Geothermal energy is available for use in the form of heat energy produced by the earth in its interiors and so s also referred to as earth energy. It is the most dominant in areas where there is high volcanic or seismic activity. The geothermal energy resources available are either in the form of hot water or in the form of steam. In both the forms, geothermal energy resources can be put to several uses. They can be used to produce electricity, heat water or keep buildings warm.
Geothermal power plants convert the geothermal energy to electricity. This electricity that gets generated can be used as an alternative energy source for several purposes. The geothermal energy resources in the form of hot water or steam can be obtained by drilling wells. This steam or hot water can be used to rotate turbines that are connected with generators which then convert the energy of turbines into electricity.
Geothermal heat pumps are devices that use geothermal energy resources to keep buildings warm. A heat exchanger is installed in the ground near buildings and when it comes in contact with geothermal reservoirs, the heat is transferred to the buildings through a delivery pipe, thus keeping the buildings warm.
Geothermal energy resources can also be put to direct use. They can be used for purposes like heating water, bathing and cooking food. Hot springs which are the most widely used geothermal energy resources are known and used for their medicinal value.
Harnessing of geothermal energy resources is important to make use of it effectively.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is the energy that is obtained from deep inside the core of the earth. We know that earth is formed of different layers. The innermost layer is called the solid iron core and is surrounded by the molten core known as magma. Magma is nothing but hot molten rock. The mantle surrounds the core and is made up of magma and rock. Crust is the outermost layer of the earth.
Heat is being continuously generated inside the earth’s core and flows from the core to the mantle and this heat can be used as an alternative energy source. This energy source is called the geothermal energy. The geothermal energy resources can be made available on the surface in three ways. They can come to the surface by the flow of magma through volcanoes in the form of lava. The flow of underground water or steam in a natural manner like in hot springs can form good geothermal energy resources. Human efforts can make the flow of underground water or steam possible and use this hot water or steam as geothermal energy.
But how does water get inside the earth? Rain water trickles down rock fissures when it rains. Once this water gets inside the surface of the earth, it is collected in an underground aquifer and gets heated by the earth’s heat. The hot water being lighter rises up in the form of steam and reaches the earth’s surface to provide us with what is known as geothermal energy or earth energy.
Heat is being continuously generated inside the earth’s core and flows from the core to the mantle and this heat can be used as an alternative energy source. This energy source is called the geothermal energy. The geothermal energy resources can be made available on the surface in three ways. They can come to the surface by the flow of magma through volcanoes in the form of lava. The flow of underground water or steam in a natural manner like in hot springs can form good geothermal energy resources. Human efforts can make the flow of underground water or steam possible and use this hot water or steam as geothermal energy.
But how does water get inside the earth? Rain water trickles down rock fissures when it rains. Once this water gets inside the surface of the earth, it is collected in an underground aquifer and gets heated by the earth’s heat. The hot water being lighter rises up in the form of steam and reaches the earth’s surface to provide us with what is known as geothermal energy or earth energy.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Geothermal heat pumps
The energy obtained from the deep core of the earth is called earth energy or geothermal energy. Geothermal energy can be put to a number of uses. One of the most common applications of geothermal energy resources is a device called geothermal heat pump.
The upper ten feet of the earth’s surface remain at a constant temperature. In winters, this constant temperature is warmer than the air above it and in summers, this temperature is cooler than the air above it. The geothermal heat pumps are devices that take into consideration this fact and operate to heat and cool buildings.
A geothermal heat pump has three components namely heat exchanger, heat pump unit and air delivery system. The heat exchanger has a system of pipes which is called a loop. The heat exchanger is buried in the ground near the building to be used. A fluid flows through the pipes or loop and this fluid then absorbs or releases heat within the ground.
The geothermal heat pump removes the heat from the heat exchanger and pumps it into the air delivery system to keep the buildings warm in winters. In summers, the geothermal heat pump moves the heat from the air delivery system into the heat exchanger thus cooling the building.
Geothermal heat pumps use less energy than the conventional heating systems because the energy is drawn from the ground which is used as a renewable energy source. These devices that use earth energy are not very expensive. They are also easy to use, install and maintain.
The upper ten feet of the earth’s surface remain at a constant temperature. In winters, this constant temperature is warmer than the air above it and in summers, this temperature is cooler than the air above it. The geothermal heat pumps are devices that take into consideration this fact and operate to heat and cool buildings.
A geothermal heat pump has three components namely heat exchanger, heat pump unit and air delivery system. The heat exchanger has a system of pipes which is called a loop. The heat exchanger is buried in the ground near the building to be used. A fluid flows through the pipes or loop and this fluid then absorbs or releases heat within the ground.
