Geothermal power plant technologies are being used to covert hydrothermal fluids to electricity. Condensed steam and remaining geothermal fluids are injected back into the ground to pick up more heat. There are three diffrent kinds of geothermal power plants: dry steam, flash steam and binary-cycle power plants.
Dry steam power plant
Dry steam power plants use hot steam (235°C) to directly power turbines. The geothermal plants at The Geysers are dry steam plants.
For more information see http://www.rise.org.au/info/Tech/geo/index.html
Flash steam power plant Flash steam power plants use hydrothermal fluids above 182°C and high pressure. In a flash tank the fluid is evaporated and powered the turbies. (Low pressure)
For more information see http://www.rise.org.au/info/Tech/geo/index.html
Binary-cycle power plant
The power plant works with two different fluids. One fluid is injected to the ground to pick up the heat to give the heat to the second fluid in a heat exchanger. Because of this the second fluid evaporates and powers the turbine.
For more information see http://www.rise.org.au/info/Tech/geo/index.html
Advantages The energy is harmless and clean for the environment.Geothermal plants are unaffected by changing weather conditions.
Geothermal plants work continually.
Disadvantages
Land stability in the surrounding region.
Emits low levels of carbon-dioxide, nitric-oxide and sulfur.
Earth can cool out.
History
Geothermal energy was used for bathing and heating (20th century=>electricity)
4.July 1904 => First plant in Italy
First plant in the USA =>1922
1960 in California =>lasted for more than 30 years
For more information see
http://renewables.blog.com (About the project)
http://renewables1.blog.com (The planning stage)
http://renewables2.blog.com (Solar energy)
http://renewables3.blog.com (Wind energy)
http://renewables4.blog.com (Biomass)
http://renewables5.blog.com (Hydropower)
http://renewables7.blog.com (Conventional energies)
