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Geothermal
Includes questions related to generating electricity through the use of naturally occuring heat sources.
981 Questions
How do you use geothermal power?
Heat is sitting under the Earth -- we just need to tap it. Geothermal energy can be used in three ways:
Direct geothermal energy. In areas where hot springs or geothermal reservoirs are near the Earth's surface, hot water can be piped in directly to heat homes or office buildings. Geothermal water is pumped through a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat from the water into the building's heating system. The used water is injected back down a well into the reservoir to be reheated and used again.
Geothermal heat pump. A few feet under the ground, the soil or water remain a constant 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10-15 degrees Celsius) year-round. Just that little bit of warmth can be used to heat or cool homes and offices. Fluid circulates through a series of pipes (called a loop) under the ground or beneath the water of a pond or lake and into a building. An electric compressor and heat exchanger pull the heat from the pipes and send it via a duct system throughout the building. In the summer the process is reversed. The pipes draw heat away from the house and carry it to the ground or water outside, where it is absorbed.
Geothermal power plant. Hot water and steam from deep underground can be piped up through underground wells and used to generate electricity in a power plant. Three different types of geothermal power plants exist:
- Dry steam plants. Hot steam is piped directly from geothermal reservoirs into generators in the power plant. The steam spins turbines, which generate electricity.
- Flash steam plants. Water that's between 300 and 700 degrees Fahrenheit (148 and 371 degrees Celsius) is brought up through a well. Some of the water turns to steam, which drives the turbines. When the steam cools it condenses back into water and is returned to the ground.
- Binary cycle plants. Moderately hot geothermal water is passed through a heat exchanger, where its heat is transferred to a liquid (such as isobutene) that boils at a lower temperature than water. When that fluid is heated it turns to steam, which spins the turbines.
What are the disadvantages of geothormal energy?
Some disadvantages of geothermal energy include the high upfront costs of building geothermal power plants, the limited availability of suitable geothermal resources in certain regions, and the potential for environmental impact such as land subsidence and induced seismic activity in some cases. Additionally, the technology required for harnessing geothermal energy is still developing and may not be as mature or widely available as other renewable energy sources.
What do you use geothermal energy for?
Geothermal energy is used for various purposes, including generating electricity, heating buildings, and providing hot water for industrial processes. It is a renewable energy source that harnesses the heat from the Earth's interior for sustainable energy production.
Where is geothermal energy being use right now in the world?
Geothermal energy is currently being used in countries like the United States, Iceland, Philippines, and Indonesia. These countries utilize geothermal power plants to generate electricity by harnessing heat from beneath the Earth's surface. Additionally, geothermal energy is used for heating and cooling purposes in various regions around the world.
What is the energy transformation of geothermal power plant?
In a geothermal power plant, the energy transformation involves converting heat from beneath the Earth's surface into electricity. This process typically involves using geothermal fluids or steam to drive turbines connected to generators, producing electricity for various uses.
Can you give some examples of geothermal energy?
Geysers and hot springs are a natural example of geothermal energy. - In addition, geothermal energy is now a lot more common in homes and businesses, using geothermal heat pumps to cool and heat the building.
How is a geyser an example of geothermal energy?
A geyser is an example of geothermal energy because it releases hot water and steam from underground sources of heat. The heat comes from the Earth's core, which warms up the underground water. When the pressure builds up, it forces the hot water and steam to erupt through the surface, creating the geyser effect.
How much does it cost to use geothermal energy?
Geothermal heating and cooling can use the relatively constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool homes and businesses with 40% to 70% less energy than conventional systems. It also has the added benefit of providing free domestic hot water during the summer season and reduced cost for domestic hot water during the winter.
Installation for geothermal heat pumps does have a high upfront cost. There are a lot of variables--where you live, the ground to be drilled, the square foot of the house--and though everyone agrees about its high initial expense, exactly "how much" remains vague at best. A good general idea for cost would be twice the price of a regular heat pump system with air conditioning. A geothermal heat pump costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, with the typically sized house needing a three-ton unit and putting the cost at roughly $7,500. Installation can bump the costs up to $10,000 or more depending on depth of pipes, type of equipment, and soil conditions. For much larger buildings and projects, costs can soar much higher.
How can geothermal energy help us in the future?
Geothermal energy can help in the future by providing a consistent and renewable source of electricity generation. It can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a more sustainable energy mix. Additionally, geothermal resources are abundant and widely accessible, presenting a reliable energy solution for the future.
