Transcript Wind Energy - Period4EnergyProject

Solar Energy
Essential Questions
• Solar energy is an inexhaustible energy
source.
• We use solar panels to collect solar radiation
and make it into electricity. Solar cells are
used to capture the energy.
• The infrastructure requirements are solar
panels made up of solar cells.
• Nanotubes could be used which can
concentrate energy 100 times better than our
regular solar panels.
Fun Facts
• In one hour, the earth receives more
energy from the sun than the entire world
uses in a whole day.
• There are two types of solar energy,
passive and active.
• Converting solar energy will not pollute the
air with greenhouse gases or carbon
monoxide like fossil fuels.
Additional Facts
• Most Non-American countries make oil
cost more so they use more
alternative/solar energy.
• Solar panels cost $2.49/per watt.
• If you can buy a utility grid, you can
conserve the solar energy from the day
and use it at night.
Wind Energy
baycounty-mi.gov
Facts
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Wind energy is an example of an inexhaustible energy
source.
This energy source is made useable by windmills.
Windmills convert kinetic energy into electrical energy.
The basic infrastructure is wind. You also need the metal
turbines. When the wind naturally blows the turbines
function.
The two main emerging technologies are wind turbines,
and windmills. Although windmills have been around
forever, throughout the years the windmills that are used
have become more complex.
greenplanetethics.com
Additional Facts
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Wind exists because the sun unevenly heats
the surface of the Earth.
The largest wind turbines in the world create
enough electricity to power 600 U.S. homes
Studies have shown that by 2050 over one third
of the world’s electricity will be powered by
wind
ngpowereu.com
About Geothermal Energy
• Geothermal energy
uses the heat from
below the Earth’s
crust.
• Some examples of
natural geothermal
energy on the planet’s
surface are geysers
and natural hot
springs.
Tapping into Geothermal Energy
• To tap into geothermal energy, pumps draw heat
from the Earth or underground water sources.
• Certain systems can also obtain geothermal
energy from liquid magma.
• In order to reach depths at which geothermal
energy is accessible, rotary drilling has always
been used in the past.
• Recently, a thermal drill has been developed that
uses heat to reach geothermal heat sources.
This method is much more efficient, more cost
effective, and can dig deeper than rotary drilling.
Uses of Geothermal Energy
• Heating pumps that draw heat from the
Earth use that heat to help heat and cool
buildings.
• Some facilities use the heat from
geothermal energy to generate electricity,
which is supplied to businesses and
homes in the surrounding areas.
A nonrenewable resource.
Coal is the most used energy
source in the world, with China
as the world’s number one user.
On average, each person in the U.S. uses
3.8 tons of coal a year.
Coal into Electricity
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Coal is made useable in this process.
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First it is mined out of the earth and transported to a refinery
via truck or train. There it is broken down into a fine powder.
Then this powder is transported to electric plants via truck or
train.
There, they burn the coal, which heats a boiler of water. This
water turns into steam, and this steam travels through a
passage to turn a turbine. After the water cools it returns to a
boiler to repeat the process.
The turbine runs a generator that converts kinetic energy into
electricity.
Coal- transporting electricity
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The electricity made by the coal is transported
throughout the country through these steps:
First the electricity made by the generator is sent
through a transformer to increase the voltage.
 Then it travels on power lines to a substation
transformer to decrease voltage for use.
 Lastly, it travels on power lines above or below
ground to your house.
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Hydrogen
Inexhaustible Energy Source
Background of Hydrogen
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Hydrogen means water forming.
Hydro : Water; Genes : Forming
Discovered as a gas by Robinson Boyle in 1671.
Antonie Lavoisier named it from Greeks words
meaning “water former.”
First recognized as a “distinct substance” by
Cavendish in 1776.
Lightest most abundant element.
Makes up 75% of the Universe’s chemical element
mass.
Average atomic weight is 1.00794 units.
Properties of Hydrogen
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Highly flammable and will burn in air at a wide range
of concentrations.
Forms explosive mixtures with air if it is 4%-74%
concentrated. As well with chlorine at 5%-95%
concentration.
Is found in the atmosphere at trace levels and cannot
sustain life.
Physical Properties
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Colorless
Light in Weight
Much lighter than air.
Melting point : - 259.2 °C
Boiling point : - 258.8 °C
Pure Hydrogen is a gas under normal conditions.
Biomass is a renewable energy source.
It comes from waste products like
garbage and cow manure. It can even
be made from corn.
http://schools.clipart.com/index
In order to collect biomass energy, trucks will collect the waste
and bring it to a plant. At the plant the waste is burned and
used to boil water. The steam from the boiling water is used to
turn the turbines of a generator.
Once the generator is turning, it creates a
current. This current is then brought to
the community through wires and
cables.
Biomass Energy isn’t perfect. It can actually contribute
to global warming if not used properly. It also
requires trucks to gather the garbage. However, a
new fuel source that is made from corn, ethanol,
could help that.
Uranium
Uses
Uranium is used in the nuclear power
industry to generate electricity
It is also used in military bombs
To make commercial reactor fuel, or
as a component of a waste repository.
Balances the control surfaces in
modern jet aircraft
Facts
 Nonrenewable resource
 Found in rocks and in the ocean
 Provides about 16% of the world's electricity,
some other interesting uses of uranium
include weighting of the keels of oceangoing yachts, and balancing the control
surfaces in modern jet aircraft.
Technology
Uranium has the ability to fission (break
apart) into lighter elements and release
binding energy
It releases enough neutrons to sustain a
fission reaction
Nuclear fission heats water to produce
steam, which is then used to generate
electricity.
Bibliography
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http://www.solarhome.org/infofactsaboutso
larenergy.html
http://www.totalsolarenergy.co.uk/factsabout-solar-energy.html
http://www.facts-about-solar-energy.com/
http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab
=wi
www.energyrefuge.com/archives/windenergy-facts.htm
http://environment.nationalgeographic.co
m/environment/global-warming/windpower-interactive/
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http://www.teachcoal.org/aboutcoal/articles/fastfac
ts.html
http://nrplp.com/default.aspx?menuitemid=523
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_coal_technology
Clipart.com School Edition. Web. 02 Mar. 2011.
<http://schools.clipart.com/index>.
"The Energy Story - Chapter 10: Biomass Energy."
Energy Quest Room. California Energy Commission.
Web. 02 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter10.h
tml>.
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"Tapping into Geothermal Energy." Johnson
Controls. Johnson Controls, 2007. Web. 2 Mar. 2011.
<http:// www. johnsoncontrols. com/ publish/etc
/medialib /jci/be/sustainability/
renewable_energy.Par.38055.File.dat/Geothermal%
20insert%20FINAL.pdf>.
ETH Zurich. "Tapping Geothermal Energy: New
Drilling Method With Fire and Flame In The
Depths." ScienceDaily 15 September 2009. 2 March
2011 <http://www.sciencedaily.com
/releases/2009/09/090912144809.htm>.
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http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/pdf/poten
tialuses.pdf
http://www.worldnuclear.org/education/uran.htm
http://www.uraniumsa.org/uses/uses.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium#Hydrid
es.2C_carbides_and_nitrides