Power Energy Systems: the Earth Surface and Hydro - Essay Example

POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS By Name Course Instructor Institution Location Date Contents 1.0 Introduction 2 2.0 Body 1: Power Generation and mechanical engineering 3 2.1 What is power generation system? 3 2.2 How power generation system is related to mechanical engineering 4 2.3 What are the main types of power generation system? 4 3.0 Systems used in KSA and IRE 6 3.1Energy systems in KSA 6 3.1.1 Natural gas 6 3.1.2 Electricity 6 3.1.3 Nuclear Power 7 3.1.4 Solar Power 7 3.1.5 Wind Energy 7 3.2 Energy systems in IRE 7 3.2.1 Electricity. 7 3.2.2 Natural gas 7 3.2.3 Peat 8 4.0 Systems 8 4.1 Which Systems are the cheapest? And which are the worst environmentally? 8 4.2 Which are the Most Effective Systems 8 5.0 References 9 Power Generation Systems 1.0 Introduction First and foremost I have passion in mechanical engineering. The current society has experienced dynamic developments regarding infrastructure and public services vehicles inclusive which are highly linked to mechanical engineering. Since I like fixing things with my hands, I decided to take mechanical engineering as my professional course. Mechanical engineering needs a lot of involvement with your hand rather than just a piece of paper and a pen. It is always good to be part of the innovations and inventions that are taking shape in the contemporary society. These are to help my locality, as well as my country, catch up with technological developments in other developed systems either as the source of some innovations or only a perpetrator of the existing information. Mechanical engineering is the widest of all disciplines in engineering and involves moving objects from the smallest particle and all the way to spacecraft which is the largest particle and also includes a human body which is one of the most complex plants. The curriculum includes energy, raw materials, production and manufacturing of various types of dynamics, design, robotics and control (Lin C, 2014). The role of mechanical engineers is usually recognized in automotive industries which include vehicle assembling, control of aircraft engines, and biotechnology in pharmaceutical industries. Electronics such as computer hardware installation, conversion of energy that includes tapping solar energy into electricity, coal into fuel, etc., controlling the environment so as to ensure that there is less interference with the ecosystem, video and photo processing and general manufacturing of equipment.( Chen. W, 2013) 2.0 Body 1: Power Generation and mechanical engineering In a nutshell, mechanical engineering involves motion objects inclusive of the human body and complicated machinery. Mechanical engineers obtain knowledge from any objects of any state be it solid, fluids, thermodynamics, transfer of heat, controlling, making instruments and the manufacturing design so as to comprehend mechanical systems. There can also be specialisation in various disciplines of mechanical engineering which includes biomechanics, cartilage tissue engineering, conversion of energy, assisted-laser material processing, burning of elements, microfluidic devices, joinery of parts, Nanomechanics, generation of micropower, tribology, vibration among many others. The scope of mechanical engineering gives room for the students to explore various career opportunities. 2.1 What is power generation system? Power generating station is an industrial firm that produces and distributes electric power in large scales. They are usually located several kilometres away from urban centres reason being they require large tracts of land, logistics of waste disposal and a reasonable supply of water. It’s also charged with the responsibility of safe supply of power to the entire region of purpose. This is aided by a transformer to control the power voltage. 2.2 How power generation system is related to mechanical engineering A mechanical engineer designs the tools and processes used for satisfying the needs of society through a combination of material, human and economic resources. The mechanical engineers have the responsibility of secure and safe operation of industrial equipment. They include generators, boilers, pumps, turbines, diesels, condensers and compressors that are used in power generation systems. Power generation system obtains an excellent research ground from mechanical engineering which helps it to conduct on how based to improve energy production issues and also deal with challenges that may arise. Power generation systems generally draw their science of engineering from mechanical engineering. These is where we get power generation system engineers. 2.3 What are the main types of power generation system? Power generation systems are divided into two that is a generation of its genesis and production at its destination. The systems at the Genesis describe traditional power generation and electric power generation model. The system capitalises on the transport economics of electricity compared to that of fuel carried for a long distance. Hydropower gives an excellent example on this. It uses potential energy from water.( Luo X et al, 2015) The main types of power generation system are as follows: Thermal power station. It is the most typical power plant that is highly efficient. Coal is used as primary source of energy to superheat the water so that it can produce enough steam to drive the turbine. The steam turbine is connected to alternator rotor. This is simply to generate electricity. Nuclear power. It is similar to thermal power. Instead of coal, uranium and thorium in the nuclear reactors. The fuels are made to undergo a reaction that is fission which takes place in nuclear reactors. From here energy in form of heat is released. The heat is used to super heat the water in the exchanger tubes which will, in turn, produce steam. After that, the steam is used to turn turbines to produce power. Hydroelectric power station. This utilises energy of falling water from a relatively high point to turn the turbines that are constructed at the target positions. The water falling in a vertical distance rotates the alternator shaft to produce hydroelectric power. This is a renewable source of power and the plant is of lower capacity in relation to thermal and nuclear power plants. Geothermal power system. It is found where subsurface conditions of heat containing high temperatures are near the earth’s surface. It is favourable where conditions of high volcanic activity and high seismic is found. Tidal energy system. Is typically associated with rising and fall of sea and ocean levels it makes use of natural and throttling action produced by the shoreline to propel turbines and generators. Wind energy. These are ubiquitous and prevalent. Generation of wind occurs at large scales in wind firms. Energy is tapped by the use of windmills that rotate to convert the kinetic energy to electricity. Solar power generation. This kind of electricity generation depends on the natural light from the sun. Its location has limited options and is predicted by the intensity of the sunshine available. Clouds are also a factor in this type of energy system since they reduce the intensity of solar insolation reaching the solar panel hence low power output. Photovoltaic power systems. These are used in large scale commercial firms and domestic households and business systems. It uses photovoltaic cells in the conversion of solar energy to electric energy directly. The DC energy is converted to AC energy to allow it to be utilized in the domestic investors. It can also be used in standby and portable generators. 