The geothermal heat pump removes the heat from the heat exchanger and pumps it into the air delivery system to keep the buildings warm in winters. In summers, the geothermal heat pump moves the heat from the air delivery system into the heat exchanger thus cooling the building.
Geothermal heat pumps use less energy than the conventional heating systems because the energy is drawn from the ground which is used as a renewable energy source. These devices that use earth energy are not very expensive. They are also easy to use, install and maintain.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is the energy that is obtained from the core of the earth. The earth is formed of different layers. The innermost layer is the solid iron core. This is surrounded by the molten core known as magma which is nothing but hot molten rock. The core in turn is surrounded by mantle which is made up of magma and rock. The outermost layer of the earth is called the crust.
Heat is being continuously generated inside the earth’s core and flows from the core to the mantle. This energy source is the geothermal energy. The geothermal energy comes to the surface in the following three ways:
• The flow of magma through volcanoes in the form of lava.
• The flow of underground water or steam in a natural manner like in hot springs.
• The flow of underground water or steam through human efforts like geothermal plants.
The question that arises here is how does water get inside the earth? Water trickles down rock fissures when it rains. This water gets collected in an underground aquifer and gets heated by the earth’s heat. This is how water rises and flows either in the form of water or steam to the earth’s surface and hence provides us with what is known as geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy thus obtained can be used either to generate electricity or can be used for heating water, keeping buildings warm or cool and the hot water can also be used directly for cooking, bathing or for its medicinal values.
Heat is being continuously generated inside the earth’s core and flows from the core to the mantle. This energy source is the geothermal energy. The geothermal energy comes to the surface in the following three ways:
• The flow of magma through volcanoes in the form of lava.
• The flow of underground water or steam in a natural manner like in hot springs.
• The flow of underground water or steam through human efforts like geothermal plants.
The question that arises here is how does water get inside the earth? Water trickles down rock fissures when it rains. This water gets collected in an underground aquifer and gets heated by the earth’s heat. This is how water rises and flows either in the form of water or steam to the earth’s surface and hence provides us with what is known as geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy thus obtained can be used either to generate electricity or can be used for heating water, keeping buildings warm or cool and the hot water can also be used directly for cooking, bathing or for its medicinal values.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Uses of Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is the heat energy within the earth. The steam and hot water within the earth’s surface can be used to heat buildings or to generate electricity. Geothermal energy is used by people around the world to heat their homes, produce electricity and to heat and cool buildings.
The main uses of geothermal energy are explained below.
1. Direct use of geothermal energy- Water from hot springs is used for bathing, cooking and heating. The direct use of geothermal energy has been happening since ancient times when people used hot mineral springs and hot water as a source of energy. Hot springs are mainly used for bathing and are believed to have natural healing powers.
2. District heating systems- Geothermal energy can be used for heating buildings by using district heating systems. In these systems, hot water from near the earth’s surface can be directly piped into buildings and industries for heat.
3. Geothermal power plants- Geothermal energy is used to generate electricity in geothermal power plants. Geothermal energy in the form of hot water or steam is used to run turbines which generate electricity in a geothermal plant.
4. Geothermal heat pumps- Geothermal heat pumps use the constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool buildings. They transfer heat from within the earth into buildings during winters and in summers, the process gets reversed.
Geothermal energy finds so many uses because it is an environmentally clean and cost effective source of energy. Also because it is a renewable source of energy, the use of geothermal energy is the best solution to a large number of problems.
The main uses of geothermal energy are explained below.
1. Direct use of geothermal energy- Water from hot springs is used for bathing, cooking and heating. The direct use of geothermal energy has been happening since ancient times when people used hot mineral springs and hot water as a source of energy. Hot springs are mainly used for bathing and are believed to have natural healing powers.
2. District heating systems- Geothermal energy can be used for heating buildings by using district heating systems. In these systems, hot water from near the earth’s surface can be directly piped into buildings and industries for heat.
3. Geothermal power plants- Geothermal energy is used to generate electricity in geothermal power plants. Geothermal energy in the form of hot water or steam is used to run turbines which generate electricity in a geothermal plant.
4. Geothermal heat pumps- Geothermal heat pumps use the constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool buildings. They transfer heat from within the earth into buildings during winters and in summers, the process gets reversed.
Geothermal energy finds so many uses because it is an environmentally clean and cost effective source of energy. Also because it is a renewable source of energy, the use of geothermal energy is the best solution to a large number of problems.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
