October 25, 2010
How Does Geothermal Energy Work?
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Sheldon P asked:
The term geothermal came from the Greek words geo and therme, which means earth and heat respectively. Geothermal is from the heat acquired from the hot circulating ground water of the Earth.
People have used this particular type of energy for centuries now. One of the most common sources of geothermal energy is hot springs. The ancient people use this resource for their everyday chores and needs like cooking, bathing and heating. Even these days, structures situated near a hot spring can obtain geothermal energy from this geyser. Nowadays, geothermal energy is commonly used to create electricity.
But how does a geothermal energy work? The heat coming from the sun directly goes to the ground. Since the ground beneath us is considered as an insulator, it reduces the passage of heat from the sun. Researchers and scientists concluded that to be able to convert this heat to power and energy large pipes should be placed underneath the ground where the heat is more stable and constant. The pipes will then be filled with water and a geothermal pump will push the water to the pipe ends. The water is then directed to a special boiler that will feed the converted power to buildings and structures.
Filed under Energy News by newenergy
July 12, 2008
This Is Why You Should Choose Solar Power
Bryan Wong asked:
When the electrical utility bill is increasing each and every month you can do a few things. You can cry and pull out your hair; refuse to pay and get cut off and have no utilities; you could work harder and more hours each month to keep up the rising costs; or you could invest in other alternative sources of energy to cut the electrical utility bill. One of these alternative sources of energy is solar energy. And indeed, you will need to invest that means putting in your own (or borrowed) money, but the investment can make a huge difference for now and many years to come.
Solar energy is derived from the power emitted by the sun to produce energy. The sun emits enough energy on the Earth in one day to supply the needs of the world for one year. The amount of solar power that the Earth receives from the sun is estimated to be 770 trillion kilowatts or an amount 5,000 times bigger than the sum of all energy resources we are using, may it be nuclear, geothermal, or gravitational energy. The estimated remaining life of the sun is around 4.5 billion years.
Solar power is produced primarily through the use of photovoltaic cells, or commonly known as the solar cells. The process of converting solar power into electricity is as follows: The solar cells are placed under direct sunlight. The rays of the sun hits the cells initiating a chemical reaction that creates an electric current. This current is later turned into electricity.
There are two classification of solar power: passive solar and active solar. The first classification does not make use of panel systems or other moving mechanisms to produce solar power. Instead, it involves planning a structure in such a way that it can capture the rays of the sun with windows, tanks, and other permanent structure. This system can be used to provide heat to houses, water, and so on.
The second classification involves the solar panels or the group of solar cells. These panels are placed in such away that its exposure to the sunlight is maximized. It will convert sunlight to electricity, which is transformed later on from direct current (DC) electricity to alternate current (AC) electricity, and consumed it immediately or store it in batteries. It may be also fed into the grid system of the local utility.
The Pros and Cons of Solar Power
There are some disadvantages of using solar power. These are the following:
When the electrical utility bill is increasing each and every month you can do a few things. You can cry and pull out your hair; refuse to pay and get cut off and have no utilities; you could work harder and more hours each month to keep up the rising costs; or you could invest in other alternative sources of energy to cut the electrical utility bill. One of these alternative sources of energy is solar energy. And indeed, you will need to invest that means putting in your own (or borrowed) money, but the investment can make a huge difference for now and many years to come.
Solar energy is derived from the power emitted by the sun to produce energy. The sun emits enough energy on the Earth in one day to supply the needs of the world for one year. The amount of solar power that the Earth receives from the sun is estimated to be 770 trillion kilowatts or an amount 5,000 times bigger than the sum of all energy resources we are using, may it be nuclear, geothermal, or gravitational energy. The estimated remaining life of the sun is around 4.5 billion years.
Solar power is produced primarily through the use of photovoltaic cells, or commonly known as the solar cells. The process of converting solar power into electricity is as follows: The solar cells are placed under direct sunlight. The rays of the sun hits the cells initiating a chemical reaction that creates an electric current. This current is later turned into electricity.
There are two classification of solar power: passive solar and active solar. The first classification does not make use of panel systems or other moving mechanisms to produce solar power. Instead, it involves planning a structure in such a way that it can capture the rays of the sun with windows, tanks, and other permanent structure. This system can be used to provide heat to houses, water, and so on.
The second classification involves the solar panels or the group of solar cells. These panels are placed in such away that its exposure to the sunlight is maximized. It will convert sunlight to electricity, which is transformed later on from direct current (DC) electricity to alternate current (AC) electricity, and consumed it immediately or store it in batteries. It may be also fed into the grid system of the local utility.
The Pros and Cons of Solar Power
There are some disadvantages of using solar power. These are the following:
Initial costs on installation of solar power systems can be quite expensive.
Cloudy weather condition can be a problem in collecting solar power for some systems.
If you live in area where there is little sun shine this will be a problem.
Solar power can not be produced at night.
There are numerous advantages of using solar power. These are enumerated in the following items:
Solar power is almost limitless. Remember that the remaining life span of the sun is estimated to be 4.5 billion years.
It is relatively abundant.
It can be absorbed, reflected, transmitted, and insulated.
It can be stored in batteries for night time use.
Using solar power is not only a solid investment for years to come it also saves the environment. Thus this investment is not doesn’t only saves you money but you making this world a better place to live in for years to come. Investing in solar power is worth your money, don’t overlook the potential.
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Filed under Alternative Energy by newenergy