Geothermal power plants are typically found in regions with high geothermal activity, such as along tectonic plate boundaries or areas with volcanic activity. Countries like Iceland, the United States (especially in western states like California and Nevada), Philippines, and New Zealand are known for their geothermal energy production.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy?
Primarily, the earth generates internal heat by radioactive decay, which continuously rises and radiates from the surface. Harvesting this geothermal energy involves pumping water down a drilled shaft, deep into the earth where it collects heat, creating steam. The steam is then directed upward through another shaft to turbines that generate electricity. The recovered water, now cooled, is again pumped down the original shaft in a continuing cycle.
Advantages:
- Cleaner: energy source than fossil fuels.
- Base-load: energy source.
- Safer: to develop and use, than fossil fuels.
- Conserves: fossil fuels, still required in some applications,
- Contributes to diversity: of energy sources.
- Independent: of weather
Disadvantages:
Not universally available.
Emissions:
- 0 - 88 lbs of CO2 per megawatt-hour (comparatively negligible);
- trace amounts of mercury, boron, arsenic, antimony, etc.
- Localized Depletion:In 3 oldest sites, use outruns energy renewal.
- Geological instability: Basel, Switzerland operation suspended (10,000 seismic events/6 days).
- Hazard: exploration entails significant risks.
- 20% failure rate: with significant harm to environment.
Drilling and exploration.
Corrosion maintenance can out-weigh benefit.
How do people use geothermal energy?
people use geothermal energy by watching television, and getting on the computer. oooops try this geothermal energy is used mainly in iceland where they use it to heat homes and building as well as for production of electricity
No, geothermal energy is not a fossil fuel. It is considered a renewable, sustainable energy source because it utilizes heat from the Earth's core to generate electricity or heating, rather than burning fossil fuels.
How are these words are related solar geothermal nuclear fossil fuel hydroelectric?
These words are all sources of energy. Solar, geothermal, nuclear, and hydroelectric are types of renewable energy sources, while fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy. Each of these sources can be used to generate electricity or provide power for various applications.
Is geothermal renewable or nonrenewable?
Geothermal energy is considered a renewable energy source because it harnesses heat from the Earth's core, which is continuously generated by radioactive decay and is virtually inexhaustible on human timescales.
Geothermal energy is the most reliable source of energy. Geothermal is very reliable and very healthy for our planet b/c it's all natural! There is also plenty to go around. There has never been a better time to invest in geothermal energy.
Answer: Geothermal energy uses heat or steam from the Earth to run electrical turbines to generate electricity. This system is only available where there is a significant underground heat source. It still requires a significant investment in infrastructure.
What is a controlled investigation in scientific terms?
A controlled investigation is an experiment where one variable is manipulated (independent variable) to observe its effect on another variable (dependent variable), while controlling for and monitoring other variables to ensure they do not influence the results. This helps to establish causal relationships between variables and reduce the impact of confounding factors on the results.
What is the cost of geothermal energy per kilowatt?
The cost of geothermal energy per kilowatt varies depending on factors such as location, size of the project, and technology used. On average, the cost ranges from $0.04 to $0.10 per kilowatt-hour. This makes geothermal energy one of the most cost-effective renewable energy sources available.
What are input and output forces?
Input force is the force applied to an object, while output force is the force exerted by the object in response. In a simple machine, the input force is the force applied to it, and the output force is the force produced by the machine to do work. The relationship between input and output forces determines the efficiency of a machine.
What percent of the United States' energy is from geothermal?
Less than 1% of the United States' energy is from geothermal sources. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that harnesses heat from beneath the Earth's surface to generate electricity or heat spaces.
What is the state where geothermal energy is being used?
Geothermal energy presently is being used in Hawaii and in parts of the western United States.
What does the future of geothermal energy look like?
The future of geothermal energy looks promising as many homes are heated using this type of venting in areas of Europe. Many plants are being built in order to gather the energy and conserve it.
Geothermal energy is considered a relatively clean energy source, but it can have negative environmental impacts. These can include the release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants from the underground reservoirs, depletion of the heat source leading to diminished efficiency, and the potential for inducing seismic activity in some cases. However, with proper monitoring and sustainable practices, these impacts can be minimized.
Where do you get geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy is harnessed by tapping into natural heat stored beneath the Earth's surface in rocks and fluids. This heat is used to generate electricity through geothermal power plants, typically located in areas with high volcanic or tectonic activity where this heat is more accessible.
