Electricity -Introduction, Generation, Working, Types, Advantage

 Introduction of Electricity

 

Image:- Electricity

 

• Electricity is a fundamental form of energy arising from the movement of electric charges, primarily electrons, that we use to make heat, light, and power to work machines, etc.

• Electricity is both a basic part of nature and one of the most widely used forms of energy.
• It can be generated from renewable sources like solar and wind.
• It’s a clean and efficient form of energy at the point of use.
• It is a vital part of the modern life.
• They are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons.
• It is capable of producing microwave, radio waves, and radiant energy.
• Electricity is transformable and travels at the speed of light.
• The word ” electricity ” comes from the Greek word ” elektron,” which means amber.
• It was first discovered in 600BC.
• The SI unit of electricity is represented by the unit of power which is Watt.
• The ‘ father of electricity ‘ is generally represented to be Michael Faraday.

Definition of Electricity

• Electricity is a form of energy that we use to make heat, light and power to work machines, etc.
• It is the flow of free electrons between one atoms to another atoms.
• Electrons move through a conductor at different rates and electric current has different values.
• This flow of electrons is referred to as current and is represented by the symbol “I”.

Generation of Electricity

 

• Electricity generation is the process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources like fossil fuels, geothermal energy, nuclear power plants, hydro power plants, solar panels, biofuels, wind etc.
• This is primarily done by using electromagnetic generators, which convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
• In this process different form of energy is converted into electrical energy.
• It is a crucial process for powering modern life.

 Methods of Electricity generation

• There are commonly 10 methods of electricity generation, which are named as follows:

1. Thermal power plants

2. Nuclear power plants

3. Hydroelectricity power plants

4. Wind power

5. Solar power

6. Geothermal power

7. Biomass

8. Tidal power

9. Ocean wave motion

10. Fuel cells

 

1. Thermal power plants

• Thermal power plants generate electricity by converting heat energy into electrical energy.

• It uses a heat source, like burning fossil fuels, to boil water into steam that drives a turbine connected to a generator and produces electricity.

• These plants are a major source of global electricity, though they also contribute to environmental concerns.

2. Nuclear power plants

• Nuclear power plants are facilities that generate electricity by harnessing the energy released from controlled nuclear fission reactions.

• These plants consist of a nuclear reactor where the fission process occurs, a cooling system to remove the heat generated, and a turbine or generator to convert the heat into electricity.

3. Hydroelectricity power plants

• A hydroelectric power plant generates electricity by converting the energy of flowing water into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy.
• They use water, typically from a river or reservoir, to spin a turbine connected to a generator.
• This process creates sustainable electricity, with the amount of power depending on the volume of water and its “head,” or change in elevation.
• These plants can be large-scale, supplying regions with power, or small-scale.

4. Wind power

• Wind power is a renewable energy source that uses the kinetic energy of wind to generate useful work, primarily electricity through wind turbines.

• These turbines convert wind into mechanical energy with their rotating blades, which then drive a generator to produce electricity.

• Wind energy is a sustainable and mature technology, playing a crucial role in the global transition to cleaner energy sources and the decarbonization of economies.

5. Solar power

• Solar power is energy derived from the sun’s radiant light and heat.

• It is a clean, renewable energy source with the potential to significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

• This energy can be achieved through various technologies, primarily photovoltaic (PV) systems and solar thermal systems, to generate electricity and heat.

6. Geothermal power

• Geothermal power generates electricity by using heat from beneath the Earth’s surface to create steam that drives a turbine connected to a generator.

• This clean, renewable energy source taps into underground reservoirs of hot water or steam, with different technologies like dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle plants depending on the resource.
• It is a clean, renewable energy source that can provide a steady, reliable power source, though it requires specific geological conditions and can involve high initial costs and technical challenges.

7. Biomass

• Biomass is organic material from plants, animals, and waste that can be converted into energy through processes like combustion, gasification, fermentation, and decomposition to produce heat, electricity, and biofuels.
• It represents the stored solar energy captured by plants through photosynthesis and is crucial for understanding the flow of energy and the productivity of ecosystems.
• It is used as a raw material for fuel production.

8. Tidal power

• Tidal power is a form of hydropower that generates electricity from the natural rise and fall of ocean tides, caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.

• This predictable and reliable renewable energy source is captured by structures like tidal barrages and tidal stream generators, which convert the kinetic and potential energy of moving water into electricity.
• This currents contain a significant amount of energy, allowing for high electricity generation capacity even from smaller installations. 
• Tidal power is a non-polluting method of generating electricity. 

9. Ocean wave motion

• Ocean wave motion is the transfer of energy and momentum through the ocean water without the permanent movement of the water itself, most often from wind but also from gravity, earthquakes, or landslides.
• In this ocean wave motion, each water particle moves up as the wave crest approaches, then down and backward as the wave passes through, creating a net effect of up and down movement rather than forward travel. 
• The size of wind-driven waves depends on the wind’s speed, duration, and the distance it blows over the water.

10. Fuel cells

• A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that directly converts chemical energy from a fuel and an oxidant into electricity, water, and heat through continuous chemical reactions.

• It’s a highly efficient and clean energy conversion technology.

• Unlike batteries, fuel cells require a continuous input of fuel and an oxidant to operate.

Working of Electricity

 

 

External Link