1. St. Augustine Preparatory School
Creating Electricity
St. Augustine Preparatory School

2. Methods We Will Discuss
Electrical Generation Plants
Household Generators

3. Electrical Generation Plants
Although there is no one way to design an electricity generation plant, they usually share the following common features.

4. Step 1 – Boiler Unit
Almost all power plants operate by heating water in a boiler unit to create steam. Often, fossil fuels are used to heat the water.
Step 2 – Turbine Generator
The steam is used to spin the blades of a turbine, which in turn is used in the generator to spin a coil of wires within a circular arrangement of magnets. Rotating the coil of wires in the magnets results in the generation of electricity.

5. Step 3 – Cooling Water After the steam travels through the turbine, it must be condensed back into liquid water so it can start the cycle over again. Cooling water is often obtained from a nearby river or lake.

6. Household Generators
Household generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, just like the electrical generation plants.

7. Electricity
Electricity is generated as AC since it can be transmitted efficiently over great distances.
As well, AC can be stepped up and down much more easily than DC. This helps minimize lost electricity.