GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Lectures

QUARTER 3 – SCIENCE 9
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
- The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme
(heat).
- It is the heat within the earth. 2. Geothermal heat pumps, which tap into heat close to the earth’s surface to heat water
- It is a renewable source because heat is continuously produced inside the earth. or provide heat for buildings.
- It can be harnessed from volcanoes. - it removes the heat from the fluid in the earth connection, concentrates it, and then
transfer it to the building.
Geothermal Energy is generated in two ways: - Geothermal heat pumps can do all sorts of thing from heating and cooling homes
to warming swimming pools.
1. Geothermal power plants, which use heat from deep inside the Earth to generate - Theses system transfer heat by pumping water or refrigerant through pipes just
steam to make electricity. below the Earth’s surface where the temperature is a constant 50 to 60-degree F.
- it is heat from within the earth changes water into steam (water in the gas phase), - During the winter, the water of refrigerant absorbs warmth from the Earth, and the
which turns steam turbines that generate electricity. pump brings this heat to the above building.
- At a geothermal power plant, wells are drilled 1 or 2 miles deep into the Earth to - In the summer, some heat pumps can run in reverse help cool buildings.
pump steam or hot water in the Earth’s surface.
HOW IT WORKS:
1. Water of refrigerant move through a loop of
2. When it is cold, the water heats up as it travels and the part of the loop that is
buried underground.
HOW IT WORKS: 3. Once it gets back above ground, the warmed refrigerant transfers heat into the
1. Wells are drilled deep into the Earth to pump steam or hot water to the surface. building.
2. When the water reaches the surface the drop in the pressure causes the water to 4. The water cools down after its heat is transfer and pumped back underground
turn into steam. starting the process.
3. The steam spins a turbine, which is connected to a generator that produces 5. On a hot day, the system can run in reverse.
electricity. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
4. Cooling tower cools the steam which it condenses back to water. The utilization of geothermal energy can be of an advantage or disadvantage. Here are
5. The cooled water is pumped back into the earth to begin the process again. some benefits of using geothermal energy in producing electricity from the stored heat at
the Earth’s crust.
 Eco-friendly – the proper harnessing of this energy using geothermal power plants
and heat pumps do not produce by products that are harmful to the environment.
Geothermal thermal power plants do not burn fuels helping conserve non-renewable
fossil fuels.
 High Reliability – Geothermal power plants are designed to operate twenty-four hours
throughout the year. There is no interruption of power generation since the source is
naturally available and abundant. Its basic operation is not affected or not totally
altered by a change in weather or natural disasters.
 Flexibility – Modification if the geothermal power plant is possible to allow additional
units to be installed depending on the amount of needed electrical energy in an area.
 Minimum Land Space – Building geothermal plants require a smaller land area per
megawatt compared to other types of power plants. They do not require damming of
rivers, forest denudation, no mine shafts, tunnels, and open pits.
 Cost Effective – Geothermal can be extracted locally. This reduces the import of fuel
for geothermal power plant operations and brings economic benefits to the region.
 Help Developing Country Grows – uplifting the way of living of a developing
country through the distribution of electricity and technological advances comes with
the low financial requirements needed to operate geothermal power plant. This allows
the extension of projects related to technology to most developing countries.
There are also several disadvantages of Geothermal Energy.
 Limited Accessibility – Man cannot build geothermal power plant anywhere to

harness energy. Availability of naturally occurring vents is necessary for better
accessibility. A potential-artificial vent requires deep drilling in the ground. Most
geothermal sites are from markets or cities, where it is needed to be consumed.
 Financial Constraint – the capital and expenditure for the installation and operation
of geothermal power plant is quite high, and there is no guarantee that the energy to be
harnessed could meet the cost.
 Possible Pollution – Drilling on the earth’s crust may release toxic gases and
minerals, which could pose harm to the environment.

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Lectures

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Lectures

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Lectures

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

QUARTER 3 – SCIENCE 9

There are also several disadvantages of Geothermal Energy.

 Limited Accessibility – Man cannot build geothermal power plant anywhere to

You might also like