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Electric Power Generation
Different Ways to Make Electricity
By Natasha Gilani
Electric
power generation is typically a two-step process in which heat boils water; the
energy from the steam turns a turbine, which in turn spins a generator,
creating electricity.
The
motion of steam produces kinetic energy, the energy of moving objects. You also
get this energy from falling water.
It
is directly proportional to the speed of the moving body – the faster it moves,
the greater the energy.
Electricity
is produced when kinetic energy turns copper coils (or wire) within the
turbine.
Dynamos
and Generators
A key part of most electric power plants is the generator, a
device that turns rotary motion into electricity.
Inside
the generator, coils of copper wire spin inside a strong magnetic field. As the
coils move, the magnetic field creates the flow of alternating current (AC)
electricity inside the wire.
The
source of the rotary motion, whether a windmill, a turbine, or a diesel motor,
doesn't matter; it just has to be strong enough to turn the generator.
The
dynamo, a "cousin" of the generator, works in much the same way;
however, it produces direct current (DC).
Electricity
from Steam
A steam power plant (or generator) produces electricity by
burning fuels, including biomass, coal or petroleum.
Steam
generated from the process is fed into a turbine. The copper armature (wire) in
the generator turns with the rotation of the turbine, producing an electric
current.
An
example of a steam power plant is the Big Bend Power Station located in Tampa,
Florida.
Hydroelectric Power: Falling Water
Electricity that is generated from water is called
hydroelectricity.
Falling
water rotate the blades of a hydroelectric turbine, which in turn moves the
copper armature inside the electric generator to produce electricity.
An
example of a hydroelectric power plant is the Great Hoover Dam (located near
Las Vegas, U.S.). It has a total of 19 turbines that produce enough electricity
to serve more than 1.3 million people annually.
Windmills:
Energy from Wind
A wind power plant rotates the blades of a turbine, which
move the copper armature (that lies within the generator) to generate
electricity.
Windmills
have been utilized in the past to rotate the wheels of attached mills. Modern
windmills turn mechanical energy (generated from movement) into electrical
energy.
An
example of a wind-powered electricity plant is the 107 Mega Watt (MW) wind farm
located near Lake Benton, Minnesota.
Solar
Power: Energy from Sunshine
Photovoltaic cells utilize the energy of the sunlight to
produce electricity.
Direct
current (DC) is generated from stationary solar panels (which are made up of
photovoltaic cells) and is commonly used for local applications, including
running small-scale irrigation pumps or to charge battery-powered devices.
Commercial
scale solar power plants are steadily gaining popularity with the increase in
the price of fossil fuels. They function by trapping solar energy through large
reflectors.
The
trapped energy is then directed onto receivers that use various technologies to
generate electricity by powering gas or steam turbines.
The
Nellis Power Plant is the largest solar power plant in North America. It is
located in the Nellis Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada, near Las Vegas.
The
plant is made up of more than 70,000 photovoltaic solar panels and its maximum
electrical capacity is estimated at 13 megawatts of alternating current (13 MW
AC).
About the Author
Natasha Gilani has been a writer since 2004, with
work appearing in various online publications. She is also a member of the
Canadian Writers Association. Gilani holds a Master of Business Administration
in finance and an honors Bachelor of Science in information technology from the
University of Peshawar, Pakistan.
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