Electric Power

Generation

History Of Electricity

Franklin Invents Lightning Rods - 1752

Faraday Discovers Electromagnetic

Induction early 1800s

Edison Invents the Light Bulb and

Generating Stations in NYC 1882

Tesla Invents Alternating Current Motor

for Westinghouse - 1888

Faradays Law

Moving a magnet
through a wire loop
produces an electric
current.

Called electromagnetic
induction.

Electric current
generation - whether
from fossil fuels, nuclear,
renewable fuels, or other
sources is usually
based on the:

In September of 1831, Michael Faraday

made the discovery of Electromagnetic Induction.

Faraday attached two wires

to a disc and rotated the
disc between the opposing
poles of a horseshoe magnet
creating an electric current.

If you place a magnet and a conductor (copper wire), in a room togeth

there will be no electric current generated.

This is because motion, from our equation for electricity, is miss

An electric current is not generated unless the magnetic field is mo

relative to the copper wire, or the copper wire is moving relative t
magnetic field.

Generators

Use energy to generate electric currents.

A moving magnet pushes the electrons along

a wire.

The energy used to move the magnet is

carried by the electric current.
magnet
torch
bulb

Coil of
wire

So what are the

PRIME MOVERS for
Generators?

A generator converts
mechanical energy
into electrical energy

How can a generator be turned?

Steam can be used
to turn a turbine
to turn the generator.
Turbine

Source
of
steam
10

A power station

electric
current

11

How can water be heated to make steam?

Old way: The smoke is dirty and pollutes the
atmosphere.
Burn coal Also produces lots of carbon

dioxide which is a green house gas

heats up the Earth.

Newer way: Gas is cleaner than coal but still makes

lots of carbon dioxide
Burn gas
Eventually the world will run out of coal and gas.
12

Steam from nuclear

energy

Nuclear reactors can be used

- to split atoms
- to release energy
- to boil water
to make steam
- to turn the generators.

This does not cause pollution

but some waste is
very dangerous and has to be
handled very carefully.
13

splits to give

Steam from the Earth

5000
C

- giving energy
to generate
electricity.

7000
0
C

In some countries there

are hot rocks close to the
surface of the Earth.
14

Energy from the Earth

In some countries
energy from the Earth
can be used
to boil water
to turn generators.

This does not cause

pollution
and will not run out.

NREL geo pacific gas and

electric

15

Electricity from waste

Vegetation and animal dung give off energy as

they rot. This can be used to heat homes and
greenhouses directly.

Also waste can be burned

- to boil water
- to make steam
- to turn generators.
The process uses up waste.
But produces carbon dioxide.
16

How else can we turn a generator

without polluting the Earth?
Use flowing water.

top of dam

Hoover Dam in USA 220m high

17

Hydroelectricity

Running water turns the generator

Water
from a
mountain
lake

(Tennessee Valley
Authority)

Does not pollute the atmosphere.

The dam must be high in mountains.
18

Waves

Energy from
waves can be
used to turn
generators.

We have lots
of waves in
the seas
around the UK.

Does not cause pollution.

There are more problems to solve.
19

We can make a windmill

When you blow

the windmill it
turns.

The moving air

pushes the blades
round.
What happens
if you blow
harder?
20

Wind can turn generators

Many years ago

windmills were used to turn
mill stones to grind grain.

Now modern wind

turbines are used to turn
generators.

Do not pollute the air.

Wind is not used up.
But sometimes the wind
does not blow.

21

Energy from the Sun

NASA

22

Solar cells
Use solar cells to change the energy in sunlight
into electricity
no generator needed
- needs lots of sunlight.
Solar
cells

traffic
sign

parking meter
23

The space station has huge

solar panels
The
International
Space Station
uses solar
panels to
collect energy,
making it
possible for
scientists to
live on board
and do
experiments.

The framework is 109

24
metres long.

NASA

Fusion

Makes the Sun shine.

Scientists are finding ways to get huge

amounts of energy.
when small atoms join together,
energy is given out
+
gives
like in the Sun.

Will not run out.

Does not pollute the air.

The future? Not possible for another 20 years!

25

Future Energy Need

7,000
5,787.0

Billion kWh

6,000
5,000
4,000

3,831.0

3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2002
Growth in Electricity Demand

2025

Sources Tomorrow

(2025)

Energy Policy Goals

Increase energy supply

Optimize available resources

Develop new technology

Limiting environmental
impact

A Question Of Balance

Pros & Cons

COAL

cheap and abundant

HYDRO

clean

NATURAL GAS

SOLAR &
WIND

but seasonal and no new

sources

cleaner than coal

but source of greenhouse gases

but limited supply

renewable

but expensive, low energy

density, and intermittent

Pros & Cons

NUCLEAR

high energy density

no air pollution

reliable fuel supply

but what about safety, security,

and waste?

High Energy Density

4 tons of coal or
a few ounces of uranium

1 pellet = 150 gallons

gasoline

1780 pounds coal

16,000 ft3 natural gas

2.5 tons wood

No Air Pollution
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

Nuclear

Hydro

Geothermal

Wind

Solar

76%

22%

1.4%

0.7%

0.1%

Energy Sources:
Fossil fuels
Coal
Gas
Oil

- pollution
- pollution sources do not run out
Renewable
-Hydroelectricity
pollution
needs mountains

Wind - only works when wind blowing

Waste & rotting vegetation greenhouse gases
Sunlight best in sunny countries
Geothermal only in countries with hot springs
Waves small scale only so far

Energy from nuclear reactions

Fission waste needs very careful handling
Fusion waste less dangerous

will not run out - but very difficult !

34

Re-cap
A generator generates an electric current
by moving magnets near a coil of wire.
We need a source of energy to turn the
generator:
Burn fossil fuels?
Nuclear reactions?
Renewable energy?

You will have to choose !

35