Geothermal energy offers a renewable and affordable alternative to the traditional source of energy production.
FREMONT, CA: Geothermal energy is a promising discovery that can address energy problems across the globe. Harnessing the energy of the earth’s temperatures to heat extraordinary homes and industries is the essence of geothermal power. When it comes to electricity generation, geothermal power plants use steam to produce electricity.
The stream is harnessed from hot water reservoirs present a few miles below the earth’s surface. Turbines are powered through steam resulting in the production of electricity. Here are the primary types of geothermal power plants that are used for the generation of electricity.
Dry Steam
Dry steam plants are the most regular type of geothermal power plant, accounting for over half of the installed geothermal plants. They work by piping hot steam from underground reserves straight into turbines, which power the generators and produce electricity. Once the turbines are powered, the moisture condenses into water and is transferred back into the earth through an injection well.
Flash Steam
Flash steam power plants use geothermal water reservoirs with over 360°F (182°C). The hot water flows up via wells under its pressure. Once the water flows up, the pressure diminishes, bringing on some hot water boiling into steam. The steam is later segregated from the water and is used to power a generator or a turbine. The remaining water is injected back into the reservoir and the condensed stream.
Binary Stream
Speaking of binary cycle plants, the water or steam from below the underground never arrives in direct contact with the turbines. Otherwise, water from underground reserves is pumped via a heat exchanger where it heats another liquid like isobutene, which boils at a lower temperature. The steam thereby generated powers the turbine, while the water is recycled into the earth through an injection well.
Geothermal energy provides a cleaner alternative to the power obtained via fossil fuels. The electricity obtained via geothermal energy is cheaper and reduces the pressure from depleting reserves of fossil fuels.
