To discriminate between sources of conventional and unconventional energy is necessary to handle the following distinctions:
1. hydropower
Water is the element abundant on the planet and its potential energy (the movement can be converted to electricity) is one of the most important sources of energy.
However, before obtaining electricity, the man had used it for the tasks of grinding grain. This is based on the same principle: the water fall from a height to a lower level was converted into kinetic energy (energy an object possesses due to its motion).
Now the power of water is used mainly to generate electricity and in fact was one of the earliest forms were used to produce it.
To get electricity from water, must be transformed first of its kinetic energy into mechanical energy and this, of course, electricity.
This process usually takes place in a facility called hydroelectric power, which must have an area where water flow is sufficiently high and regular. The water coming from the tributaries is stored in reservoirs. Then transported to the turbines that convert the kinetic energy of water in mechanics (is the sum of kinetic and potential energy).
2.
wind
is that based on the movement of wind, but it is considered an indirect form of solar energy, as this is responsible for producing wind. This is because the uneven heating of the Earth's surface produces areas of high and low pressure which cause the displacement of air, which is what is known as wind.
Early uses of wind were push boats and mills. But now there is another use: production of electricity.
This is done by wind or wind turbines. These are devices that convert the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy as follows: the wind moves the blades, which, in turn, transmit their power to the turbines (on them, multiply 60 times the speed) by move the generators that produce electricity. This low for a few cables that are in the tower to a converter located near the turbine. The converter transforms the energy and sends it to the mains.
towers where the wind turbines are often located in places without barriers, ie, away from trees or buildings not to create turbulence in the air. It is currently being set off because the wind is higher.
worth noting that until now only occupy the horizontal winds and provided they are a moderate speed, ie not too strong
WIND TURBINE
This modern version of the windmill and not moving millstones, but generators. To remove the maximum amount of wind energy, huge rotating propellers were used up to 100 meters. The wind sensors allow the computer (PC) of the turbine control the movement of the propellers for optimum energy production, whatever the wind conditions.
Wind power has several advantages over other conventional energy sources, notes:
- is renewed continuously.
- is inexhaustible.
- It's clean, so it does not pollute.
- is native and universal (. exists throughout the world.)
- is becoming cheaper as technology advances.
- Allows development, respecting the environment.
- The facilities are readily reversible (non marking).
DISADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY:
-visual impact: the system generates a high landscape modification.
-Impact on birds: mainly by the collision of birds against the blades, unknown effects on behavior modification regular migration and nesting.
-Impact sound: the rustling of the blades with the air produces a constant noise, the nearest house must be at least 200 m. (43dB (A))
-Possibility of interesting archaeological area
3.
geothermal rocks found deep in the planet are at very high temperatures. The heat energy stored in these rocks is known as geothermal energy. Can be found in the form of steam (geysers), in the form of high temperature gases (fumaroles) and in the form of hot water (hot springs).
This energy can be of three types: low, medium and high temperature. The first is to use more domestic energy collected is used for heating and hot water production. Geothermal fluids are heated to temperatures between 20 and 60 º C.
In the second, fluids are at a temperature between 60 and 150 º C. And the third is located in active zones of the earth's crust and its temperature is between 150 and 350 º C. These two types of temperatures are used to produce electricity.
The process of transforming the geothermal energy into electrical energy is performed as follows:
- The geothermal fluid is transported to the surface through pipes and vapor (which comes with high pressure) drives the turbines.
- These spin at high speed by moving the generators that produce electricity.
- Then, the steam is sent to a condenser, where it becomes a liquid.
- This water flows into a cooling tower where the temperature is lowered. It then returns it to the ground and thus complete the cycle renewable energy.
can also engage in the geothermal heating, industrial drying processes, among others.
4. Biomass
Biomass is the amount of living matter produced in a particular area of \u200b\u200bthe land surface and energy biomass energy fuel is obtained directly or indirectly on these biological resources. This material can then be transformed into electricity, heat and biofuels (ethanol, diesel and gas). The main sources of biomass is:
- Forest residues: they have to do with pruning (branches, logs, etc..).
