Introduction To Conventional And Renewable Energy Resources For Power Generation

Introduction To Conventional And Renewable Energy Resources For Power Generation.

In order to generate electrical energy we have to depend on sources such as coal, natural gas, hydro(water), and nuclear energy. These can be classified as follows:

A) Fossil Fuels

1) Coal

2) Oil

3) Natural gas

4) Substitute fuels eg. coal liquefaction and coal gasification

5) Oil from shale

6) Oil from tar sand

B) Nuclear Energy

1) Fission Reactors

2) Breeder Reactors

3) Fusion Reactors

C) Natural Sources

1) Hydro electric Power

2) Geothermal

3) Wind

4) Solar – Solar thermal, Photovoltaic

5) Ocean – Ocean thermal, Ocean current, tidal

Conventional Energy Sources

The conventional Energy Sources are as those that have been in use for over a century and which are considered less risky. Examples are hydroelectric power stations, fossil fueled power stations.

The following block diagrams highlight the process of Energy Conversion in the nuclear , Fossil fueled and hydro power stations.

Fossil Fuel --à Boiler ---à Heat Energy --à Steam Turbine --à Mechanical Energy -à Generator à Electrical Energy

Water in Reservoir  --à Hydraulic Turbine --à Mechanical Energy -à Generator à Electrical Energy

Heat From Nuclear Reactor --àSteam Generator ---à Heat Energy --à Steam Turbine --à Mechanical Energy -à Generator à Electrical Energy