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Geothermal Energy

Explore the world of geothermal energy with William Murray as he delves into the unique renewable power source generated from the Earth's depths. Discover the environmental impact, global capacity, and diverse applications of geothermal energy.

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Geothermal Energy

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  1. Geothermal Energy Presented by: William Murray March 28, 2007

  2. What is Geothermal Energy? • Defined: Energy that is generated by converting hot water or steam from deep beneath the Earth’s surface into electricity. • Unique renewable • Natural Energy Flow • Heat Mining • Enthalpy

  3. The Heat Source • Tiny quantities of radioactive isotopes liberate heat as they decay • Core heat transfer through convection • Accessible in locations where heats interior is brought within reach • Lithospheric Plates • Significant heat flow • Volcanic activity

  4. The Heat Source Cont’d • High enthalpy systems are divided into two categories • Vapor Dominated • Best and most productive • Free of liquids • Liquid Dominated • Relies on water at boiling point • Often results in steam “flash” • Two-phase zone

  5. Geothermal Potential • Nature of the resource • Fluid Temperature • Salinity • Fluid Pressure • Gas Content • Economies of Scale • Maximum efficiency

  6. Four Main Types • Dry steam power plant • Single flash steam power plant • Binary cycle power plant • Double flash power plant

  7. Dry Steam Power Plant

  8. Single/Double Flash Steam

  9. Binary Cycle Power Plant

  10. Ground Source Heat Pump

  11. Global Capacity • Worldwide use of geothermal 9.3GW • 28 GW used directly for heating • 100GWt through ground-source heat pumps • Potential for 65-138GW • MIT claims 100GWe by 2050 • 0.3% of US energy consumption

  12. Environmental Impact • Gaseous emissions • Less than 1/10th of coal-fired carbon emissions • Dissolved gasses • Land use • Noise • Potential ground subsidence

  13. Geothermal Usage • Iceland generates 26.5% of energy from geothermal • .1% Fossil fuels • 73% Hydro • In the US • Alaska (1 Plant) • California (4.8% of electrical energy, 2.4GW installed capacity) • Hawaii (30MW on largest island, 20% of electrical energy) • Nevada(15 plants, 254MW) • Utah (reconstructed developing plants)

  14. Applications in Belize • Belize is the only country in Central America that does not have the potential for geothermal energy according to the US Department of Energy

  15. QUESTIONS?!!

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