3.0 Systems used in KSA and IRE The system used in KSA requires additional production capacity of 4GW generation capacity to come on line each year to meet growing electricity demand. Per the BP Statistical review of World Energy 2014, Saudi Arabia generated 292.2 billion kilowatt-hours(kWh) of electricity in 2013, which represents a 7% in more than double electricity produced in 2000 whereas in IRE the overall energy used increased by almost 5% and related emission by almost 6%, the first-time energy use Jim Gannon. These were due to strong economic growth in 2015. 3.1Energy systems in KSA There are several energy systems that are utilized in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). They include the following; 3.1.1 Natural gas Natural gas in Saudi Arabia is produced in close relation to oil. It provides over 200 trillion cubic feet which put it among the top natural gas producing countries in the world. 3.1.2 Electricity Among the Middle East countries, KSA is the fastest growing state in power consumption. In 2005, KSA was among the top 15 economies in consumption of primary energy, 60% of the energy came from petroleum, and 40% was natural gas. Electricity in KSA is under the ministry of oil and the Ministry of Water and Electricity. In 2001, water related sub-departments were merged to create the Ministry of Water and Electricity that is charged with the regulation of water and electricity.( Ramli M.A et al. 2015) 3.1.3 Nuclear Power It was established with the aim of creating 110 GW by the time it reaches 2032 with a rough estimation of about 12 nuclear power plants. They borrowed nuclear technology from Argentina, France, Russia, Japan and China through negotiations with these countries. 3.1.4 Solar Power It was aimed at addressing electricity demand by use of 41 GW solar panel capacity by the time I reach 2032. It was arrived at in the 2012 conference on climate change that was held in Qatar. 3.1.5 Wind Energy Wind power in Saudi Arabia is harnessed at Yanbu. 3.2 Energy systems in IRE 3.2.1 Electricity. Electricity in IRE gained its peak in 2008 which again with time went back to the levels it was in 2004. It consists of landfill gas, wind energy, hydro, biogas and biomass which as mostly used in IRE ( Welsch M et al., 2014). 3.2.2 Natural gas Ireland has two primary fields of natural gas. Corrib gas project, Kinsale Head gas field. Between this areas, none is a leading contributor of energy in IRE. 3.2.3 Peat Peat is used in IRE, and it’s a fuel consisting of decomposed plants and other wastes that are organic mainly found in areas that are swampy. These are found in lowland areas referred to as bogs. 3.2.4 Coal It is a vital energy source that is used for domestic heating in IRE Other energy systems include oil and natural gas Power system produced in KSA is usually petroleum and it’s imported while IRE imports electricity for its consumption. 4.0 Systems 4.1 Which Systems are the cheapest? And which are the worst environmentally? The cheapest energy system is said to be solar energy because the cost of installation is relatively more affordable followed by wind electricity. Natural gas, coal, and oil are substantially harmful to the environment since they pollute the air and water which causes damage to health and death to the elements in the ecosystem. (Mathiesen B.V et al.,2015) Some energy sources are considered impure because they emit harmful toxic chemicals. 4.2 Which are the Most Effective Systems All renewable sources of energy are sufficient ranging from geothermal, hydro, solar and the wind. These can be justified by the fact that they are environmentally friendly and also durable. In conclusion, power energy systems are varied over the earth surface and hydro, and solar power is among the best to be used. Though we have various energy systems both renewable which includes the wind, hydro, solar, biogas and geothermal. The non-renewable ones include natural gas, coal, peat, oil and nuclear energy. In this category of non-renewable sources, the primary source of energy is carbon which is harmful to the environment. Therefore renewable sources of energy should be highly used than non-renewable ones. 5.0 References Chen, W., 2013. Department of Mechanical Engineering. University of California, Berkeley, work in progress. Commoner, B., 2015. Poverty of Power: Energy and the Economic Crisis. Knopf. Lin, C., 2014. Department of Mechanical Engineering. University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G8,“Gearbox Fault Diagnosis using adaptive wavelet Filter. Luo, X., Wang, J., Dooner, M. and Clarke, J., 2015. Overview of current development in electrical energy storage technologies and the application potential in power system operation. Applied Energy, 137, pp.511-536. Mathiesen, B.V., Lund, H., Connolly, D., Wenzel, H., Østergaard, P.A., Möller, B., Nielsen, S., Ridjan, I., Karnøe, P., Sperling, K. and Hvelplund, F.K., 2015. Smart Energy Systems for coherent 100% renewable energy and transport solutions. Applied Energy, 145, pp.139-154. Ramli, M.A., Hiendro, A., Sedraoui, K. and Twaha, S., 2015. Optimal sizing of grid-connected photovoltaic energy system in Saudi Arabia. Renewable Energy, 75, pp.489-495. Rogelj, J., Luderer, G., Pietzcker, R.C., Kriegler, E., Schaeffer, M., Krey, V. and Riahi, K., 2015. Energy system transformations for limiting end-of-century warming to below 1.5 [deg] C. Nature Climate Change, 5(6), pp.519-527. Welsch, M., Deane, P., Howells, M., Gallachóir, B.Ó., Rogan, F., Bazilian, M. and Rogner, H.H., 2014. Incorporating flexibility requirements into long-term energy system models–A case study on high levels of renewable electricity penetration in Ireland. Applied Energy, 135, pp.600-615. Read More

