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Geothermal systems can be found in
regions with a normal or slightly
above normal geothermal gradient.
The margins of the plates correspond
to weak, densely fractured zones of
the crust, characterized by an intense
seismic activity, by a large number of
volcanoes and, because of the ascent
of very hot materials towards the
surface, by a high terrestrial heat flow.
The most important geothermal areas
are located around plate margins.
World pattern of plates, oceanic
ridges, oceanic trenches, subduction
zones, and geothermal fields.
Generating electricity :
Geothermal power plants
In geothermal power plants,
we use the natural hot water
and steam from the earth to
turn turbine generators to
produce electricity. Unlike
fossil fuel power plants, no
fuel is burned. Geothermal
power plants give off water
vapour, but have no smoky
emissions.
There are several different
types of plants: flashed steam
plants, dry steam plants and
binary power plants
Industry
District heating
The oldest and most common use of
geothermal water, apart from hot spring
bathing, is to heat individual buildings, and
sometimes entire commercial and residential
districts.
A geothermal district heating system supplies
heat by pumping geothermal water -usually 60
C (140F) or hotter- from one or more wells
drilled into a geothermal reservoir. The
geothermal water is passed through a heat
exchanger which transfers the heat to water in
separate pipes that is pumped to the buildings.
After passing through the heat exchanger, the
geothermal water is injected back into the
reservoir where it can reheat and be used
again.
Because it is a clean, economical method of
heating buildings, geothermal district heating is
becoming more popular in many places. The
world's largest geothermal district heating
system is in Reykjavik, Iceland, where almost
all the buildings use geothermal heat. The air
around Reykjavik was once very polluted by
emissions from reliance on fossil fuels. Since it
started using geothermal energy, Reykjavik has
become one of the cleanest cities in the world.
Conclusion:
Energy demand is
increasing rapidly
worldwide. Some energy
and environmental
experts predict that the
growth of electricity
production and direct
uses of geothermal
energy will be revitalized
by international
commitments to reduce
carbon dioxide emissions
to avert global climate
change and by the
opening of markets to
competition.
Made by :
Diana Giurghita
&
Anca Muntean