Friday, December 28, 2012

A Bit About Geothermal Energy Primer

By Stephen Spreadbury


As we look to alternative power sources for our power hungry world, geothermal energy is getting attention. Here is a brief overview of geothermal energy.

Outline of Geothermal Energy

There are many differing kinds of energy available to power our world. For years , folk have utilized the power of burning ordinary fuels, for example coal (also used to supply steam power) to create energy. In recent times, there has been a shift to using renewable resources to form the energy we need. These resources include hydroelectric power, solar electricity, wind power, biomass energy and geothermal energy. While many individuals know about the 1st 4 of these resources, geothermal energy is less well known.

The word geothermal comes from 2 Greek words, "geo" and "therme". These words mean "earth" and "heat", which pretty much describes what geothermal energy is. Geothermal energy is energy that comes from the heat of the Earth, deep underground. The Earth's core, where chemical reactions create enormous amounts of heat, is 4,000 miles below the Earth's surface. In this core, temperatures can reach up to 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and this acute heat can produce energy.

While these are the basics of geothermal energy, there are many other parts in the midst to make this sort of energy serviceable. We can't tap right into the Earth's core to get this heat, for plenty of reasons. So as an alternative folk must create systems that harness the residual heat that's in the magma (molten rock) under the Earth's crust. This heat is able to be utilized by utilizing the water reservoirs that are within the magma? These water stores can reach up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Think of Old Faithful in Yellowstone.

A well can be drilled down into the superheated water contained in the Earth's magma - the geothermal reservoir. Once these geothermal reservoirs are plugged into, the heated water and steam can rise to the surface, and be used to power geothermal power plants as well as in smaller scale projects for personal household use. When utilized in geothermal power plants, the steam from the heated underground water is commonly used to power turbines, which then generate energy which can often be harnessed as electricity.

By employing the Earth's own heat and water, energy can be created that can be utilized on a small or sizeable scale. This renewable resource (you can't deplete the Earth's heat) is also cleaner and safer than many other sorts of energy, making it a great type of ecologically sound energy source.




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