Currently, mankind uses all possible methods of generating electricity. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this resource. Moreover, its consumption is growing every day. For this reason, more and more attention is being paid to non-traditional methods of generating electricity. At the same time, these sources at this stage of development cannot fully satisfy the needs of the earthly population. This article briefly discusses the main traditional and alternative methods of generating electricity.
Electricity generation at thermal power plants
This method of generating electricity is the most common. For example, in the Russian Federation, heat sources account for almost 80% of the total production of the required resource. Years go by, ecologists are almost shouting about the negative impact of such engineering structures on the environment and human health, however, stations built in the middle of the last century (or even pre-revolutionary) continue to supply electricity to populated cities and large industrial enterprises.
Heat sources are traditional methods of generating electricity. And for the past three or four decades, they have occupied a leading position in the ranking in terms of output. And this despite the rapid development of alternative methods of generating electricity.
Among all engineering projects, a special kind of structures is distinguished. These are cogeneration plants, the additional function of which is to supply the houses and apartments of citizens with heat. According to experts, the efficiency of such power plants is extremely low, and the transmission of the produced resource over long distances is associated with large losses.
Energy production is as follows. Solid, liquid or gaseous fuels are burned, heating the water in the boiler to significant temperatures. The force of the steam drives the turbine blade, as a result of which the rotor of the turbogenerator rotates and electricity is generated.
Hydroelectric power stations - a promising way to generate electricity
The construction of complex engineering structures designed to convert the energy of water into electricity was begun in the Russian Empire. Many years have passed since then, and this source is still actively used. During the years of industrialization of the USSR (1930s), giant hydroelectric power plants grew throughout the country. All the forces of a young and fragile country were thrown to the construction of these giants (which is worth only one Zaporizhzhya hydroelectric station!) Engineering structures of those years are still in operation and generate a significant amount of electricity.
Currently, the government is betting on the development of "green" methods for generating electricity. Therefore, the construction of modern and highly productive hydroelectric power plants throughout the country is actively financed. The strategy for the construction of medium-sized facilities on small tributaries of the rivers fully paid off. One such station can fully satisfy the electricity needs of small adjacent towns. On a national scale, this will lead to an increase in the efficiency of the national economy and the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers of industrial goods.
The disadvantages of this technology include the high cost of such facilities and their very long payback periods. The main costs are for the construction of the dam. But it is necessary to erect the building itself (administrative and machine buildings), build a device for discharging water, and so on. The parameters and composition of the structure depend on many factors: the installed capacity of the generators and the pressure of the water, such as a power plant (dam, channel, derivational, storage, tidal). Hydroelectric power stations on large navigable rivers also have complex navigable locks and canals to ensure the migration of fish to spawning grounds.
Nuclear power
Today, a nuclear power plant does not surprise anyone. Such facilities began to be actively built in the USSR. Therefore, this technology relates to traditional methods of generating electricity.
Nuclear power plants are currently being actively built not only in Russia, but also in the countries of near and far abroad. For example, a company with Russian roots, Rosatom, is financing the construction of such a source in the Republic of Belarus. By the way, in this territory this station will be the first.
In the world, the attitude to nuclear energy is very ambiguous. Germany, for example, seriously decided to completely abandon the peaceful atom. And this is at a time when the Russian Federation is actively investing in the construction of new facilities of the latest generation.
Scientists have reliably established that nuclear fuel deposits in the bowels of the earth are much larger than all hydrocarbon reserves (oil and gas). Constantly increasing demand for hydrocarbons makes them more expensive. That is why the development of nuclear energy is paying off.
Wind energy
Wind power on an industrial scale arose relatively recently and added to the list of non-traditional methods of generating electricity. And this is a very promising technology. With a high degree of probability it can be argued that in the distant future, windmills will generate as much electricity as humanity needs. And these are not empty words, because according to the most conservative estimates of scientists, the total wind force on the surface of the globe is at least one hundred times the power of all water resources.
The main problem is the inconsistency of air flows, which entails difficulties in predicting energy production. On a vast territory of Russia, winds constantly blow. And if you learn to use this inexhaustible resource efficiently and effectively, you can more than satisfy all the needs of heavy industry and the country's population.
Despite the obvious advantages of using wind energy, the volume of electricity generated by wind farms does not exceed one percent in the total volume. Equipment for these purposes is very expensive, in addition, such facilities will not be effective in every region, and the transportation of electricity over considerable distances is fraught with heavy losses.
Geothermal Energy
The development of geothermal sources marked a new milestone in the history of the development of alternative methods of generating electricity.
