All existing areas of energy can be conditionally divided into mature, developing and at the stage of theoretical study. Some technologies are available for implementation even in a private economy, while others can only be used as part of industrial support. It is possible to consider and evaluate modern types of energy from different perspectives, however, universal criteria of economic feasibility and production efficiency are of fundamental importance. In many ways, these concepts differ today in the application of traditional and alternative technologies for energy generation.
Traditional energy
This is a wide layer of the formed sectors of heat and power industry, providing about 95% of world energy consumers. Resource generation occurs at special stations - these are objects of thermal power plants, hydroelectric power stations, nuclear power plants, etc. They work with a finished raw material base, during the processing of which the target energy is generated. The following stages of energy production are distinguished:
- Production, preparation and delivery of raw materials to the object of generation of one or another type of energy. This may be the processes of extraction and enrichment of fuel, the burning of petroleum products, etc.
- Transfer of raw materials to units and assemblies that directly convert energy.
- The processes of converting energy from primary to secondary. These cycles are not present at all stations, but, for example, for its convenient delivery and subsequent distribution of energy, its various forms can be used - mainly heat and electricity.
- Maintenance of finished transformed energy, its transmission and distribution.
At the final stage, the resource is sent to end consumers, which can be both sectors of the national economy and ordinary homeowners.
Thermal power industry
The most common energy industry in Russia. Thermal power plants in the country produce more than 1,000 MW using coal, gas, oil products, shale deposits and peat as processed raw materials. The generated primary energy is subsequently converted into electricity. Technologically, such stations have a lot of advantages, which determine their popularity. These include undemanding operating conditions and ease of technical organization of the work process.
Thermal energy facilities in the form of condensing structures and cogeneration plants can be built directly in the areas of extraction of the expendable resource or in the locations of the consumer. Seasonal fluctuations in no way affect the stability of the stations, which makes such energy sources reliable. But there are also disadvantages of TPPs, which include the use of exhaustible fuel resources, environmental pollution, the need to connect large volumes of labor resources, etc.
Hydropower
Waterworks in the form of power substations are designed to generate electricity as a result of the conversion of the energy of a water stream. That is, the technological process of generation is ensured by a combination of artificial and natural phenomena. During operation, the station creates a sufficient pressure of water, which then goes to the turbine blades and activates the electric generators. Hydrological types of energy differ in the type of aggregates used, configurations of equipment interaction with natural water flows, etc. According to operational indicators, the following types of hydroelectric stations can be distinguished:
- Small - generate up to 5 MW.
- Medium - up to 25 MW.
- Powerful - more than 25 MW.
Classification is also applied depending on the pressure of the water:
- Low-pressure stations - up to 25 m.
- Medium pressure - from 25 m.
- High-pressure - above 60 m.
The advantages of hydroelectric power plants include environmental cleanliness, affordability (free energy), inexhaustibility of the working resource. At the same time, hydraulic structures require large initial costs for the technical organization of the accumulating infrastructure, and also have restrictions on the geographical location of the stations - only where the rivers provide sufficient water pressure.
Nuclear power
In a sense, this is a subtype of thermal energy, but practically the performance indicators of nuclear plants are an order of magnitude higher than TPPs. Russia uses full cycles of nuclear power generation, which allows generating large volumes of energy resources, but there are also huge risks of using uranium ore processing technologies. The discussion of security issues and the popularization of the tasks of this industry, in particular, is carried out by the ANO "Information Center for Nuclear Energy", which has offices in 17 regions of Russia.
A key role in the execution of nuclear energy generation processes is played by the reactor. This is an aggregate designed to support atomic fission reactions, which, in turn, are accompanied by the release of thermal energy. There are different types of reactors that differ in the type of fuel used and the coolant. More often, a configuration with a light-water reactor using ordinary water as a coolant is used. The main processing resource in nuclear energy is uranium ore. For this reason, nuclear power plants are usually designed with the expectation of placing reactors close to uranium deposits. Today in Russia there are 37 reactors with a combined generation capacity of about 190 billion kWh / year.
