Geothermal energy is a type of energy transformation in which heat energy from inside the Earth is captured and utilised for electrical power generation, cooking, space heating and other uses.
What is Geothermal Energy?
Geothermal energy is the heat energy in the crust of the Earth which generates from the development of the planet and the radioactive decay of substances inside the core. The high pressure and temperature in the Earth’s core cause rocks to melt and the mantle to act practically. This results in sections of the mantle convecting uphill since it is less massive than the neighbouring rocks. Temperatures at the mantle-core boundary can be as high as 4000 °C.
Geothermal heating utilising water from hot springs has been used for many purposes since the earliest times of human civilisation. It has also been used for space heating purposes since early mediaeval times. As time passed, geothermal power (production of electricity from geothermal sources) has gained enormous importance since it is readily available in huge quantities. It is evaluated that the geothermal resources of the Earth are hypothetically more than enough to supply the energy needs of the whole human population. However, only a small portion is currently being successfully extracted (usually in regions close to the tectonic plate boundary).
The quantity of usable energy in these energy sources changes with depth and the production technique. The rise in the temperature of the rocks and other substances inside averages 20–30 °C per kilometre depth across the entire planet’s upper part (lithosphere). This increase is much greater in most of the Earth’s familiar geothermal regions. Generally, the extraction of heat requires a fluid to lift up the energy above the surface. Discovering and extracting geothermal resources can be very demanding. This is quite challenging, especially for resources with high temperatures essential for producing electricity. These resources are usually limited to sections of the planet characterised by contemporary volcanic activities or positioned along plate borders. Even though there is always a constant heat source within the Earth, the extraction figure of the steam and fluids can go beyond the replenishment rate. Thus, the utilisation of the resources must be carefully managed.
Direct Uses of Geothermal Energy
The most extensive applications of geothermal energy involve the explicit use of heated water from the Earth without the need for any dedicated equipment. All direct use cases utilise low-temperature geothermal energy sources, which span between 50 and 150 °C. These low-temperature steam and water have been employed to warm a few buildings as well as entire regions where several buildings are heard from a huge supply source. Apart from this, spa facilities, swimming pools, aquaculture water bodies, and swimming pools all over the world have been utilising geothermal energy.
Other explicit applications of geothermal energy include industrial applications, cooking, extensive snow removal of melting, etc. In the case of these activities, hot water is usually applied directly to the heating apparatus. It may also be used in pair with a heat exchanger, which transmits heat energy when there are gases, and complicated minerals such as hydrogen sulphide merged in with the given fluid.
Geothermal Power
Depending upon the fluid flow and temperature, geothermal energy can be utilised to produce electricity. Geothermal power stations can generate electricity in three methods. Despite their variations in design, all three regulate the nature of steam and apply it to propel electric generators.
A section of geothermal power stations simply accumulates rising steam from the Earth. In these dry steam processes, the heated vapour is funnelled into a turbine that propels an electric generator. Other power stations, constructed around the binary cycle and flash steam, make use of a mixture of wet steam or heated water and steam extracted from the Earth to kickstart the electrical production process.
Geothermal power is highly regarded as a sustainable and renewable energy source because the heat derivation is much smaller than the Earth’s inherent heat content. The emissions of greenhouse gases from geothermal power stations are, on average, 45g of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour. In other words, it is less than five per cent of that of normal coal-driven power plants.
Important Geothermal Energy Questions with Answers
1) What is meant by geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy is the heat energy in the crust of the Earth which generates from the development of the planet and the radioactive decay of substances inside the core. The high pressure and temperature in the Earth’s core cause rocks to melt and the mantle to act practically. This results in sections of the mantle convecting uphill since it is less massive than the neighbouring rocks. Temperatures at the mantle-core boundary can be as high as 4000 °C.
Geothermal heating utilising water from hot springs has been used for many purposes since the earliest times of human civilisation. It has also been used for space heating purposes since early mediaeval times.
2) Why has geothermal gained popularity in recent times?
Geothermal power (production of electricity from geothermal sources) has gained enormous importance since it is readily available in huge quantities. It is evaluated that the geothermal resources of the Earth are hypothetically more than enough to supply the energy needs of the whole human population. However, only a small portion is currently being successfully extracted (usually in regions close to the tectonic plate boundary).
3) Explain the availability of geothermal energy.
The quantity of usable energy in these energy sources changes with depth and the production technique. The rise in the temperature of the rocks and other substances inside averages 20–30 °C per kilometre depth across the entire planet’s upper part (lithosphere). This increase is much greater in most of the Earth’s familiar geothermal regions. Generally, the extraction of heat requires a fluid to lift up the energy above the surface. Discovering and extracting geothermal resources can be very demanding. This is quite challenging, especially for resources with high temperatures essential for producing electricity. These resources are usually limited to sections of the planet characterised by contemporary volcanic activities or positioned along plate borders.
4) Why should we carefully utilise geothermal resources?
Even though there is always a constant heat source within the Earth, the extraction figure of the steam and fluids can go beyond the replenishment rate. Thus, the utilisation of the resources must be carefully managed.
5) What are the most familiar uses of geothermal energy?
The most extensive applications of geothermal energy involve the explicit use of heated water from the Earth without the need for any dedicated equipment. All direct use cases utilise low-temperature geothermal energy sources, which span between 50 and 150 °C. These low-temperature steam and water have been employed to warm a few buildings as well as entire regions where several buildings are heard from a huge supply source. Apart from this, spa facilities, swimming pools, aquaculture water bodies, and swimming pools all over the world have been utilising geothermal energy.
Other explicit applications of geothermal energy include industrial applications, cooking, extensive snow removal of melting, etc. In the case of these activities, hot water is usually applied directly to the heating apparatus. It may also be used in pair with a heat exchanger, which transmits heat energy when there are gases, and complicated minerals such as hydrogen sulphide merged in with the given fluid.
6) What is geothermal power?
Depending upon the fluid flow and temperature, geothermal energy can be utilised to produce electricity. Geothermal power stations can generate electricity in three methods (binary cycle,dry steam, and flash steam). Despite their variations in design, all three regulate the nature of steam and apply it to propel electric generators.
7) Explain the production of geothermal power by the use of rising steam from the Earth.
A section of geothermal power stations simply accumulates rising steam from the Earth. In these dry steam processes, the heated vapour is funnelled into a turbine that propels an electric generator. Other power stations, constructed around the binary cycle and flash steam, make use of a mixture of wet steam or heated water and steam extracted from the Earth to kickstart the electrical production process.
8) Why is geothermal energy considered a sustainable and renewable energy source?
Geothermal power is highly regarded as a sustainable and renewable energy source because the heat derivation is much smaller than the Earth’s inherent heat content. The emissions of greenhouse gases from geothermal power stations are, on average, 45g of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour. In other words, it is less than five per cent of that of normal coal-driven power plants.
9) Temperatures at the ______ boundary can be as high as 4000 °C.
Answer: mantle-core
Explanation: Temperatures at the mantle-core boundary can be as high as 4000 °C.
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Practice Questions
1) What is meant by mantle?
2) What is meant by the Earth’s core?
3) What is the difference between geothermal and nuclear power energy?
4) Explain the advantages of geothermal energy.
5) What are the main characteristics of geothermal power plants?
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