Exploring Geothermal Energy

The three types of power plants used for geothermal electricity generation are dry steam power plant, flash steam power plant, and binary cycle power plant.

The three natural processes that generate geothermal energy are heat from when the planet formed and accreted, decay of radioactive elements, and friction.

The three main methods of heat transfer are conduction, convection, and radiation. They are different from each other in terms of the medium through which heat is transferred and the regions in which they primarily occur. Conduction is the transfer of energy through adjacent atoms, primarily occurring within solid portions of the Earth. Convection is the transfer of heat through fluid movement, primarily occurring within the Earth's core and mantle. Radiation is the transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves, primarily occurring at the Earth's surface.

The binary cycle power plant does not use steam directly to spin turbines. Instead, only the heat of the underground water is used, and vapourized hydrocarbons with a lower boiling point are used to spin the turbine. No harmful gas is emitted to the atmosphere because the underground water is never disclosed to the outside.

Low temperature geothermal reservoirs have a temperature between 100 and 30 °C and are predominantly used for heating things. High temperature geothermal reservoirs have a temperature above 220°F (105°C) and are suitable for commercial production of electricity.

Temperature is a property of matter, while heat is the energy that is flowing because of a temperature difference. This difference is important in understanding geothermal heat transfer because it helps to distinguish between the physical property of matter and the energy that is transferred through matter. Understanding the differences between temperature and heat is essential in understanding how geothermal heat is transferred from hotter to cooler regions of the Earth.

Geothermal reservoirs are usually found along the earth's major plate boundaries, where volcanoes and earthquakes occur most frequently. They can be discovered by testing the soil and analyzing underground temperature.

Convection primarily takes place within the Earth's core and mantle, resulting in the creation of the Earth's magnetic field. As hotter molecules or particles seek to move toward cooler regions, the flow of hot material transfers heat, which in turn creates the magnetic field. This process of heat transfer through convection is responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field.

The advantages of geothermal energy as a source of electricity are that it is available all year round, does not involve any combustion of fuel, is independent of weather, is a clean resource with very little emissions or overall environmental impact, and is an economically sound alternative. The disadvantages are that it is not a widespread source of energy, has high installation costs, may release harmful gases, and can cause earthquakes.