1. Electricity Generation
How Heat Energy is Transformed into Electricity
This Power Point is one of a series of 5 mini lectures in support of the “Energy in the 9.3 Standard”
The lecture series includes:
Fossil Fuels
Renewables
Nuclear Energy
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
How Electricity is Generated
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2. D7
Explain how heat is used to generate electricity.

3. Learning Target
I can explain how heat is used to generate electricity.

4. Electricity Electricity is a secondary source of energy
We must use a primary source of energy to transform it into electricity
Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge.
It is a secondary energy source which means that we get it from the conversion of other sources of energy, like coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power and other natural sources, which are called primary sources.
The energy sources we use to make electricity can be renewable or non-renewable, but electricity itself is neither renewable nor non-renewable.
Electricity is not a primary source of energy.
A primary source of energy (the fuel) is transformed into electricity that we can then use to run appliances, radios, etc.
For example: coal (a primary source) is burned to transform it into electricity (a secondary source) and we plug the toaster into the electric outlet to make breakfast.

5. Potential Energy Forms
Energy Transformations— Remember what we know about energy transformations:
Potential Energy Forms
Kinetic Energy Forms
Chemical Energy
Stored Mechanical Energy
Nuclear Energy
Gravitational Energy
Electrical Energy
Radiant Energy (light and solar)
Thermal Energy
Mechanical Energy
Sound Energy
There are both Potential Energy Forms and Kinetic Energy Forms

6. Energy Transformations To Create Electricity
Potential Chemical Energy
Kinetic Thermal Energy
Kinetic Mechanical Energy
Kinetic Electrical Energy
There are four energy transformations to create electricity.
The process begins with potential chemical energy. This is energy stored within a material (like coal).
The potential energy may be heated or combusted to create kinetic thermal energy.
The heat (thermal energy) is then able to transform into kinetic motion energy. Like when steam hits a pinwheel, the pinwheel will turn.
The motion energy is then transformed into kinetic electrical energy.

7. Heat & Electricity Generation
Heated water turns to high pressure steam
Water is heated in the boiler
Steam turns the turbine
Fossil Fuel (Coal) --Combustion to heat water
In the generator a coil of copper wire spins between electromagnets to create electric current
Click on the hot spots for pop-up explanations:
Coal is combusted to heat water.
The water is heated in the boiler
The hot water is turned to high pressure steam
The steam turns a turbine
The turbine turns a magnet wrapped in copper coil to generate electricity in the generator and sends electricity to the transformer
The condenser re-circulates the cooled water.
Steam condenses, water is re-circulated
Source: Tennesse Valley Authority website at

8. Combustion Potential Chemical Energy Coal contains what kind of energy
When coal is combusted (burned) the energy it contains is released in the form of what kind of energy ?
Potential Energy Forms
Kinetic Energy Forms
Chemical Energy
Stored Mechanical Energy
Nuclear Energy
Gravitational Energy
Electrical Energy
Radiant Energy (light and solar)
Thermal Energy
Mechanical Energy
Sound Energy
Ask students to use the Energy Types to answer the questions
Coal contains: Potential Chemical Energy
When coal is combusted (burned) the energy it contains is released in the form of:
Kinetic Thermal Energy
Combustion can be from a different fuel source than coal.
What types of fuels can be used to create electricity?
Some possible fuels used to create electricity: petroleum—oil, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, propane; natural gas; biofuels--wood, biodiesel. Also nuclear fission has the same result of heat production which results in the creation steam to create kinetic motion energy. Wind, solar, tidal and geothermal energies can be used to create electricity without combustion. ?
Kinetic Thermal Energy

9. Steam
Kinetic Thermal Energy heats incoming water in the boiler (furnace)
What is the heated water turned into?
high pressure steam

10. Potential Energy Forms Kinetic Mechanical Energy
Turbine
The High Pressure Steam turns a Turbine, transforming the kinetic thermal energy into what kind of energy ?
Potential Energy Forms
Kinetic Energy Forms
Chemical Energy
Stored Mechanical Energy
Nuclear Energy
Gravitational Energy
Electrical Energy
Radiant Energy (light and solar)
Thermal Energy
Mechanical Energy
Sound Energy
Kinetic Mechanical Energy
The High Pressure Steam turns a Turbine, transforming the kinetic thermal energy into kinetic motion energy

11. Potential Energy Forms Kinetic Electrical Energy
Generator
The turbine turns a magnet surrounded by a copper coil creating electric current.
Kinetic Mechanical Energy is transformed into what kind of energy
Electrons move through the copper wires to the transformer. ?
Potential Energy Forms
Kinetic Energy Forms
Chemical Energy
Stored Mechanical Energy
Nuclear Energy
Gravitational Energy
Electrical Energy
Radiant Energy (light and solar)
Thermal Energy
Mechanical Energy
Sound Energy
Kinetic Motion Energy is transformed into Kinetic Electrical Energy
Kinetic Electrical Energy

12. How would this power plant change for use with other energy sources?

13. Learning Target Checkpoint
How is thermal energy used to produce electricity?