NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES

Non-Conventional energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, MHD etc. They are
free of operating cost, pollution free and inexhaustible. These are also called renewable energy
sources.

1. MAGNETO-HYDRO-DYNAMIC (MHD) POWER

In MHD generator, an ionized gas or plasma is passed through a strong magnetic field to
produce an electric potential. It is a form of heat energy to electric energy converter. The ionized gas
(positive and negative ions) is collected by metallic collecting plates.
The study of the dynamics of an electrically conducting fluid interacting with a magnetic
field is called Magneto-Hydro-Dynamics.
In the conventional steam power plants, the heat released by the fuel is converted into
rotational mechanical energy and the mechanical energy is then used to drive the electric generator.
Thus two stages of energy conversion are involved in which the heat to mechanical energy
conversion has inherently very low efficiency. Also, the rotating machine has its associated losses
and maintenance problems. In MHD generation, direct conversion of heat into electrical energy has
been devised.
Principle of operation
The basic principle of operation is Faradays law of electromagnetic induction. Whenever a
conductor cuts magnetic flux, an emf is induced in that conductor. The conductor may be a solid,
liquid or a gaseous one. In MHD generator, conducting plasma moving at supersonic speed is used.

In MHD generator, electrically conducting gas at a very high temperature is passed at high
velocity (expanded through a nozzle so as to have high velocity) through a strong magnetic field at right
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angles to the direction of flow. The positive and negative ions move to the electrodes placed on the
opposite sides of the channel and so constitute an electric current. The electrical energy is then
collected from stationary electrodes. The current so obtained is direct current which can be
converted into ac by an inverter. Thus, MHD generators convert heat energy of a fuel into electrical
energy.
Working fluid: High temperature is needed to ionize the gas, so that it has good electrical
conductivity. The conducting gas is obtained by burning a fuel and injecting seed materials such
potassium or Caesium in the products of combustion.
MHD system may be an open cycle system or a closed cycle system. In an open cycle system,
the working fluid after generating electrical energy is discharged to the atmosphere. In a closed
cycle system, the working fluid is recycled to the heat source and thus used again and again.
Advantages of MHD generation
1. It has no moving parts so more reliable.
2. Large amount of electric power generation is possible.
3. The size of the power plant is small.
4. The conversion efficiency of a MHD system can be 50% has compared to less than 40% for
the most efficient steam plant.
5. Because of higher efficiency, the overall generation cost of an MHD plant will be less.
6. The more efficient heat utilization reduces the amount of heat discharged to environment
and thus cooling water requirements are reduced.
7. Closed cycle system of MHD power generation is pollution free.
8. It is possible to run the standby power plant in conjunction with MHD power generation
scheme.
Disadvantages
1. This system has lot of difficulties to make it commercially viable.
2. Handling system in conditions of extreme temperature is very difficult.

2. GEOTHERMAL POWER
The name "geothermal" comes from two Greek words: "geo" means "Earth" and
"thermal" means "heat". The heat from the interior of the earth is a huge potential source of
natural energy that can be used for the generation of electricity. Various geothermal resources
are:

1) Hydro thermal reservoirs

i.

Dry steam fields

ii.

Wet steam fields

iii.

Hot water fields (hot springs)

2) Geo-pressure fields
3) Hot dry rocks
4) Magma resources
5) Volcanoes
Nowadays, hydrothermal reservoirs and hard rocks are used as geothermal resources
for energy generation. Normally, hydrothermal reservoirs are widely used as geothermal
resources to generate electric energy. Some methods of generating geothermal power are
explained below.

i.

Dry steam fields (or vapour-dominated fields)

Fig shows dry steam geothermal power generation. In vapour-dominated systems,

geothermal zone has well, which delivers steam with little or without water at a temperature of
150-250C. These fields are the most attractive geothermal resources. Dry steam field is clean and
easy to convert into electrical energy. The dry steam supplied by well is delivered to the steam
turbine, which drives an electric generator, which generates electric energy.

ii.

Wet steam fields (or liquid-dominated fields)

Fig shows the wet steam geothermal power generation. In this method, liquid-dominated

fields are the geothermal resources. These wet steam fields are available 20 times more than the dry
steam fields. In the wet steam reservoir, the water temperature is above the boiling point (100C)
but it is under pressure, hence water does not boil and remains in the liquid state.

When the water comes to the surface of the earth, the pressure decreases and then the liquid
subjected to rapid heat and flashes into a mixture of water and steam. Now, the mixture of water
and steam supplied by well is delivered to the flash separator to separate steam and hot water. Then
steam is fed to steam turbine to drive generator thereby generating electricity. Steam from the
turbine is pumped into the condenser. Then condensate steam and hot water from flash chamber
are fed to the reservoir.
Advantages:
1) Geothermal energy is quite cheaper
2) It is inexhaustible. It will never run out.
3) It does not require any combustion of fuel
4) Less pollution
5) In mountain area, geothermal power is a good dependable source of electricity since it is
very difficult to lay transmission lines in mountain area.
Disadvantages:
1) Its overall efficiency is poor. It is about 15%
2) Large area is required for the geothermal power generation
3) Noisy operation. During drilling, too much noise is produced.
4) There is a possibility of triggering earthquakes.