Alternative Energy Characteristics
Almost all sources of alternative energy are favorably distinguished by financial availability and environmental cleanliness. In fact, in this case, the processed resource (oil, gas, coal, etc.) is replaced by natural energy. This can be sunlight, wind flows, the heat of the earth and other natural sources of energy, with the exception of hydrological resources, which today are considered traditional. Alternative energy concepts have existed for a long time, but to this day they occupy a small share in the total global energy supply. The delays in the development of these sectors are related to the problems of the technological organization of electricity generation processes.
But what is the reason for the active development of alternative energy today? To a large extent, the need to reduce the rate of environmental pollution and, in general, environmental problems. Also in the near future, mankind may face the depletion of traditional resources used in energy production. Therefore, even despite organizational and economic obstacles, more and more attention is being paid to projects for the development of alternative forms of energy.
Geothermal Energy
One of the most common ways to get energy in the home. Geothermal energy is generated during the accumulation, transmission and conversion of the Earth’s internal heat. On an industrial scale, underground rocks are served at depths of up to 2-3 km, where the temperature can exceed 100 ° C. As for the individual application of geothermal systems, surface accumulators are more often used, located not in wells at a depth, but horizontally. Unlike other approaches to the generation of alternative energy, almost all geothermal types of energy in the production cycle do without a transformation stage. That is, the primary thermal energy in the same form is supplied to the final consumer. Therefore, such a concept as geothermal heating systems is used.
Solar power
One of the oldest concepts in alternative energy, which uses photovoltaic and thermodynamic systems as storage equipment. To implement the photovoltaic generation method, energy converters of light photons (quanta) into electricity are used. Thermodynamic plants are more functional and due to solar fluxes they can generate both heat with electricity and mechanical energy to create a driving force.
The schemes are quite simple, but there are many problems in the operation of such equipment. This is due to the fact that solar energy, in principle, is characterized by a number of features: instability due to daily and seasonal fluctuations, weather dependence, low light flux density. Therefore, at the design stage of solar panels and batteries, much attention is paid to the study of meteorological factors.
Wave power
The process of generating electricity from waves occurs as a result of the conversion of tidal energy. At the heart of most power plants of this type is a pool, which is organized either during the separation of the mouth of the river, or by blocking the bay with a dam. Culverts with hydraulic turbines are arranged in the formed barrier. As the water level changes during the tides, the turbine blades rotate, which contributes to the generation of electricity. In part, this type of energy is similar to the principles of operation of hydroelectric power plants, but the mechanics of interaction with the water resource itself have significant differences. Wave stations can be used on the coasts of the seas and oceans, where the water level rises to 4 m, allowing you to generate power up to 80 kW / m. The disadvantage of such structures is that culverts disrupt the exchange of fresh and sea water, and this negatively affects the life of marine organisms.
Wind power
Another method of generating electricity available for use in private households is distinguished by technological simplicity and economic affordability. The kinetic energy of air masses acts as a processed resource, and the engine with rotating blades acts as a battery. Typically, in wind energy, electric current generators are used, which are activated as a result of the rotation of vertical or horizontal rotors with propellers. An average household station of this type is capable of generating 2-3 kW.
Energy Technology of the Future
According to experts, by 2100, the total share of coal and oil in the world balance will be about 3%, which should move fusion energy to the role of a secondary source of energy resources. Solar stations, as well as new concepts for converting space energy based on wireless transmission channels, should come first. The processes of formation of the energy of the future should begin by 2030, when there will come a period of abandonment of hydrocarbon sources of fuel and the transition to "clean" and renewable resources.
Prospects for Russian energy
The future of domestic energy is mainly associated with the development of traditional ways of transforming natural resources. A key place in the industry will have to take nuclear power, but in a combined form. The infrastructure of nuclear power plants will have to be supplemented by elements of hydraulic engineering and means of processing environmentally friendly biofuels. Not the last place in the possible development prospects is given to solar panels. In Russia, today this segment offers many attractive ideas - in particular, panels that can work even in the winter. Batteries convert the energy of light as such, even without heat load.
Conclusion
The current problems of energy supply pose the largest states the choice between power and environmental friendliness of heat and electricity. Most of the developed alternative energy sources, with all their advantages, are not able to fully replace traditional resources, which, in turn, can be used for several decades. Therefore, many experts present the energy of the future as a kind of symbiosis of various concepts of energy generation. Moreover, new technologies are expected not only at the industrial level, but also in the household. In this regard, we can note the gradient-temperature and biomass principles of energy production.