The principle of power generation is the flow of kinetic and potential energy of the hot water vapor of an underground source into the blades of a generator turbine, which generates current through rotational movements. In theory, the difference in temperature at the surface and in the interior of the earth's crust is characteristic of any area. However, it is usually minimal, and it is not possible to use it in order to obtain electricity. The construction of such stations is justified only in certain areas of our planet (seismically active). The pioneer in the development of this method is Iceland. The lands of Russian Kamchatka can also be used for these purposes.
The principle of energy production is as follows. Hot water from the bowels of the earth enters the surface. The pressure here is much lower, which leads to boiling water. Separating steam is piped and rotates the blades of the generator turbines. It is difficult to predict the future for this modern method of generating electricity. Perhaps such stations will begin to be mass-built on the territory of the Russian Federation, or perhaps this idea will fade over time and no one will remember about it.
Harnessing the thermal energy of the ocean
The oceans are striking in their scale. Experts cannot even give a rough estimate of the amount of thermal energy accumulated in it. Only one thing is clear - the colossal amount of resources remains unused. Currently, prototypes of power plants have already been built that convert the energy of the heat of the ocean into a current. However, these are pilot projects, and there is no certainty that this area of energy will be further developed.
The ebbs and flows in the service of the electric power industry
Transforming the powerful power of ebbs and flows into valuable derivatives is a new way to generate electricity. The nature of these phenomena is currently known and does not cause the awe that our ancestors had. The reason for this is the influence of the magnetic field of the planet’s faithful satellite - the Moon.
The most noticeable tidal currents are observed in the shallow waters of the seas and oceans, as well as in river beds.
The first station, which really yielded results, was built back in 1913 in the UK near Liverpool. Since then, many countries have tried to repeat the experience, but eventually abandoned this venture for various reasons.
Solar power
In fact, all natural fossil fuels were formed millions of years ago with the participation and exposure to sunlight. Thus, we can say that humanity has long and actively used products derived from the sun. As a matter of fact, we owe the presence of rivers and lakes to this inexhaustible source that provides the water circuit. However, this is not what is meant by modern solar energy. More recently, scientists have been able to develop and produce special batteries. They generate electricity when exposed to sunlight. This technology relates to an alternative method of generating electricity.
The sun is perhaps the most powerful source of all currently known. In three days, planet Earth receives as much energy as it does not contain in all explored and potential deposits of all types of heat resources. However, the surface of the earth's crust reaches only 1/3 of this energy, and most of it is scattered in the atmosphere. And yet we are talking about colossal volumes. According to experts, one small reservoir receives as much energy as a fairly large thermal power plant produces.
There are installations in the world that use the energy of sunlight to produce steam. It drives the generator and electricity is generated. However, such installations are very rare.
Regardless of the principle by which electricity is generated, the installation must be equipped with a collector - a device for the concentration of sunlight. Surely many saw with their own eyes solar panels. It seems that they are under dark glass. It turns out that such a coating is a simple collector. The principle of its operation is based on the fact that a dark transparent material transmits sunlight, but delays and reflects infrared and ultraviolet radiation. Inside the battery are tubes with a working substance. Since thermal radiation is not transmitted through the dark film, the temperature of the working fluids is significantly higher than the ambient temperature. It should be noted that such solutions work effectively only in tropical latitudes, where there is no need to rotate the collector after the sun.
Another kind of coating is a concave mirror. Such equipment is a very expensive solution, so it is not widely used. Such a collector can provide heating up to three thousand degrees Celsius.
This direction is booming. In Europe, you will not surprise anyone with homes that are disconnected from electrical networks. However, on an industrial scale, electricity is not generated by this method. Solar panels flaunt on the roofs of such houses. This is a very dubious investment. In the best case, the installation of such equipment will pay off only in ten years of operation.
Use of sea currents
This is a very unusual way of generating electricity. Due to the temperature difference in the northern regions of the oceans and southern (equatorial), powerful currents arise throughout the volume. If they ate a turbine in the water, then a powerful current will rotate it. The principle of operation of such power plants is based on this.
However, at present this energy source is not actively used. A lot of engineering problems have yet to be solved. Only experimental work is underway. The British are most actively moving in this direction. It is possible that in the near future, colonies of power plants will appear off the coast of Great Britain, the blades of which will be set in motion by sea currents.
Ways to get electricity at home
Electricity can also be generated at home. But if you seriously approach this issue, then you can even satisfy the household needs for electricity.
First of all, it should be noted that some of the above methods of generating electricity are quite applicable in the conditions of a private economy. So, many farmers and just the owners of suburban estates, install windmills on their plots. Also, more and more often on the roofs of country houses you can see solar panels.
There are other ways of generating electricity, but there is no question of their practical application. It is, rather, for fun, or for the purpose of experiment.