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==Background==
==Background==
Geothermal energy is the energy that can be harnessed using the heat that occurs naturally in the Earth. This heat can be found in volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers <ref>http://iceland.ednet.ns.ca/schedule.htm</ref>. The high temperatures range from 225º F to 600º F <ref>http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=10470</ref> and occur in these areas due primarily to the decay of radio-active isotopes that occur within the rocks of the Earth's crust <ref> Duffield, Wendell A. and Sass, John H. Geothermal Energy—Clean Power From the Earth’s Heat. U.S. Geological Survey: Circular 1249 [[http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/c1249/c1249.pdf]]</ref>.  The surrounding ground water can then be heated, or water can be pumped into the hot areas to produce steam. This steam is captured and used to create electricity through a turbine system.
Geothermal power is generated from the high temperatures that can be found in various parts of the Earth's crust such as volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers <ref>http://iceland.ednet.ns.ca/schedule.htm</ref>. The high temperatures range from 225º F to 600º F <ref>http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=10470</ref> and occur in these areas due primarily to the decay of radio-active isotopes that occur within the rocks of the earth's crust <ref> Duffield, Wendell A. and Sass, John H. Geothermal Energy—Clean Power From the Earth’s Heat. U.S. Geological Survey: Circular 1249 [[http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/c1249/c1249.pdf]]</ref>.  The water that surrounds and fills the gaps between the rocks in the crust is raised in temperature by these natural processes. This hot water is then pumped to the surface and its steam is captured and used to create electrical power through a turbine system.


==Types==
==Types==
There are three common types of geothermal power: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle. Dry steam uses the steam directly from the earth, flash steam pumps water into the hot areas to boil the water and create steam, and binary cycle uses a secondary fluid to power a generator<ref> http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=10470</ref>.
There are three common types of geothermal power: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle. Dry steam is rare and uses the steam directly from the earth, flash steam pumps the hot water that naturally occurs in the earth to the surface and utilizes its steam, and binary cycle uses a secondary fluid and its vapor to power a generator<ref> http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=10470</ref>.
 
[[File:Drysteamgeothermalfromusgs.jpg|thumb|right|Dry Steam Geothermal (USGS).]]
===Dry Steam===
===Dry Steam===
Dry stream geothermal plants use natural steam directly from the Earth. This natural steam is created by the natural geothermal heating of an underground pocket of water deep below the earth's surface.  Once the steam pocket is tapped, the steam is channeled directly into a turbine which converts the thermal energy into electricity. These systems are very rare; not many places on Earth have large enough pockets of natural steam to provide sufficient incentive to create a dry steam plant<ref> http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/D/AE_dry_steam_geothermal_plant.html</ref>.
[[File:Drysteamgeothermalfromusgs.jpg|thumb|right|Dry Steam Geothermal (USGS).]]
The only dry stream power producer that is located in the United States is a series of plants called "The Geysers", which make up the largest dry steam systems in the world. In the Mayacamas Mountains, just north of San Francisco, The Geysers generates a net capacity of about 725 megawatts of electricity - enough to power 725,000 homes, or a city the size of San Francisco<ref> http://www.geysers.com/</ref>.
[[File:Thegeysersdrysteamgeothermal.JPG|thumb|left|The Geysers in Northern California.]]
[[File:Thegeysersdrysteamgeothermal.JPG|thumb|left|The Geysers in Northern California.]]
Dry stream geothermal plants use natural steam directly from the Earth. This natural steam is created by the natural geothermal heating of an underground pocket of water deep below the earth's surface.  Once the steam pocket is tapped, the steam is channeled directly into a turbine which converts the thermal energy into electrical power. These systems are very rare; not many places on Earth have large enough pockets of natural steam to provide sufficient incentive to create a dry steam plant<ref> http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/D/AE_dry_steam_geothermal_plant.html</ref>.
The only dry stream power producer that is located in the United States is a series of plants called "The Geysers", which make up the largest dry steam systems in the world. Located in the Mayacamas Mountains, just north of San Francisco, The Geysers generate a net capacity of about 725 megawatts of electrical power - enough to power 725,000 homes, or a city the size of San Francisco<ref> http://www.geysers.com/</ref>.


