Michigan Environmental Education Michigan Environmental Education

Curriculum Support (MEECS)Curriculum Support (MEECS)

Energy Resources UnitEnergy Resources UnitLesson 3 Lesson 3 Electricity GenerationElectricity Generation

Created by Heather LuotoCreated by Heather Luoto

Copyright 2005 Central Michigan University Copyright 2005 Central Michigan University

Generating ElectricityGenerating Electricity

Electric current is the orderly flow of electrons from Electric current is the orderly flow of electrons from one atom to another. one atom to another.

Electricity is a natural phenomenon (lightning, static Electricity is a natural phenomenon (lightning, static electricity) and can be generated on a large scale from electricity) and can be generated on a large scale from many different energy resources. many different energy resources.

Electricity is most often generated by a rotating Electricity is most often generated by a rotating turbine connected to a shaft and rotor inside an turbine connected to a shaft and rotor inside an electric generator. electric generator.

The electric generator is basically a coil of wires and a The electric generator is basically a coil of wires and a magnet. magnet.

The turbine-generator can be small like those in small The turbine-generator can be small like those in small windmills or large like those found in large power windmills or large like those found in large power plants.plants.

Non-renewable energy resourcesNon-renewable energy resources (coal, (coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium) and some oil, natural gas, and uranium) and some forms of biomass have to be processed forms of biomass have to be processed and transported to power plants before and transported to power plants before they can be used to generate electricity. they can be used to generate electricity.

Renewable resources (wind, solar, Renewable resources (wind, solar, hydro, and some biomass) do not have hydro, and some biomass) do not have

to be processed and transported.to be processed and transported.

Using Natural Gas Using Natural Gas to Generate Electricity to Generate Electricity

Gas is burned to heat Gas is burned to heat water to generate water to generate steam. steam.

The concentrated The concentrated steam spins a turbine steam spins a turbine connected to an connected to an electric generator. electric generator.

Or gas is burned and Or gas is burned and the vapors resulting the vapors resulting from the burning turn from the burning turn the turbine directlythe turbine directly.. Natural Gas Pumping Station

Naubinway, Michigan

Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Using Oil to Generate ElectricityUsing Oil to Generate Electricity

Oil is burned and the Oil is burned and the heat produced boils heat produced boils water, converting it water, converting it to steam. to steam.

The steam under The steam under high pressure turns a high pressure turns a turbine connected to turbine connected to an electric generator.an electric generator. Oil Tanks

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Using Coal to Generate ElectricityUsing Coal to Generate Electricity Coal is burned and the Coal is burned and the

heat produced boils heat produced boils water, converting it to water, converting it to steam. steam.

The steam under high The steam under high pressure turns a pressure turns a turbine connected to an turbine connected to an electric generator.electric generator.

Photo Credits: Heather Luoto

Using Uranium (Nuclear)Using Uranium (Nuclear)to Generate Electricityto Generate Electricity

Uranium atoms are Uranium atoms are split and the nuclear split and the nuclear energy that is energy that is released is used to released is used to turn water into turn water into steam. steam.

The concentrated The concentrated steam turns a steam turns a turbine connected to turbine connected to an electric an electric generator.generator.

Fermi II Nuclear Power Plant

Newport, Michigan

Photo Source: DTE Energy

Using Wind to Generate ElectricityUsing Wind to Generate Electricity

Wind turns a turbine Wind turns a turbine directly (without the directly (without the need for converting the need for converting the energy resource into energy resource into steam). steam).

The turbine is The turbine is connected to a rotor connected to a rotor and shaft that turns and shaft that turns either a coil of wire or either a coil of wire or a magnet inside an a magnet inside an electric generator. electric generator.

Wind Turbine

Mackinaw City, Michigan

Photo Source: Village of Mackinaw City

Using Hydroelectric to Generate ElectricityUsing Hydroelectric to Generate Electricity

Moving water turns a Moving water turns a turbine or series of turbine or series of turbines directly (without turbines directly (without the need for converting the need for converting the energy resource into the energy resource into steam). steam).

Each turbine is Each turbine is connected to a rotor and connected to a rotor and shaft that turns either a shaft that turns either a coil of wire or a magnet coil of wire or a magnet inside an electric inside an electric generator. generator.

Horizontal Shaft Hydroelectric Dam

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Photo Source: Edison Sault Electric Company

Vertical Hydroelectric Dam

Victoria, Michigan

Photo Source: Upper Peninsula Power Company, a subsidiary

of WPS Resources Corporation

Using Biomass to Generate Using Biomass to Generate Electricity Electricity

Biomass or (biofuel) is Biomass or (biofuel) is burned and the heat burned and the heat produced boils water, produced boils water, converting it to steam. converting it to steam.

The steam under high The steam under high pressure turns a pressure turns a turbine connected to turbine connected to an electric generator.an electric generator.

Some Forms of Biomass

(corn, manure, wood)

Photo Credits: Heather Luoto

Photovoltaic (PV)Photovoltaic (PV)

Photovoltaic cells Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight convert sunlight directly into electricity.directly into electricity.

Photovoltaic Facility

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Photo Source: DTE Energy

Underwater view of a turbineUnderwater view of a turbine

Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Direction Water Flows

Close up view of a turbine from a Close up view of a turbine from a horizontal hydroelectric plant. horizontal hydroelectric plant.

(This would be underwater.)(This would be underwater.)

Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Inside a turbineInside a turbine

Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

A closer look at the inside of a A closer look at the inside of a turbine. The moving water spins turbine. The moving water spins

the turbine’s blades. the turbine’s blades.

Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

GeneratorGenerator Electricity is most often Electricity is most often

generated by a rotating generated by a rotating turbine connected to a turbine connected to a shaft and rotor inside an shaft and rotor inside an electric generator.electric generator.

The electric generator is The electric generator is basically a coil of wire basically a coil of wire and a magnet. and a magnet.

In some electric In some electric generators the coil of generators the coil of wire moves and in others wire moves and in others a magnet moves.a magnet moves.

The interaction between The interaction between the magnet and coil of the magnet and coil of wire generates electricity. wire generates electricity. Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Series of 74 Generators Series of 74 Generators Inside a Michigan horizontal hydroelectric dam. Each generator is Inside a Michigan horizontal hydroelectric dam. Each generator is connected to a turbine and each turbine has a separate penstock connected to a turbine and each turbine has a separate penstock

(trough or opening) that water flows through.(trough or opening) that water flows through.

Photo Credit: Heather Luoto

Electricity generated at power Electricity generated at power plants travels on wires to the plants travels on wires to the electric grid for transmission and electric grid for transmission and distribution to users.distribution to users.

To learn about the transmission and To learn about the transmission and distribution of electricity check out distribution of electricity check out How does How does electricity get to our homes? electricity get to our homes? PowerPoint on PowerPoint on the CMEEI Energy Resourcesthe CMEEI Energy Resources Unit CD. Unit CD.