Geothermal Energy, Straight From Mother Earth To You

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalammualaikum wbt.

Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It’s clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth’s surface and down even deeper to the extremely high temperature of molten rock called magma.

ADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Significant Cost Saving:

Geothermal energy generally involves low running costs since it saves 80% costs over fossil fuels and no fuel is used to generate the power. Since no fuel is require so costs for purchasing, transporting and cleaning up plants is quite low.

Reduce Reliance On Fossil Fuels:

Dependence on fossil fuels decreases with the increase in the use of geothermal energy. With high prices oil, many countries are pushing companies to adopt these clean sources of energy. Burning of fossil fuels release greenhouse gases which are responsible for global warming

No Pollution:

Geothermal energy does not create any pollution and help in creating clean environment. Being the renewable source of energy, geothermal energy has helped in reducing global warming and pollution. Moreover, geothermal systems does not create any pollution as it releases some gases from deep within the Earth which are not very harmful to the environment

DISADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Not Widespread Source of Energy:

Since this type of energy is not widely used therefore the unavailability of equipment, staff, infrastructure and training pose hindrance to the installation of geothermal plants across the globe. Not enough skilled manpower and availability of suitable build location pose serious problem in adopting geothermal energy globally

Can Run Out Of Steam:

Geothermal sites can run out of steam over a period of time due to drop in temperature or if too much water is injected to cool the rocks and this may result huge loss for the companies which have invested heavily in these plants. Due to this factor, companies have to do extensive initial research before setting up the plant

May Release Harmful Gases:

Geothermal sites may contain some poisonous gases and they can escape deep within the Earth, through the holes drilled by the constructor. The geothermal plant must therefore be capable enough to contain these harmful and toxic gases

HOW DOES GEOTHERMAL ENERGY WORK?

1. Hot water is pumped from deep underground through a well under high pressure
2. When the water reaches surface, the pressure is dropped which causes the water to turn into steam
3. The steam spins a turbine which is connected to a generator that produces electricity
4. The steam cools off in a cooling tower and condenses back to water
5. The cooled water is pumped back into the Earth to begin the process again

HOW CAN WE USE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY?

1. In areas where hot springs or geothermal reservoirs are near the Earth’s surface, hot water can be piped in directly to heat homes or office buildings. Geothermal water is pumped through a heat exchanger which transfers the heat from the water into the building’s heating system. The used water is injected back down a well into the reservoir to be reheated and used again
2. A few feet under the ground, the soil or water remain constant 10-15 degrees Celsius year-round. Just that little bit of warmth can be used to heat or cool homes and offices. Fluid circulates through a series of pipes (loop) under the ground or beneath the water of a pond or lake and into building. An electric compressor and heat exchanger pull the heat from the pipes and send it via a duct system throughout the building. In the summer, the process is reversed. The pipes draw heat away from the house and carry it to the ground or water outside where it is absorbed
3. Hot water and steam from deep underground can be piped up through underground wells and used to generate electricity in a power plant. There are three types of geothermal power plants:

Dry Steam Plants,

Hot steam is piped directly from geothermal reservoirs into generators in the power plant. The steam spins turbines which generate electricity

Flash Steam Plants,

Water that is between 140 and 370 degrees Celsius is brought up through a well. Some of the water turns to steam which drives the turbines. When the steam cools, it condenses back into water and is returned to the ground

Binary Cycle Plants,

Moderately hot geothermal water is passed through a heat exchanger where its heat is transferred to a liquid that boils at a lower temperature than water. When that fluid is heated it turns to steam which spins the turbines

Mother Earth knows the best!

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