2.3 What are the main types of power generation system? Power generation systems are divided into two that is a generation of its genesis and production at its destination. The systems at the Genesis describe traditional power generation and electric power generation model. The system capitalises on the transport economics of electricity compared to that of fuel carried for a long distance. Hydropower gives an excellent example on this. It uses potential energy from water.( Luo X et al, 2015) The main types of power generation system are as follows: Thermal power station.

It is the most typical power plant that is highly efficient. Coal is used as primary source of energy to superheat the water so that it can produce enough steam to drive the turbine. The steam turbine is connected to alternator rotor. This is simply to generate electricity. Nuclear power. It is similar to thermal power. Instead of coal, uranium and thorium in the nuclear reactors. The fuels are made to undergo a reaction that is fission which takes place in nuclear reactors. From here energy in form of heat is released.

The heat is used to super heat the water in the exchanger tubes which will, in turn, produce steam. After that, the steam is used to turn turbines to produce power. Hydroelectric power station. This utilises energy of falling water from a relatively high point to turn the turbines that are constructed at the target positions. The water falling in a vertical distance rotates the alternator shaft to produce hydroelectric power. This is a renewable source of power and the plant is of lower capacity in relation to thermal and nuclear power plants.

Geothermal power system. It is found where subsurface conditions of heat containing high temperatures are near the earth’s surface. It is favourable where conditions of high volcanic activity and high seismic is found. Tidal energy system. Is typically associated with rising and fall of sea and ocean levels it makes use of natural and throttling action produced by the shoreline to propel turbines and generators. Wind energy. These are ubiquitous and prevalent. Generation of wind occurs at large scales in wind firms.

Energy is tapped by the use of windmills that rotate to convert the kinetic energy to electricity. Solar power generation. This kind of electricity generation depends on the natural light from the sun. Its location has limited options and is predicted by the intensity of the sunshine available. Clouds are also a factor in this type of energy system since they reduce the intensity of solar insolation reaching the solar panel hence low power output. Photovoltaic power systems. These are used in large scale commercial firms and domestic households and business systems.

It uses photovoltaic cells in the conversion of solar energy to electric energy directly. The DC energy is converted to AC energy to allow it to be utilized in the domestic investors. It can also be used in standby and portable generators. 3.0 Systems used in KSA and IRE The system used in KSA requires additional production capacity of 4GW generation capacity to come on line each year to meet growing electricity demand. Per the BP Statistical review of World Energy 2014, Saudi Arabia generated 292.

2 billion kilowatt-hours(kWh) of electricity in 2013, which represents a 7% in more than double electricity produced in 2000 whereas in IRE the overall energy used increased by almost 5% and related emission by almost 6%, the first-time energy use Jim Gannon. These were due to strong economic growth in 2015. 3.1Energy systems in KSA There are several energy systems that are utilized in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). They include the following; 3.1.1 Natural gas Natural gas in Saudi Arabia is produced in close relation to oil.

It provides over 200 trillion cubic feet which put it among the top natural gas producing countries in the world. 3.1.2 Electricity Among the Middle East countries, KSA is the fastest growing state in power consumption.

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