Energy from Fuel to Conservation By S. David Ross For South Charlotte Middle School's 6 th Grade Science Classes Spring 2012

Qualifications Building Design Project Engineer/Energy Conservation Engineer/Environmental Engineer for Baltimore County Government Public Health/Environmental Engineer for Baltimore County Government Mecklenburg County Government Mechanical Engineering Degree The University of Maryland – College Park 1987 Computer Science Degree Towson State University 1993 CMS Volunteer “Learning Elizabeth Lane Elementary School

Forms of Energy Potential Energy – Energy that can be released. Kinetic Energy – Energy in action.

Forms of Potential Energy Wood/BioMass Coal Natural gas Methane gas Oils Garbage Fecal matter Animal bodies

Forms of Kinetic Energy Wind Water Geothermal Solar – Mechanical – Electrical Nuclear Combustion

Combustion Converts Forms of Potential Energy into Kinetic Energy Wood/BioMass Coal Natural gas Methane gas Oils Garbage Fecal matter Animal bodies

The Turbine

Beyond the Turbine

1. Combustion chamber – Heat source 2. Steam turbines 3. Magnetic rotation to electricity converter 4. Electricity converter from transmission to.household

How does the Turbine Turn? Steam is generated and ducted/directed to the turbine. The steam hits the fins of the turbine, which turns the turbine.

How is the Steam Generated? Combustion (Burning a fuel) Burning coal Burning oil Burning natural gas Burning wood Burning garbage Natural heating/steaming Geothermal heating Solar heating Reheating

Let's take a second look at this stream generating plant... This plant loses energy by allowing the heated steam to evaporate without first going through a heat exchanger to capture the heat and reuse it in the steam generating unit. This is like boiling water in a pot at home. If you put the pot of water on a burner without a lid, the water eventually will boil. If a lid is on the pot, and the same heat is used, the water will boil much faster.

The Boiling Pot PV = rT P = Pressure inside the pot V = Volume of pot r = A constant – forget about it. T = Temperature The volume remains constant; therefore, as the pressure increases, the temperature can decrease. Since this is an instantaneous effect, increasing pressure an keeping the temperature constant decrease the time until boiling.

Ramifications of Generation Combustion (Burning a fuel) Carbon monoxide emissions Greenhouse gas emissions Ozone precursor emissions Particulate emissions Steam generation – surface water warming Natural heating/steaming Steam generation

Conservation of Electricity Decrease light waste Insulate buildings Plant appropriate trees Program thermostats

Conservation of Electricity Light Waste What is Light Waste? Light waste is the use of too much light in a room. This is caused by: Leaving lights on when not in a room. Lighting extra areas of the room. Using too bright a light for a room.

Conservation of Electricity Insulate Buildings What is Insulation? Insulation is when you keep it warm on one side and cool on the other. Buildings have insulation in the walls and the attic. How else can buildings be insulated? Stop air from leaking around doors – storm doors help with this. Stop air from leaking around windows. Close windows and doors when using the heat or air conditioning. Use blinds/shades on windows to allow warming light into the house in the Winter, and block the warming light in the Summer. Plant trees to shade the building in the Summer, but lose their leaves in the Winter so the sun will warm it.

Conservation of Energy Plant Appropriate Trees What do trees have to do with energy conservation? Trees block solar radiation (sun light) in the Summer – especially trees that have leaves. This keeps the house cooler. Trees with leaves allow solar radiation to warm the house in the Winter. Shrubs help to block solar radiation in the Summer, and help keep lower level of house insulated in the Winter. Trees help reduce flooding by absorbing water in ground.

Conservation of Electricity Programming Thermostats What is Programming Thermostats? Programming thermostats is setting the controller of heaters/air conditioners to keep building temperatures comfortable. Your plants, pets, and furniture won't complain. Keep artificial heat sources (lamps, heaters, air ducts) away from the thermostat so the temperature near the thermostat is representative of the whole house. Allow buildings to be cold in the Winter (~55 F) and warm in the Summer (~85 F) when not occupied. Allow buildings to be cold on Winter nights (~55 F) when blankets can keep you insulated. Set heat/air conditioning to warm/cool the house starting thirty (30) minutes before someone gets home, and fifteen (15) minutes before the last person will leave home.

How many of you help to pay the heating (gas) and electric bills? Why should you care how much your parents pay each month?

Offer to play Let's Make a Deal!! You save money for your parents... Your parents give you a “thank you” by increasing your allowance!!!

Thank you... Any questions?