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 and keeping the temperature constant decreases the time until boiling.

Impacts to the Environment Heat Pollution Air Land Water Surroundings

Environment: Heat Global Warming is a topic that has been debated for years. Power plants that use steam (combustion and geothermal), and nuclear plants, release a great deal of heat in the form of steam. Steam, which is water vapor, forms clouds that reflect sunlight and hold heat between themselves and the ground. These clouds dissipate quickly. Combustion gasses, after they transfer most of their heat to the water that makes steam, still carry heat into the atmosphere. These gasses also contain greenhouse gasses including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

Environment: Air Pollution Air pollution is anything added to the air that can be unhealthy to those in the biosphere (people, animals, plants, etc.). The main pollutants from any combustion are particulate matter (dust), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and organics (ingredients for ozone)(hazardous air pollutants), and sulfur oxides. Control of air pollution can be done by filtration, re-combustion (burning like in the catalytic converter of automobiles), and chemical treatment.

Environment: Water Pollution Water pollution is anything added to the water that is dangerous to animals living in it, plants that flourish because of it, and animals and humans that drink from it. Pollution from power plants chiefly is the deposition (fall-out) of air pollution, coal dust blown into the river that provides cooling/steaming water, and heated water returned to the river. Control of water pollution includes controlling air pollution, containment of the coal, and more efficient exchange of heat from cooling/steaming water before discharging it to the river.

Environment: Land Pollution Solid fuel like coal, biomass, and poop has to be stored in large supplies so it can be burned. When this is exposed to the wind and rain, it can be eroded with dust flying and sediment flowing to the ground. This dust and sediment can poison the ground. Ash is what remains after something is burned. This comes from solid fuel and oil. We also can include what is used in the pollution control equipment. All of this is waste that has to go somewhere.

Environment: Surroundings Location of power plants includes proximity to customers and resources. As noted, most plants need a large supply of water; therefore, they are located on rivers. Those that use combustion have very tall stacks so the air pollution won't affect their neighbors – especially during temperature inversions. Nuclear plants are located with concerns about what happens if there is a radiation leak. Not too long ago, the typhoon in Japan caused a nuclear plant to leak. Wind farms cannot be located in areas through which birds migrate as birds fly into the propellers. This kills birds and damages the equipment.

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?