Geothermal+Power

**//The Power from Within - Geothermal Energy//**

By devoted servants of science, Isaiah Lee-Shim and Aran Hamilton-Grenham (Leeton Shimham)

=Important Vocabulary Terms and Their Relevance 1 =


 * **Geothermal** : This word's etymology is Greek. Geo means Earth and Thermos means Heat. So Geothermal basically means, "heat from the Earth."
 * **Heat Convection** : The Earth's core covects heat through magma into the crustal water reservoirs
 * **Plate Tectonics**: The shift of contitental plates in the Earth's crust, the resulting collisions and cracks allow for volcanic activity to occur. Hot springs naturally occur near tectonic boundaries.
 * **Core** : The core is the center of the planet Earth, it heats the sub-surface rock into molten lava, allowing for underground water reservoirs to superheat.
 * **Steam** : This is the gaseous form of water, or dihydrogen monoxide (H2O). It occures when water is heated to 100 degrees celsius or 212 degrees fahrenheit.
 * **Magma**: This is the molten rock found under the surface of Earth. Magma heats underground water pockets.
 * **Turbine**: A geothermal turbine is a rotary machine that can transform the kinetic energy of rising steam into the motion of the spinning blades. This motion will further be transformed into eletrical energy.
 * **Heat Energy**: The random motion of particles, it can be conducted or convected from one body or another. It can also be defined as thermal energy

This video demonstrates the conversion of energy of steam from geothermal vents into electrical energy =How Geothermal Energy is Formedmedia type="youtube" key="kjpp2MQffnw" width="438" height="387" align="right"=

Steps involved in obtaining and creating geothermal energy 1 :


 * 1) Rain water seeps into the crust, creating underground pools
 * 2) The heat from the core of the earth heats subsurface rock into magma, which conducts heat to the water
 * 3) The water circulates, the hotter water rising and the colder water sinking, allowing for heat convection and an equilibrium in temperature
 * 4) The superheated fluid builds pressure
 * 5) Geothermal wells (production wells) are drilled 5000-10,000 feet into the ground in order to tap into the reservoirs.
 * 6) These wells bring the super hot fluid to the surface
 * 7) The resulting fluid depressurizes and creates superheated steam
 * 8) Steam turbines are turned by the resulting gaseous water
 * 9) The resulting renewable electric energy is transported via wires to homes

Why geothermal energy is useful in certain climates 3 : > water reservoirs which form from years of rain seeping through the crust. Geothermal wells tap into these reservoirs. ||
 * 1) In seasonal climates, the ground underneath stays at a stable temperature, never varying
 * 2) The surface feels drastic changes in climate, but the subsurface ground does change in temperature
 * 3) The superheated fluid is directly tapped by pipes under homes. Plus, geothermal energy does not produce harmful emissions and is completely renewable
 * 4) The water used to heat these pipes is put back into the reservoirs, and therefore keeping them from depleting
 * [[image:http://www.iga.1it.pl/pliki/Image/geo/What_is_geothermal_en_html_4983ad05.jpg width="800" height="580" align="center"]] ||
 * > A cross section of the crust. The heated magma from the mantle heats up the underground

=The Law of Energy Conservation in the Process of Creating Geothermal 1 =

The law of energy conservation states that energy cannot be lost or gained in a closed body, only transferred or transformed. This fact holds true in the case of creating geothermal energy, the store heat energy in the superheated water reservoirs is only transformed in electricity or light, it is not lost. This heat energy is also used directly, in order to heat homes. However, energy is also transferred to the surrounding rock, the air and the materials that transport this energy.

Heat energy from deep within the Earth's core is produced by pressure, the resulting energy is conducted through the mantle rock and heats rock into magma. This magma convects heat onto the crust, which henceforth heats the numerous water reservoirs located within the crust pockets. The superheated fluids build up pressure, which can readily be accessed through geothermal wells. The resulting steam and water turns turbines, which converts the kinetic energy of the gas into electric energy. When the heat within the reservoirs is directly accessed, pipes are inserted into the reservoirs, and the heat is conducted through these pipes and into the home.

= =

=Geothermal Springs and their Uses outside of Energ y 4&1 =

Geothermal hot springs were taken advantage of from the time of the Romans, who built many public baths near or directly on top of geothermal reservoirs. The resulting steam was used to heat the bathing complexes, and in major bathing towns such as Baden-Baden in Germany and Bath in England.

In Yamanouchi Japan, Japanese macaques raid onsen. These are Japanese hot springs, used by the country's people to rejuvenate their health and for a relaxing spa experience. The Macaques have learned that these geothermal hot springs can keep them warm in the rugged and cold higher altitudes of Japan. Special reserve springs are being built just to provide for these creatures. Onsen are accessible for free by tourists, and while they relax, the macaques commonly join them. Aside from the occasional scream of fear from the visistors, the monkeys are usually treated without hostility.



=Advantages of Using Geothermal Power​ 3 =
 * Geothermal power is renewable. This means that the energy supply is not exhaustible, and will forever be useable.
 * Geothermal power does not use chemical reactions, and therefore does not produce byproducts or emissions, such as mercury or carbon dioxide. When geothermal power is used it is does not create any pollution and is thus environmentally friendly.
 * Power plants are relatively inexpensive, and do not take up too much land. This equates to low ownership fees and a low profile.
 * Each power plant is very efficient and is thus, requires little upkeep cost. When the plant is running, it will create much more useable energy for its cost than other power plants.
 * Only steam is required to run geothermal power plants, so it can run with water by its lonesome.

media type="youtube" key="-ajqiPe_9Ko" width="467" height="385" align="center" This video depicts a geothermal heating system in Canada, it describes its efficiency.

=Disadvantages of Using Geothermal Power 2 =
 * Geothermal power can usually only be effectively used in Volcanic areas or near fault lines.
 * Building near fault lines is risky, earthquakes and other natural disasters are a major problem.
 * Production can stop after ten years, when most of the water reservoirs are used up (this is why power plants reinsert the water into the reservoir)
 * Many geothermal hot springs are up in mountains, where the energy could be useless.
 * Some reservoirs are covered by extremely dense bedrock, and power plants can only cheaply and efficiently be drilled where there is softer rock.
 * Harmful minerals and gasses can be released if the drilling goes terribly awry.

=Geothermal Energy Makes the News=

[] In a small town in Southern Oregon, people have learned how to take advantage of their location's natural potential for geothermal energy. In the city of Klamath Falls, the 20,000 residents make use of this energy, heating anything from their kitchen stoves to their homes themselves. Researchers and institutes alike describe the efficiency and low carbon footprint of geothermal energy. They state that using a system called enhanced geothermal systems could produce 100 gigawatts of power, the equivalent of 1000 coal power plants.

=Bibliography and Footnotes:= 1. O'neal J, Michael, Hackney Blackwell, Amy, Petruso, A. "Alternative Energy." Volume 1, pages 97,132. Texas: Thomas Gale, 2006.

2. "Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy." 2009. Clean Energy Ideas. Apr 6th, 2010. <[]>

3. "Advantages of Geothermal Energy." 2009. Clean Energy Ideas. Apr 6th, 2010. <[]>

4. Talmadge, Eric. "Japanese Monkeys Chill Out in Hot Springs." Aug 19, 2002. National Geographic Society. Apr 7, 2010. <[] >