Electricity Generation and Transmission- Shannon Pilgrim
Hydroelectric Generation – Dams
From the few action movies that I have watched there is a common dam that ends up exploding. Although I have seen and heard of a dam, I never really looked into what it is used for. But from doing this research I now fully understand how important this generator is.
How it works:
Dams are built to contain and trap water for it to travel through a system. Dams are usually placed in a large valley, river, or pre-existing lake. They are a concrete reinforcement used to block and raise the water level to a higher elevation for a increased driving force. The water travels down a pipe called a penstock under the water level. As the water flows down the penstock it reaches a turbine. The momentum from the water force turns the turbine blades and gives it energy. The water then flows out through another tube back into the river coarse, valley or lake. The rapidly spinning turbine spins a magnet inside of a copper coil which then sends electrons and electricity thorough conducting wires, to distribution centers. From the distribution centres they lower the voltage and divide up the power to send it over to your house.
Pros:
These dams are a reliable and renewable source of energy. Since this is purely running from water there are no by-products polluting the air. These dams are cost efficient one they are built. This is an ongoing source that provides us with a LOT of power. This source is also safe, just until the damn explodes like in the movies.
Cons:
To build these they must block a water source. By blocking the water source this will flood the lands, and may take away homes, and any farm land. When blocking the water this also takes away many wild life habitats.
RESOURCES-various youtube videos
Thermal Generation
Thermal Generation is very, very, similar to Hydroelectric Generation. They both use water, turbines, magnets, and copper coil.
How it works:
In thermal generation stations their main source of fuel is coal. These factorys convert burning coal into electricity. Conveyor belts bring coal up into giant pulverizers that grind the coal up into a fine powder. Then the pulverized coal passes into a large industrial furnace surrounded by boiler tubes filled with water. The coal burns and heats the water, which then turns into steam. The steam is transferred under high pressure into turbines connected to a router. Just like the dam the magnet spins inside the copper coil to produce a flow of electrons (electricity). The electricity then flows into a transformer and from there into conducting wires which go directly to the distribution facilities. The steam is condensed back into water, and pumped into the boiler to repeat this process once again.
Pros:
This method is another semi renewable source of energy. The coal burns out but the water is put back into the system and reused. This system created a lot of energy. When building they do not need to disturb and destroy habitats. The resources are easy to find.
Cons:
They are constantly burning and creating pollution. The conveyor belts take energy to move. Very expensive to build and run the facility
RESOURCES-various youtube videos
Electricity Transmission
Electricity transmission is the process in how the electricity gets tour homes. This process is complicated, electricity doesn’t just plop right into your house!
How it works:
The electricity travels from the generating stations through conducting wires to a step up transformer. This step-up transformer increases the voltage to 500 kV. From there the electricity travels to a sub-station containing a step-down transformer to decrease the voltage to 60-138kV. Then the electricity is sent over to a distribution station with another step-down transformer to decrease the voltage to 25 kV. From that last station the electricity go through a pole step-down transformer to decrease the voyage to 240V. Those 240V then get send right into your home.
My Opinion:
In my opinion I prefer Hydroelectric generation over Thermal generation. I like how the dams use only water to run the generators. They have no need to pollute the air by burning fuels. Although taking away animals habitats is bad, pollution affects not only us but the animals too. I also believe that hydroelectric generation is more cost efficient in the long run. In thermal generation you pay for your coal and pay the workers too. Where in dams they let the water do the work. My favourite part about the dams is the scenery, I love watching and listening to the water spewing or flowing out of the tunnels.