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Geothermal Energy
From WikiVerde
Geothermal energy is found deep within the earth’s crust. The entire word is made up of two Greek words. The first is “geo” meaning “earth”. The second is “thermal” meaning “heat”. The two combined to create geothermal defined means “earth heat”. It is an efficient renewable source of creating energy and electricity around the world.
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What Is Geothermal Energy?
It is hard to describe Geothermal Energy except to give you examples of some natural occurrences of this heat. Since this is found under the ground, there has to be an escape route for the pressure it creates. This type of energy is not known to exist above the ground. To know what geothermal energy looks like, one must picture in the mind natural wonders such as:
- Geysers
- Hot Springs
- Volcanoes
The pressure emitted from these is a good sample of what geothermal energy can do. It is all about the heat and steam.
Deep Within The Earth
Under the core of the earth, a system of rock beds exists. The mantle is one of the main ingredients in how this energy is created. The mantle is part rock and hot magma like in a volcano. It runs almost 2,000 miles in thickness around the core of the earth and is the material that the inhabitable crust float upon.
Continental Drift
The plates that are made up of the ocean floor and the continents move about one inch every year. This is where the term” continental drift” originates from. When the plates are separated, Magma from the mantle escapes through the cracks. Since the plates are on the ocean floor, they are surrounded by water. This water is heated by the magma and you have geothermal energy created. As the water is renewed by the rain, the geothermal energy is created over and over and becomes renewable itself.
History Of Geothermal Energy
Hot mineral springs were utilized by many civilizations through the centuries as a way to wash themselves, to heat, and to cook their food. Those same hot springs are used today throughout the world as spas, for heating, and for industry and agriculture. The belief is that these hot springs can also heal and is the reason behind the success of these springs being used at many famous spas and resorts. The heat from the springs is known to ease the pain of arthritis, rheumatism, asthma, and other medical conditions.
Production Of Electricity
Electricity production from Geothermal Energy is not a very old concept. In 1904, an electric generator was invented by a group of Italians. It produced electricity from natural hot steam coming up from inside the earth. Geothermal energy electricity is now made and used in over 21 countries. This list includes America also.
Types Of Geothermal Energy
Four types of geothermal energy resources that can be used today. Each is listed below and is described.
Hydrothermal: This type is created from the mix of water and heat. This is found in steam reservoirs and other places where the magma comes in contact with the water itself. This is the most common form and the most widely used form of geothermal energy.
Direct Use of Low Temperature - Heat: One of the newer forms of use, this energy is produced from heat that starts at 50 degrees F. This water can be used in spas, to heat structures, to produce crops, heat ponds of fish and other options. Geothermal heat pumps are used for the residential and business structures to produce the right amount of controlled heat and to keep homes cool.
High Temperature – Electricity: Again, a new form of use for this energy, the higher temperatures of geothermal energy can create electricity. The water needs to be at least 220 degrees F and up. The normal range is between 300 to 700 degrees F. For electricity production, hot water and dry steam is the chosen resources.
Binary Cycle Power Plant: The water found in some reservoirs is not at the right temperature to create steam. The power plant is made up of turbines that create enough steam from the water to expand and create electricity. The water is cooled off and heated again and again. The process of using this plant is a renewable resource.
Uses Of Geothermal Energy
Over the globe, geothermal energy is utilized for heating residences, greenhouses, the production of electricity, and many other interesting uses. Since it can be converted to electricity, it can be used to run just about anything electronic in the home. The energy can also be helpful in the creation and manufacturing of lumber, dry ceramic tiles, and vegetables.
Environmental Effects Of Geothermal Energy
Since Geothermal Energy is a renewable energy source, it is a good option for the world. It is a naturally occurring source of heat and travels out of the earth on its own. Therefore, it is not harvested from the earth and using it does no damage.
Less Damage To The Environment
The water heated by the magma has an odor of rotten eggs to it. This is caused by the hydrogen sulfide in the water. This is why the power plants used to create electricity and harness the energy have ways of cleaning this out. A few of the ingredients taken out can be used for other things like a liquid fertilizer. The Geothermal power plants do not put out the same amount of carbon dioxide into the air that a plant run on coal would. The binary plants used to produce electricity emit nothing at all.
The Better Choice
The use of Geothermal Energy for electricity and other things is becoming ever popular around the world. It is a great source to consider as it does no damage to the earth. It is reusable and can be beneficial to the homes and businesses in the community as it is almost outdoor pollution free.