- Agricultural waste: used surplus cereal straw, fodder, waste from pruning vines, etc.
- livestock waste: mainly used for farm animal feces.
- industrial waste is organic waste from industrial processes such as waste wood.
- Energy crops: cultivated plants are only to be utilized as biomass into a biofuel.
The most used are sugar cane, some cereals (oats, wheat, barley and maize), sugar beet, sunflower, among others.
5. Tidal
The sea is without doubt one of the potential energy sources are larger than its length and because they can take advantage of tides and waves. However, has not yet been able to develop appropriate technology and low cost allowing better use your energy.
- Tidal power: this is the force of water flowing between the unevenness caused by the differences between high and low tide. As is known, the rise and fall of tides is caused by the gravitational action of Sun and Moon. The variation of high and low tide occurs in approximately 12 hours and can change the sea level between 2 and 15 meters or more. Thus, the ideal place to locate a plant is a tidal estuary or a bay, where sea water enters the coast. From there you should build a dam (wall artificial) to let in the water. When the tide rises, the floodgates are opened and water enters the reservoir. After it is fully loaded gates are closed. Then he let out the water that falls hard for the difference in height between the tide and the reservoir, moving the turbines connected to generators.
6. Solar energy
In our planetary system, the largest producer of energy that exists is the sun The amount of solar energy as radiation reaches our planet, is equivalent to about 35 million times! the energy they produce all the power plants of Chile.
solar radiation, of course, gives us light and heat energy. You can also transform into electricity. In addition, radiation is essential for the plants (through photosynthesis) to gain energy and live. Plants are the base of the food chain on earth (including oceans, of course), providing energy to the animal kingdom. Oil, gas and coal are the product of the decomposition of the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years. Some plant resources are also utilized as biomass energy (firewood, charcoal).
And there's more! Generates solar energy water evaporation from the seas, which precipitates in lakes and rivers, which will be utilized in the generation of hydroelectricity. By heating some areas more than others, the Sun produces differences in the "weight" of air masses, wind generating systems on the planet: wind energy.
In today's society, we use the energy the sun gives us a variety of ways. The direct radiation serves to dry (clothes, fruits), heating and cooking.
solar radiation is also used to generate electricity. Some solar power plants use solar radiation to heat water into steam, the steam moves a turbine connected to a generator that converts motion into electricity.
Sunlight can also transform directly electricity using photovoltaic cells and panels. These cells were developed in the 1950's, for use by satellites. They are made from silicon. Several
photovoltaic cells connected in series forming a photovoltaic panel. The energy generated by these panels can be used to power homes, electric cars or businesses. The cells are also used individually for small machines such as calculators.
SOLAR COLLECTOR
by hot water Energy
These facilities are composed of panels that absorb the sun's heat. The process is simple: the collector, usually flat, transforms heat into thermal energy through the "greenhouse effect." The heat is stored to maintain high temperature water to be used when necessary. It is important that the storage tank has sufficient capacity to meet the needs of one or two days, also depend on the number of users of the same.
These systems have many applications: obtaining hot water, pool heating, which we enjoy long baths during most of the year, heating, cooling and therefore to obtain cold source is needed heat applications in agriculture, as greenhouses and drying, and industry, such as desalination plants and pollution that do not involve
Solar photovoltaics
The photovoltaic solar energy a way of obtaining electrical energy through photovoltaic panels.
panels, photovoltaic modules or collectors are composed of diode-type semiconductor devices, on receipt of solar radiation, are excited and produce electronic jumps, generating a small potential difference across its ends. The coupling in series of several of these photodiodes allows obtaining higher voltages in very simple configurations and suitable for powering small electronic devices.
a larger scale, continuous electrical power provided by photovoltaic panels can be transformed into alternating current and injected into the network, an operation that is economically viable but it still needs more viable grants. In isolated environments, which requires little electrical power and network access is difficult, as weather stations or communications repeaters, solar panels are used as
economically viable alternative. In a photovoltaic cell, light excites electrons between layers silicon semiconductor materials. This produces electrical currents.
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