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SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
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ABSTRACT
CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
The term geothermal comes from the Greek geo meaning earth and therein
meaning heat thus geothermal energy is energy derived from the natural heat of the earth.
The earth's temperature varies widely, and geothermal energy is usable for a wide range
of temperatures from room temperature to well over 300° F. For commercial use, a
geothermal reservoir capable of providing hydrothermal (hot water and steam) resources
is necessary. Geothermal reservoirs are generally classified as being either low
temperature (<150° C) or high temperature (>150° C). Generally speaking, the high
temperature reservoirs are the ones suitable for, and sought out for commercial
production of electricity. Geothermal reservoirs are found in "geothermal systems" which
are regionally localized geologic settings where the earth's naturally occurring heat flow
is near enough to the earth’s surface to bring steam or hot water to the surface.
Hydrothermal fluids above 360ºF (182ºC) can be used in flash plants to make
electricity. Fluid is sprayed into a tank held at a much lower pressure than the fluid,
causing some of the fluid to rapidly vaporize, or "flash." The vapor then drives a turbine,
which drives a generator. If any liquid remains in the tank, it can be flashed again in a
second tank to extract even more energy.
Most geothermal areas contain moderate-temperature water (below 400 degrees F).
Energy is extracted from these fluids in binary-cycle power plants. Hot geothermal fluid
and a secondary (hence, "binary") fluid with a much lower boiling point than water pass
through a heat exchanger. Heat from the geothermal fluid causes the secondary fluid to
flash to vapor, which then drives the turbines. Because this is a closed-loop system,
virtually nothing is emitted to the atmosphere. Moderate-temperature water is by far the
more common geothermal resource, and most geothermal power plants in the future will
be binary-cycle plants.
HOW GEOTHERMAL HEAT GET UP TO EARTH'S SURFACE
The heat from the earth's core continuously flows outward. It transfers (conducts) to the
surrounding layer of rock, the mantle. When temperatures and pressures become high
enough, some mantle rock melts, becoming magma. Then, because it is lighter (less
dense) than the surrounding rock, the magma rises (convects), moving slowly up toward
the earth's crust, carrying the heat from below.
Sometimes the hot magma reaches all the way to the surface, where we know it as lava.
But most often the magma remains below earth's crust, heating nearby rock and water
(rainwater that has seeped deep into the earth) - sometimes as hot as 700 degrees F. Some
of this hot geothermal water travels back up through faults and cracks and reaches the
earth's surface as hot springs or geysers, but most of it stays deep underground, trapped in
cracks and porous rock. This natural collection of hot water is called a geothermal
reservoir.
Direct use of geothermal energy in homes and commercial operations is much less
expensive than using traditional fuels. Savings can be as much as 80% over fossil fuels.
Direct use is also very clean, producing only a small percentage (and in many cases none)
of the air pollutants emitted by burning fossil fuels.
• A production facility – usually a well – to bring the hot water to the surface;
Greenhouses and aquaculture (fish farming) are the two primary uses of geothermal
energy in the agribusiness industry. Most greenhouse operators estimate that using
geothermal resources instead of traditional energy sources saves about 80% of fuel costs
– about 5% to 8% of total operating costs. The relatively rural location of most
geothermal resources also offers advantages, including clean air, few disease problems,
clean water, a stable workforce, and, often, low taxes.
BENEFITS:
• Clean. Geothermal power plants, like wind and solar power plants, do not have to
burn fuels to manufacture steam to turn the turbines. Generating electricity with
geothermal energy helps to conserve nonrenewable fossil fuels, and by decreasing
the use of these fuels, we reduce emissions that harm our atmosphere. There is no
smoky air around geothermal power plants -- in fact some are built in the middle
of farm crops and forests, and share land with cattle and local wildlife.
• Easy on the land. The land area required for geothermal power plants is smaller
per megawatt than for almost every other type of power plant. Geothermal
installations don't require damming of rivers or harvesting of forests -- and there
are no mine shafts, tunnels, open pits, waste heaps or oil spills.
• Reliable. Geothermal power plants are designed to run 24 hours a day, all year. A
geothermal power plant sits right on top of its fuel source. It is resistant to
interruptions of power generation due to weather, natural disasters or political rifts
that can interrupt transportation of fuels.
• Flexible. Geothermal power plants can have modular designs, with additional
units installed in increments when needed to fit growing demand for electricity.
• Helps Developing Countries Grow. Geothermal projects can offer all of the above
benefits to help developing countries grow without pollution. And installations in
remote locations can raise the standard of living and quality of life by bringing
electricity to people far from "electrified" population centers.
CONCLUSION:
• ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE,(Eds Sir Denis Rooke), Ian Fells and John
Horlock, Published by E& FN SPON ,The Royal Society,1995.
• World Renewable Energy Congress, Renewable energy technologies and policies
for sustainable development , organized by Australian CRC for Renewable
Energy and Murdoch University ,Australia,1999.
• The Hindu ,1998.Survey of Indian Industry.Hindu publications ,Banglore.
Renewable energy :Power for sustainable future ,(Ed) Godfrey Boyle, Oxford
University Press,1996.
• Bakthavatsalam V., Indian renewable energy –A perspective, energy scenario
Vol. II, Issue I, Oct-Dec 1998.
• Suramanian D.K., Ramachandra T.V.Energy utilization in Karnataka-An
overview, Energy management: 4, Quarterly journal of National Productivity
council 23-40, 1996.
• Ramachandra T.V, Subramanian D.K. Joshi, N.V.1995. Efficient utilization of
energy in domestic sector for cooking and water heating in Uttar kannada district,
Karnataka, Indian Jour. Rural Technology 7(1&2):1-22.
• http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/paper/ires/solarenergy.html
Document By
SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
Email: help@matlabcodes.com
Engineeringpapers.blogspot.com
More Papers and Presentations available on above site