How Heat Energy is Transformed into Electricity

ElectricityElectricity is a secondary source of energy

We must use a primary source of energy to transform it into electricity

Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge.

It is a secondary energy source which means that we get it from the conversion of other sources of energy, like coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power and other natural sources, which are called primary sources.

The energy sources we use to make electricity can be renewable or non-renewable, but electricity itself is neither renewable nor non-renewable.

Energy Transformations—Remember what we know about energy transformations:

Potential Energy Forms Kinetic Energy FormsChemical EnergyStored Mechanical EnergyNuclear EnergyGravitational Energy

Electrical EnergyRadiant Energy (light and solar)Thermal EnergyMotion EnergySound Energy

Energy TransformationsTo Create Electricity

55

Current Current creates Field creates Field that wraps that wraps

around wire.around wire.

66

An electron orbiting the nucleus An electron orbiting the nucleus creates a small magnetic fieldcreates a small magnetic field

77

Magnetic InductionMagnetic InductionMoving magnet creates a currentMoving magnet creates a current

88Electricity and Electricity and MagnetismMagnetism

Moving charges (Current) Creates a Moving charges (Current) Creates a Magnetic Field.Magnetic Field.

Moving Magnets Create CurrentMoving Magnets Create Current

Heat & Electricity Generation

Source: Tennesse Valley Authority website at http://www.tva.gov/power/coalart.htm

Fossil Fuel (Coal) --Combustion to heat water

Water is heated in the boiler

Heated water turns to high pressure steam

Steam turns the turbine

In the generator a coil of copper wire spins between electromagnets to create electric current

Steam condenses, water is re-circulated

Coal contains what kind of energy

When coal is combusted (burned) the energy it contains is released in the form of what kind of energy

Potential Energy Forms

Kinetic Energy Forms

Chemical EnergyStored Mechanical EnergyNuclear EnergyGravitational Energy

Electrical EnergyRadiant Energy (light and solar)Thermal EnergyMotion EnergySound Energy

?

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Potential Chemical Energy

Kinetic Thermal Energy

Kinetic Thermal Energy heats incoming water in the boiler (furnace)

The heated water is turned to high pressure steam

The High Pressure Steam turns a Turbine, transforming the kinetic thermal energy into what kind of energy

Potential Energy Forms

Kinetic Energy Forms

Chemical EnergyStored Mechanical EnergyNuclear EnergyGravitational Energy

Electrical EnergyRadiant Energy (light and solar)Thermal EnergyMotion EnergySound Energy

?

Kinetic Motion Energy

The turbine turns a magnet surrounded by a copper coil creating electric current.

Kinetic Motion Energy is transformed into what kind of energy

Electrons move through the copper wires to the transformer.

Potential Energy Forms

Kinetic Energy Forms

Chemical EnergyStored Mechanical EnergyNuclear EnergyGravitational Energy

Electrical EnergyRadiant Energy (light and solar)Thermal EnergyMotion EnergySound Energy

?

Kinetic Electrical

Energy

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If your starting fuel was something different, what parts of the power plant would be the same or different?

Combustion fuels(petroleum, gas, biofuels)

Wind and Tidal Power

Geothermal

Nuclear

Solar Photovoltaic