This document discusses electricity generation and energy conversion. It explains that electricity is generated by converting other energy sources, like heat, wind, or sunlight, into electrical energy using devices like generators. Common energy conversion methods are using turbines powered by heat, water, wind, or tides connected to generators. Generators produce alternating current (AC) electricity, while batteries and solar panels produce direct current (DC). The document also notes that most US electricity currently comes from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, but renewable sources are growing.
2. Topics
What is electricity?
Energy Conversion
The Faraday Effect
Motor vs. Generator
AC/DC
Energy Trends - the case for Green
3. What is Electricity?
Electricity is energy transported by
the motion of electrons
**We do not make electricity, we
CONVERT other energy sources into
electrical energy**
Conversion is the name of the game
4. Energy Conversion Options for Electricity
Non-Thermal Paths
Source to Electrical
Source Converter
Sun Photovoltaic (photon to electron)
Chemical Fuel Cell
Source to Potential/Kinetic to Mechanical to Electrical
Source Converter Kinetic to Mechanical Mech to Electrical
Dam Penstocks Turbine (water) Generator
Tides Machine Turbine (air or water) Generator
Wind N/A Turbine (air) Generator
5. Energy Conversion Options for Electricity
Thermal Paths
Heat to Mechanical to Electrical
Source Heat to Mechanical Mech to Electrical
Geothermal Turbine (vapor) Generator
OTEC Turbine (vapor) Generator
Stored Energy to Heat to Mechanical to Electrical
Source Reactor Heat to Mechanical Mech to Electrical
Fuel Combustor Turbine (gas or vapor) Generator
U, Pu Reactor Turbine (gas or vapor) Generator
Sun Collector* Turbine (gas or vapor) Generator
H, H2, H3Reactor Turbine (gas or vapor) Generator
* More a modifier or concentrator than a reactor
6. Faraday Effect
Faraday Effect
Basic Concepts
Voltage V Potential to Move Charge (volts)
Current I Charge Movement (amperes or amps)
Resistance R V = IxR (R in =ohms)
Power P = IxV = I2xR (watts)
10. AC/DC
(not the band)
Alternating Current
Large-scale
generators produce
AC
Follows sine wave
with n cycles per
second
1, 2, 3-phase?
US:120 V,60 Hz
Europe: 240 V,50Hz
Transforming ability
Direct Current
Batteries,
Photovoltaics, fuel
cells, small DC
generators
Charge in ONE
direction
Negative, Positive
terminals
Easy conversion AC to
DC, not DC to AC
11. Generator Phases
1 Phase 2 Phase 3 PhaseSmooth Power
Force Driving Motor (Red)
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035
250
200
150
100
50
0
50
100
150
220
V(t)
V 1(t)
V 2(t)
V 3(t)
- 110
0 t 0.033
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035
150
100
50
0
50
100
150
110
V(t)
V 1(t)
V 2(t)
V 3(t)
- 110
0 t 0.033
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035
200
150
100
50
0
50
100
150
155.563
V(t)
V 1(t)
V 2(t)
V 3(t)
- 110
0 t 0.033
Single Phase Two Phase Three Phase
Polyphase Systems 3 phases for smoother torque delivery
12. Where do we get our
Electricity?
Fossil Coal, Natural
Gas, Oil 550 Gigawatts
(GW)
Nuclear 200 GW
Hydro 75 GW
Geothermal 2.3 GW
Other Renewable
Wind, Solar, OTEC 13.6
GW
13. 9
8
7
TOE/person-year *TOE - Tons of Oil Equivalent (~40 Million Btus)
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Energy Usage Per Capita (1999)
USA
Canada
Norway
Russia
Japan
U.K.
Mexico
China
India
Africa
Bangladesh
14. Oil Resources
Have Oil Use Oil
Saudi Arabia 26%
Iraq 11%
Kuwait 10%
Iran 9%
UAE 8%
Venezuela 6%
Russia 5%
Libya 3%
Mexico 3%
China 3%
Nigeria 2%
U.S. 2%
U.S. 26%
Japan 7%
China 6%
Germany 4%
Canada 4%
Russia 3%
Brazil 3%
S. Korea 3%
France 3%
India 3%
Mexico 3%
Italy 2%
The U.S. uses more than the next 5 highest
consuming nations combined.
15. U.S. Renewable Energy Resource Assessment
Solar Wind
Geothermal
o
Temperature <90C
Temperature >o
90C
Geopressured resources
10
10
12
12
14
14
16
16
18
20 18
20
22
26
24
22 24
26
14
16
14
16
14
12
10
10
12 <10
10-12
12-14
14-16
16-18
18-20
20-22
22-24
24-26
26-28
>28
6.0-6.5 m/s
13.4-14.6 mph
6.5-70 m/s
14.6-15.7 mph
>7.0 m/s
15.7+ mph
Megajoules/m 2
Biomass
Agricultural
resources & residues
Wood resources &
residues
Agricultural & wood
residues
Low inventory
16. Barriers to Change
US energy infrastructure is large and deeply entrenched
400,000+ miles of gas and oil pipelines
160,000+ of high voltage transmission lines
176,000 gasoline stations
1000s of oil and gas wells drilled annually in the
US and Canada
17. Barriers to Change
oil and gas are readily available as a world
commodity at low cost -- equivalent to $ 4 to 5 /
million Btu
US coal is even more abundant and cheaper
approximately $1/million Btu
US electricity prices remain low relative to
other commodities
The average American family spends only 3
to 4% of their income on energy!!