===Flash Steam===
===Flash Steam===
Flash stream power is the most common type of geothermal power. This is because the hot water from the earth can be reused to produce more steam. The hot water is pumped up to the surface of the earth where its pressure is lessened and it is separated into steam and cool water. The steam is then collected and used for electricity, and the cooler water is pumped back down to the hot area to continue in the cycle.<ref>http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/geo4.htm</ref>.
[[File:Flashsteamgeothermalpower.jpg|thumb|left|Flash steam (USGS).]]
[[File:Flashsteamgeothermalpower.jpg|thumb|left|Flash steam (USGS).]]
Iceland's very first geothermal plant is a flash steam plant. The Bjarnarflag Geothermal Power Plant is located in North Iceland,and was built in 1969. Bjarnarflag takes the steam produced from the hot water in the ground to produce 3 megawatts of electricity. The water that is separated from the steam in this plant is used to heat the fresh water used for district heating in Bjarnarflag<ref>http://www.mannvit.com/GeothermalEnergy/GeothermalPowerPlants/GeothermalProjectBjarnarflag/</ref>.  
Flash stream power is the most common type of geothermal power due to its efficiency; the hot water from the earth can be reused to produce more steam. Flash steam geothermal occurs in areas naturally greater than 360º F in the earth’s crust. The hot water from these areas is pumped up to the surface of the earth, where its pressure is lessened and it is separated into steam and cool water. The steam is then collected and sent to a turbine to generate electrical power, while the cooled water is pumped back down to the geothermal area in the crust to continue in the cycle. <ref>http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/geo4.htm</ref>.
 
[[File:Barjnaflagflashsteam.jpg|thumb|right|Flash steam system in Bjarnarflag, Iceland.]]
[[File:Barjnaflagflashsteam.jpg|thumb|right|Flash steam system in Bjarnarflag, Iceland.]]
Built in 1969, Iceland's very first geothermal plant, the Bjarnarflag Geothermal Plant, is a flash steam plant located in North Iceland. Bjarnarflag takes the steam produced from the hot water in the ground to generate 3 megawatts of electrical power. The water that is separated from the steam in this plant is used to heat the fresh water used for district heating in Bjarnarflag<ref>http://www.mannvit.com/GeothermalEnergy/GeothermalPowerPlants/GeothermalProjectBjarnarflag/</ref>.


===Binary Cycle===
===Binary Cycle===
Power from the geothermal binary cycle is generated through the use of another liquid in a lower temperature (225º F-350º F). The water is pumped into the warm area. This hot water is then used to warm another liquid that contains a much lower boiling temperature. These two liquids never come into contact with each other, because once the second liquid is evaporated and the vapor is collected to turn the generator, the water continues on in the cycle<ref>http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/powerplants.html#binarycycle</ref>.
[[File:Binarycyclegeothermal.jpg|thumb|right|Binary cycle (USGS).]]
[[File:Binarycyclegeothermal.jpg|thumb|right|Binary cycle (USGS).]]
A binary cycle geothermal plant is located in Wairakei, New Zealand. The Wairakei Geothermal Power Station was commissioned in 1958; it was the first of its kind in the world at the at time. Wairakei Geothermal Power Station is capable of generating 181 megawatts of electrical energy using the binary cycle, enough to power about 150,000 homes<ref> http://www.contactenergy.co.nz/web/pdf/environmental/Geothermal_brochure.pdf</ref>.
Power from the geothermal binary cycle is generated through the use of another liquid in addition to water. This type of geothermal power is used in areas in the crust that have naturally lower temperatures that that used in flash steam (225º F-350º F). Water is pumped from the source to the surface where a secondary liquid with a much lower boiling temperature than water’s is introduced. The small amount of heat that the water carries is used to vaporize the secondary liquid through the use of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_exchanger heat exchanger]; that vapor is sent to the turbine to generate electrical power. These two liquids never come into contact with each other; the water’s heat is only used to vaporize the secondary liquid. After the vapor is collected, the water returns to the source to complete the cycle again<ref>http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/powerplants.html#binarycycle</ref>.
 
