Controlling Energy: Part-5

In our article yesterday, we started electricity production. We looked at thermal and natural gas conversion power plants.

Let's continue with electricity generation:

As we know, dams are one of the ways of producing electrical energy and even one of the ways of producing clean energy. Dams are actually stored energy as potential energy. The water accumulating behind the dam body has a potential energy. The kinetic energy of the water released down through the pipes (penetraceous pipes) turns the turbines and the kinetic energy of the water is converted into electrical energy.

Simple isn't it? The working principle of dams, which are built with such a cost and difficulty, is actually that simple. In fact, all these expenses are made for a simple system.

The working principle of HEPPs built on streams is roughly the same. The only difference from dams is that there is no huge dam body behind which water accumulates. HEPPs built on streams are systems that convert the kinetic energy of the stream directly into electrical energy.

Well, what are all these objections, you can say that water does not accumulate.

Problems Caused by HEPPs:

The objection is this. There is no dam, but dams have to be made, albeit small. Weirs are built to direct the flow of water to the turbines. Since the water behind the dam cannot gain enough potential energy, the main energy is produced from the kinetic energy of the flowing water and it is a problem that the electrical energy that can be produced is very low.

However, the main problem is that the flow rate of the incoming water is very low, since HEPPs are mostly built on streams. Since there is not enough ground improvement, the water accumulating behind the dam sometimes finds another way and some of the water changes the bed. At the same time, the evaporation of the water accumulated behind the dam causes the water to decrease.

As a result, the water of some streams decreases considerably below and this causes ecological changes. Another problem is that due to climate change, dams collapse due to excessive rainfall, and the large amount of discharged water may cause the destruction of whatever comes before it.

Of course, it would be more correct to look for the fault in the unplanned construction and the construction of houses on the stream beds rather than the HEPPs. However, we can say that HEPPs built on streams are problematic because the construction cost is high, the energy obtained is low, and they are harmful to ecology. This is the general objection to HEPPs.

Let's go back to our topic after this short HES problem explanation.

Wind Turbines:

Similarly, wind turbines work on the same principle. The kinetic energy of the turbine arms turned by the wind is converted into electrical energy this time by means of wind turbines.

The principle is the same in generators that work with fuel, which we all know. First, the engine, which runs on gasoline or diesel, converts chemical energy into kinetic energy, and kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy in the dynamo section of the generator.

Nuclear power plants work on the same principle as the electricity generation principle in thermal power plants. But the energy we use to convert in these power plants is nuclear energy instead of chemical energy. Instead of chemical energy stored in coal, our fuel, this time, we transform nuclear energy stored in uranium. As in thermal power plants, nuclear energy is first converted into heat energy, and the resulting steam is converted into electrical energy by means of steam turbines.

So again, it's a simple system. But it is dangerous, the risks are very high. But there is nothing that human beings cannot do to control energy. I am not against nuclear power plants in principle. Compared to thermal power plants, even when compared to natural gas conversion power plants, we can say that it is more environmentally friendly during its operation. But when the fuel is depleted, the wastes are still affected by nuclear radiation and it is not so easy to get rid of these wastes.

There are some studies on the development of new technologies for regenerating energy from wastes, but no method has been developed for now. For now, wastes have to be stored for years after being processed in very costly ways, and these processes involve great risks.

Efficiency is an issue in all these electrical energy conversion systems. There is no energy lost in between, but there are losses due to direct heat losses or heat generated by friction in all of them. In other words, the efficiency of all systems varies in proportion to the heat losses.

Solar panels:

Coming to solar panels. Solar panels are another method of energy conversion. Here the source is radiant energy from the sun. As a result of technological studies, it has been discovered that some materials can convert radiative energy into electrical energy. Mostly the main ingredient used is silicone-based. Here are the benefits of science for you. Again, there are serious studies on this subject in all countries. More efficient solar panels are being developed every day. As always, we prefer to buy and use. Even if we can't develop a technology ourselves, it's one thing to at least start using it, right?

Apart from the radiant energy of the sun, there are systems where electricity is produced by making use of the heat of the thermal power plants. In these systems, sunlight is collected to a point with concave mirrors, and electricity can be produced from the steam turbine with heated water at this point.

Geothermal energy sources are also a natural source for converting heat energy into electrical energy. I think it should be considered.

Conclusion:

In fact, we have another energy source that we can use in our country. As we know in our straits, there are currents with serious flow in both directions. It is possible to generate electricity by making use of this current. I wish we did and at least some of the energy needed for Istanbul and Çanakkale could be obtained with this method.

Let's finish the electricity production here and continue our article on the storage of electrical energy tomorrow. What I have tried to explain so far is that the principles are actually very simple.

Nothing is that hard, but life is in the details. Details are solved by working. Maybe one day we will find other energy conversion methods, there is much to be done for more efficient, more practical, easier energy production. All we have to do is try and work hard. In order to do this, sufficient financial resources must be allocated. Energy types are certain, we also know the type of energy we want to transform. We need to raise generations that can do this.

That's why I always say wise generations.

Love and regards from Moscow

(To be Continued)