Geothermal Energy Chris Edomwande and Jessie Pink

What is Geothermal Energy!? Geothermal Energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the earth.

What You Need to Know:MagmaTurbineDry/Flash SteamBinary Cycle

Resources Range

Resources range from shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, or down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma.

Dry Steam

Steam travels through a turbine, which allow a generator to produce energy.

Flash Steam

Fluid at temperatures greater than 360 pumped under high pressure into ℉a surface tank at a much lower pressure, causing the fluid to vaporize rapidly. The vapor then drives the turbine, eventually powering a generator for electricity.

Binary CycleLow heated (400 ) geothermal fluid and a secondary fluid with a lower ℉boiling point than water pass through a heat exchanger. Heat from the geothermal fluid causes the secondary fluid to vaporize, which then power turbines and generators.

Quick Video

Check Point Question

How does geothermal energy work?

A. water--->spins turbine--->drives electric generator B. water--->steam---> spins generator--->drives turbineC. water--->--->steam--->spins turbine--->drives electric generator

Nuclear Power !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Technically, one could say that geothermal power is a form of nuclear power, since reactions occur in a containment vessel with walls thousands of miles thick.

We still get things like uranium and radon gas, seeping up to the surface.

80% of geothermal energy derives from radioactive decay

The Goods and Bads

Pros:Almost entirely emission free

Zero carbon

The process can scrub out sulfur that might have otherwise been released

No fuel required (no mining or transportation)

Cons:Prime sites are very location-specific

Prime sites are often far from population centers

Losses due to long distance transmission of electricity

Water usage

Final Question

What is the source of geothermal energy?

A. Nuclear fusion B. Nuclear fission C. Radioactive decay D. Fossil fuel combustionE. None of the above: multiple sources like friction, heat, or pressure

Cited Workshttps://sweden.se/society/energy-use-in-sweden/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCRDf7QxjDk

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/geothermal-energy

http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/06/geothermal-energy-pros-cons/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_energy