Electrical Energy Transformations:

Generation and Use

Generating Electricity-Diagram

Electric Power Generation and Use:

Thermal/ Heat: Kinetic

Chemical: Potential

Electrical: Kinetic

Electrical: Kinetic

Mechanical/Rotational: Kinetic

Various forms of potential and kinetic energy

Various forms of potential and kinetic energy

How can electrical energy be generated?

• Electrical power plants differ in how they are powered.

Hydroelectric (pressure of water behind a dam)

Nuclear

Solar thermal

Burning coal, oil, or natural gas--MOST COMMON

Batteries

Wind

Tides

Geothermal (heat from earth)

Generating Electricity

Generating Electricity

Electric Power Plant:

Fuel

Electricity

Generating Electricity

Fuel/source -

• Electrons in wires will not move in an organized way without a source of power. (ex. battery, electrical power plant). Usually fuel in modern electrical power plants is oil, coal, or natural gas: chemical potential energy. Turbine -

• Consists of 1000’s of moving blades

• Transfers the energy in moving steam or water into the rotational kinetic energy of a shaft in a generator

• Ultimately forces wire coils to rotate within a magnetic field in the generator

Description of Components:

Generating Electricity

Generator -

• Mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy

• Thousands of coils of wire spin between the poles of a strong magnet

• Electricity is generated at at approx. 20,000 volts

Transformer -

• A device that is used to step-up (increase) or step-down (decrease) voltage

Description of Components:

Steam

Turbine

Generating Electricity

Transmission Lines -

• Carry electric power many miles at high voltages (approx. 760,000 volts) to

the appropriate destination

Distribution and Use -

• Electricity is “stepped-down” or decreased in a distribution transformer to approx. 12,000

volts

• Voltage is then decreased further; 120 - 240 volt lines extend to homes and buildings

where it is used in various formsElectricity is unique because it cannot be stored. It must be

produced on demand and used immediately! Load is the amount of electrical demand.

Description of Components: