What is geothermal power plant

Trends in the development of the modern world are such that every year the need for additional sources of electrical energy increases. The reason for this is quite obvious: a gradual process has begun to reorient many technical branches in which fossil fuels are currently used as fuel for electricity. There are many examples: electric arc furnaces, hybrid cars , etc. This is the reason for explaining the active construction of power plants around the world.

Each country is interested in the most effective solution. And there is now something to choose from: geothermal power plants; Atomic; Working on fuel oil, coal and gas; Hydroelectric power stations; Using the energy of the sun and wind. All of them can be conditionally divided into two types: depending on fuel supplies (transportation by transport) and others, which are based on natural local sources of electricity. The latter are absolutely safe for the environment, which is very important in the modern world.

Among such environmentally friendly solutions, geothermal power plants are of greatest interest. They have only two significant drawbacks: relatively small installed capacities and the possibility of construction only near operating thermal springs. Let's consider this type of generating stations in more detail.

It's no secret that in some parts of the world there are natural sources of water and steam. Usually these are areas near mountain ridges and in places where the thickness of the earth's crust is small. The internal temperature of the Earth is thousands of degrees. In some cases, water enters the fractured crust, is heated by the heat of the bowels and bursts upwards in the form of superheated steam or hot water. Geothermal power plants use the kinetic power of such sources. Obviously, if the steam is directed through the pipes to the turbine, then work will be performed to rotate it. It is enough to connect a classic generating machine and remove electricity from its terminals.

The principle of operation is really very simple. However, there are a number of peculiarities, because of which such stations differ from each other.

Before the start of construction, geo-exploration determines the optimal location for future generating capacities. The condition is one - proximity to the internal heat source. If there is a developed system of geysers, it remains only to correct their configuration properly (channel the channel vertically, increasing the speed of the steam). In another case, it is necessary with the help of drilling rigs to further deepen into the bowels of the planet: every 36 meters give an increase in temperature by 1 degree.

Sometimes steam (water) contains a mixture of dissolved gases, rapidly destroying the apparatus of the station. In this case, the steam flow passes the intermediate cleaning. The first geothermal power plants appeared in 1904 and are still operating.

There are two types of work: open and closed cycle. When using the first steam, the rotating turbine is discharged into the atmosphere. The name of the second speaks for itself: the pair is looped. Typically, all stations have two underground channels - to feed the media to the turbines and pump back into the bowels. In some countries, a unique solution is used: waste water is pumped into the bowels, replenishing the debit of the aquifer. In this way, it is possible to utilize the water and provide additional steam for the power plant. In addition to steam, water can also be used.

Sometimes an indirect (binary) scheme is used. It creates a contour from the turbine and the loop channels containing a liquid with a low boiling point (less than that of water). The external hot water source evaporates the liquid in the circuit, the vapor pressure of which causes the turbine to move. In fact, this is a variation of a large heat pipe.