models depend on availability of fast flowing streams or
rivers.
- Run-of-the-River plants can impact the mobility of fish and other
river life.
3) SOLAR ENERGY
The energy of the sun can be used in many ways. When plants grow, they store the
energy of the sun. Then, when we burn those plants, the energy is released in the
form of heat. This is an example of indirect use of solar energy.
The form we are interested in is directly converting the sun‘s rays into a usable
energy source : electricity. This is accomplished through the use of ―solar
collectors, or, as they are more commonly known as, ―solar panels.
There are two ways in which solar power can be converted to energy. The first,
known as ―solar thermal applications‖, involve using the energy of the sun to
directly heat air or a liquid. The second, known as ―photoelectric applications‖,
involve the use of photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy directly to electricity.
There are two types of solar thermal collectors. The first, known as flat plate
collectors, contain absorber plates that use solar radiation to heat a carrier fluid,
either a liquid like oil or water, or air. Because these collectors can heat carrier
fluids to around 80 oC, they are suited for residential applications. The second type
of solar collectors is known as concentrating collectors. These panels are intended
for larger-scale applications such as air conditioning, where more heating potential
is required. The rays of the sun from a relatively wide area are focused into a
small area by means of reflective mirrors, and thus the heat energy is concentrated.
This method has the potential to heat liquids to a much higher temperature than
flat plate collectors can alone. The heat from the concentrating collectors can be
used to boil water. The steam can then be used to power turbines attached to
generators and produce electricity, as in wind and hydroelectric power systems.
Photovoltaic cells depend on semiconductors such as silicon to directly convert
solar energy to electricity. Because these types of cells are low-maintenance, they
are best suited for remote applications.
Solar power has an exciting future ahead of it. Because solar power utilizes the
sun's light, a ubiquitous resource (a resource that is everywhere), solar panels can
be attached to moving objects, such as automobiles, and can even be used to
power those objects. Solar powered cars are being experimented with more and
more frequently now.
Advantages
- RENEWABLE SOURCE OF ENERGY
-No pollution.
- Often an excellent supplement to other renewable sources.
-Versatile is used for powering items as diverse as solar cars and
satellites.
Disadvantages
- Very diffuse source means low energy production– large numbers of
solar panels (and thus large land areas) are required to produce useful
amounts of heat or electricity.
- Only areas of the world with lots of sunlight are suitable for solar
power generation

4) WIND
Differences in atmospheric pressure due to differences in temperature are the main
cause of wind. Because warm air rises, when air fronts of different temperatures
come in contact, the warmer air rises over the colder air, causing the wind to blow.
Wind generators take advantage of the power of wind. Long blades, or rotors,
catch the wind and spin. Like in hydroelectric systems, the spinning movement is
transformed into electrical energy by a generator.
The placement of wind systems is extremely important. In order for a
wind-powered system to be effective, a relatively consistent wind-flow is required.
Obstructions such as trees or hills can interfere with the rotors. Because of this,
the rotors are usually placed atop towers to take advantage of the stronger winds
available higher up. Furthermore, wind speed varies with temperature, season, and
time of day. All these factors must be considered when choosing a site for a windpowered
generator.
Another important part of wind systems is the battery. Since wind does not always
blow consistently, it is important that there be a backup system to provide energy.
When the wind is especially strong, the generator can store extra energy in a
battery.
There are certain minimal speeds at which the wind needs to blow. For small
turbines it is 8 miles an hour. Large plants require speeds of 13 miles an hour.
Remote
Remote systems are small, relatively cheap sources of energy. They are best suited
for rural environments because they can be left unattended for long periods of
time. Further, they can operate under harsh conditions, and thus have potential for
powering extremely remote regions
Advantages
- Inexhaustible fuel source.
-No pollution.
- Often an excellent supplement to other renewable sources.
Disadvantages
- Very diffuse source means low energy production– large numbers of
wind generators (and thus large land areas) are required to produce
useful amounts of heat or electricity.
- Only areas of the world with lots of wind are suitable for wind power
generation.
- Relatively expensive to maintain.
5) GEOTHERMAL
The earth‘s crust is heated by the decay of radioactive elements. The heat is carried by magma
or water
beneath the earth's surface. Some of the heat reaches the surface and manifests itself in
geysers and hot
springs throughout the world. Geothermal power can be used to directly heat buildings.
Further, the
pressurised steam from superheated water beneath the earth‘s surface can be used to power
turbines and
thus generate electricity.
Although geothermal power seems ideal in that it is naturally occurring and does not require
structures to
trap or collect the energy (as in solar panels or windmills), it does have limitations. The
greatest drawback
is that naturally occurring geothermal vents are not widely available. Artificial vents have
been
successfully drilled in the ground to reach the hot rocks below and then injected with water
for the
production of steam. However, oftentimes the source of heat is far too deep for this method to
work well.
Nor can geothermal power realistically generate enough electricity for the entire country or
any large
industrialised nation. A good-sized hot spring can power at most a moderate sized city of
around 50,000
people. And there just isn‘t enough viable hot springs to power all the cities in any large
country.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Theoretically inexhaustible energy source.
No pollution.
Often an excellent supplement to other renewable sources.
Doesnot require structures such as solar panels or windmills to
collect the energy – can be directly used to heat or produce electricity
(thus very cheap).
Disadvantages
Not available in many locations.
Not much power per vent.