[[File:Wairakeibinarycyclegeothermal.jpg|thumb|left|Wairakei Binary Cycle, New Zealand.]]
[[File:Wairakeibinarycyclegeothermal.jpg|thumb|left|Wairakei Binary Cycle, New Zealand.]]
A binary cycle geothermal plant is located in Wairakei, New Zealand. The Wairakei Geothermal Power Station was commissioned in 1958; it was the first of its kind in the world at the time. Wairakei Geothermal Power Station is capable of generating 181 megawatts of power using the binary cycle, enough to power about 150,000 homes<ref> http://www.contactenergy.co.nz/web/pdf/environmental/Geothermal_brochure.pdf</ref>.


==Utilized areas==
==Utilized areas==
There are multiple areas that are available for geothermal use in the world. Iceland currently generates 25% of its electricity from geothermal systems<ref>http://www.nea.is/</ref>. Geothermal energy is used to make up about 10% of New Zealand's electricity supply<ref>http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/elec_geo.html</ref>. And in the United States there are plants located in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. In 2005, geothermal energy generated 25% of domestic electricity in the U.S.<ref>http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3082/pdf/fs2008-3082.pdf</ref>. While many of the hot spots are being used resourcefully in the world, many seismically active areas are not.
There are multiple areas that are available for geothermal use in the world. Iceland currently generates 25% of its electrical power from geothermal systems<ref>http://www.nea.is/</ref>. Geothermal energy is used to make up about 10% of New Zealand's electrical power supply<ref>http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/elec_geo.html</ref>. And in the United States there are plants located in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. In 2005, geothermal energy generated 25% of domestic, non-hydroelectric, renewable, electrical power in the U.S.<ref>http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3082/pdf/fs2008-3082.pdf</ref> Many places in Central America are also utilizing their high geothermal activity. The region is a leader in research and development and execution of geothermal power projects. Countries that have projects implemented are Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador <ref>
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~refish/Resource%20pages/GEOTHERMAL%20RESOURCES.html</ref>. While many of the hot spots are being used resourcefully in the world, many seismically active areas are not.


==Under-utilized areas==
==Under-utilized areas==
In order for geothermal power to be considered a possibility, the plant must be located in a part of the globe that is seismically active. This allows for a continuous source of heat where the water is being pumped. The active areas include: the Western United States, Iceland, New Zealand, the Philippines, and South America<ref>http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/geothermal.html</ref>. The United States has geothermal activity in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming<ref>http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3082/pdf/fs2008-3082.pdf</ref>. However, most of these resources are not being utilized.
In order for geothermal power to be considered a possibility, the plant must be located in a part of the globe that is seismically active. This allows for a continuous source of heat where the water is being pumped. The active areas include: the Western United States, Iceland, New Zealand, the Philippines, and South America<ref>http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/geothermal.html</ref>. The United States has geothermal activity in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming<ref>http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3082/pdf/fs2008-3082.pdf</ref>. However, most of these resources are not being utilized.
[[File:Geothermalmapusinmegawatts.png|50px|this is a caption|center|frame|center|center|Amount of geothermal power available in the continental U.S.]]


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*Wikipedia page: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_electricity#Flash_steam_power_plants Geothermal electricity]
*Wikipedia page: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_electricity#Flash_steam_power_plants Geothermal electricity]
*United States Geological Survey Assessment: [http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3082/pdf/fs2008-3082.pdf Assessment of Moderate- and High-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States]
*United States Geological Survey Assessment: [http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3082/pdf/fs2008-3082.pdf Assessment of Moderate- and High-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States]
*Development of Central American Geothermal Projects:[http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~refish/Publications/Geothermal/Geothermal_CostaRica.pdf Costa Rica], [http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~refish/Publications/Geothermal/Geothermal_Nicaragua.pdf Nicaragua], [http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~refish/Publications/Geothermal/Geothermal_Guatemala.pdf Guatemala], [http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~refish/Publications/Geothermal/Geothermal_ElSalvador.pdf El Salvador]


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:PSC110 Introduction to Renewable Energy]]
[[Category:PSC110 Introduction to Renewable Energy]]
[[Category:Renewable energy]]
[[category:geothermal]]

Revision as of 16:56, 1 May 2015

Background

Geothermal power is generated from the high temperatures that can be found in various parts of the Earth's crust such as volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers [1]. The high temperatures range from 225º F to 600º F [2] and occur in these areas due primarily to the decay of radio-active isotopes that occur within the rocks of the earth's crust [3]. The water that surrounds and fills the gaps between the rocks in the crust is raised in temperature by these natural processes. This hot water is then pumped to the surface and its steam is captured and used to create electrical power through a turbine system.

