Geothermal+Power

​ **Volcanoes Are Good, Man​!** An Introduction to Geothermal Power  By Tynan Friend & Zach Rosenberg  What is geothermal energy? Check Out the Video Below to Find Out! [6] media type="youtube" key="rfUQy86ZMpQ" height="385" width="480"

**The steps to harnessing geothermal power. (Shown in the picture to the bottom right)[1][5] **  1. A pipe is drilled into the earth's inner surface, about where the temperature reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. Hot water is pulled up through the pipe. 3. The hot water meets the cold water traveling through a separate pipe. 4. The cold water starts to boil with heat from the hot water and produces steam. 5. The steam rises up to a turbine which powers a generator. 6. The steam becomes cold water once more, and the process is then repeated with fresh hot water from the inner surface of the earth.

**The Conservation of Energy Related to Geothermal Power: **  In step 2, the water goes through heat convection because it changes location. In step 4, the heat energy from the hot water goes through heat conduction and passes into the cold water. In step 5, the energy from the steam powers the turbine (kinetic energy) which turns into electrical energy with help from the generator. Also in step 5, the boiling water turns from heat into kinetic energy from the steam being released. 

Dennis Lester is interested in developing a Superfund site that will generate energy by heating and then extracting water that is thousands of feet below minds surface. If his plan is a success and invested in correctly then it will power approximately 5,000-10,000 homes.[2] **Advantages[4]** ** 1. Geothermal Power has the smallest land use of any major power generation technology. 2. Their facilities have no coal or nuclear fuel to mine or transport. 3. No radioactive or ash wastes to deal with. ** **Disadvantages[4]** ** 1. A few facilities produce some silica and sulfur. 2. Sold for industrial use. 3. Entails some environmental impact, but is safe to say in benefits the costs ** Steam - hot water vapor that is produced by the effects of boiling water. It rises to power a turbine which in turn creates electricity. Turbine - A device that converts steam from the earth into electrical energy. Heat (energy) - Caused by the random motion of particles in an object; is harnessed from below the earth's surface and converted into power. Geothermal Power - Power extracted from the heat stored beneath the earth's surface. Generator - Converts steam from hot water into electrical energy. Electrical Energy - The energy associated with movement of electrons through a wire or circuit. Electron - An elementary particle with a negative charge. Power - The rate at which energy is transferred. Energy - The capacity to accomplish a task. 212º Fahrenheit - The boiling point of water Silica - A hard, unreactive, colorless compound that tears away the ozone layer of the earth when released by geothermal power plants Sulfur Dioxide - A colorless, pungeant toxic gas created by burning sulfur in the air.
 * Recent News Article: **[|http://mtstandard.com/news/local/article_5a58d8ee-3d49-11df-babf-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story]
 * Important Vocabulary: **

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 * Check out this video to find out about the future of Geothermal Energy! [7]**

Footnotes

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[][1] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|http://mtstandard.com/news/local/article_5a58d8ee-3d49-11df-babf-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story][2]

http://www.our-energy.com/energy_facts/geothermal_energy_facts.html[3] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"> Pros and Cons of Geothermal Energy. 2007. Energy Consumers Edge. 7 April 2010.[4] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.8pt; line-height: 200%;">[] [4] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Morris, Neil. Geothermal Power. North Monkato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2007[5] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfUQy86ZMpQ&feature=player_embedded [6] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6r_3AgI49Y&feature=player_embedded [7]