The steam or hot water in geothermal powerplant is heated by the earth. It is steamgiven off in the cooling process. Holes are drilled into the ground and pipes lowered into the hot water,like drinking straw in soda. For another FLASH movie about how ground source heat pumps work, go to theGeoExchange website at Deep under the surface, water sometimes makes its way close to the surface is not very hot. Geo meansearth, and thermal means heat.
Californias geothermal power plants produce about onehalf of the worldsgeothermally generated electricity. Below the crust of the earth, the top layer of the earth close to the surface is not very hot. The hot water flows into turbineand out of the turbine. Geo meansearth, and thermal means heat.
Some arenot used yet because the resource is too small, too isolated or the water temperaturesare not hot enough to boil water. The crust of the earth floats on this liquid magma mantle. Go To Chapter 12 HYDRO POWER orReturn to Table of Contents. When this hot water comes up through crack in the earth, we call it hotspring, like Emerald Pool at Yellowstone National Park pictured on the left. The yellow yolk of the egg is like the core of the earth.
The ancient Romans built elaborate buildings to enjoy hot baths, andthe Japanese have enjoyed natural hot springs for centuries. Thewhite part is the mantle of the earth. The hot steam or water comes up through thesepipes from below ground. The crust of the earth floats on this liquid magma mantle. You can see the pipes running in front of the geothermal power plant in the picture. Warriors of fighting tribeswould bathe together in peace. Holes are drilled into the ground and pipes lowered into the hot water,like drinking straw in soda.
The hot water can reach temperatures of morethan degrees Fahrenheit 148 degrees Celsius. The turbine bladesspin and the shaft from the turbine is connected to generator to makeelectricity. Thewhite part is the mantle of the earth.
California hot springs, like at theGeysers in the Napa area, were important and sacred areas to tribes from thatarea. Or, the hot water from belowground is used to heat buildings during the winter. geothermal power plant is like in regular power plant except that no fuel isburned to heat water into steam. Heat removed during the summer can also be used toheat water. The steam then gets cooled off in cooling tower. So, geothermal means earthheat. The hot steam or water comes up through thesepipes from below ground.
Related Blogs
- Related Blogs on Geothermal
- Geothermal wells? Yep, we have ‘em.
- Renewable Energy’s Poor Cousin Getting Richer? International …
- Related Blogs on oil
- 5 Questions with Scott Pegau - Director of the Oil Spill Recovery …
- Oil & Gas Company Governance Important in Volatile Times
- Related Blogs on steam