Types

There are three common types of geothermal power: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle. Dry steam is rare and uses the steam directly from the earth, flash steam pumps the hot water that naturally occurs in the earth to the surface and utilizes its steam, and binary cycle uses a secondary fluid and its vapor to power a generator[4].

Dry Steam Geothermal (USGS).

Dry Steam

The Geysers in Northern California.

Dry stream geothermal plants use natural steam directly from the Earth. This natural steam is created by the natural geothermal heating of an underground pocket of water deep below the earth's surface. Once the steam pocket is tapped, the steam is channeled directly into a turbine which converts the thermal energy into electrical power. These systems are very rare; not many places on Earth have large enough pockets of natural steam to provide sufficient incentive to create a dry steam plant[5].

The only dry stream power producer that is located in the United States is a series of plants called "The Geysers", which make up the largest dry steam systems in the world. Located in the Mayacamas Mountains, just north of San Francisco, The Geysers generate a net capacity of about 725 megawatts of electrical power - enough to power 725,000 homes, or a city the size of San Francisco[6].

Flash Steam

Flash steam (USGS).

Flash stream power is the most common type of geothermal power due to its efficiency; the hot water from the earth can be reused to produce more steam. Flash steam geothermal occurs in areas naturally greater than 360º F in the earth’s crust. The hot water from these areas is pumped up to the surface of the earth, where its pressure is lessened and it is separated into steam and cool water. The steam is then collected and sent to a turbine to generate electrical power, while the cooled water is pumped back down to the geothermal area in the crust to continue in the cycle. [7].

Flash steam system in Bjarnarflag, Iceland.

Built in 1969, Iceland's very first geothermal plant, the Bjarnarflag Geothermal Plant, is a flash steam plant located in North Iceland. Bjarnarflag takes the steam produced from the hot water in the ground to generate 3 megawatts of electrical power. The water that is separated from the steam in this plant is used to heat the fresh water used for district heating in Bjarnarflag[8].


Binary Cycle

Binary cycle (USGS).

Power from the geothermal binary cycle is generated through the use of another liquid in addition to water. This type of geothermal power is used in areas in the crust that have naturally lower temperatures that that used in flash steam (225º F-350º F). Water is pumped from the source to the surface where a secondary liquid with a much lower boiling temperature than water’s is introduced. The small amount of heat that the water carries is used to vaporize the secondary liquid through the use of a heat exchanger; that vapor is sent to the turbine to generate electrical power. These two liquids never come into contact with each other; the water’s heat is only used to vaporize the secondary liquid. After the vapor is collected, the water returns to the source to complete the cycle again[9].

Wairakei Binary Cycle, New Zealand.

A binary cycle geothermal plant is located in Wairakei, New Zealand. The Wairakei Geothermal Power Station was commissioned in 1958; it was the first of its kind in the world at the time. Wairakei Geothermal Power Station is capable of generating 181 megawatts of power using the binary cycle, enough to power about 150,000 homes[10].

Utilized areas

There are multiple areas that are available for geothermal use in the world. Iceland currently generates 25% of its electrical power from geothermal systems[11]. Geothermal energy is used to make up about 10% of New Zealand's electrical power supply[12]. And in the United States there are plants located in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. In 2005, geothermal energy generated 25% of domestic, non-hydroelectric, renewable, electrical power in the U.S.[13] Many places in Central America are also utilizing their high geothermal activity. The region is a leader in research and development and execution of geothermal power projects. Countries that have projects implemented are Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador [14]. While many of the hot spots are being used resourcefully in the world, many seismically active areas are not.

Under-utilized areas

In order for geothermal power to be considered a possibility, the plant must be located in a part of the globe that is seismically active. This allows for a continuous source of heat where the water is being pumped. The active areas include: the Western United States, Iceland, New Zealand, the Philippines, and South America[15]. The United States has geothermal activity in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming[16]. However, most of these resources are not being utilized.

Amount of geothermal power available in the continental U.S.

Further reading

References

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