GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS

Definition
Geothermal power plants are power plants that use the Earth's core to produce energy, specifically electricity.

How it works
First, pipes are placed into the Earths crust ( which is extremely hot-up to 700degrees f. Due to being right above magma on hot rocks). One of the pipes sends in cool water to the ground that creates steam that rises through the other pipe. Then hot air is released into the pipe that heats(boils)the water in the separator, creating more steam that spins a turbine that powers a generator producing electricity.

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Examples of use:
There are twenty-four countries around the world using geothermal power plants. In the United States, there are twenty-three plants in use at the moment.

FORMS OF PLANTS

• Direct dry steam
• Flash and double flash cycle
• Binary cycle

Direct dry steam:
Process of tapping hot air from Earth's core, through pipe, heats air, creates steam, directly to turbine that spins, turning generator.

Flash and double flash cycle:
Takes fluid from Earth's core, sprayed to tank that is at much lower pressure than fluid, causing to vaporize(flash), drives turbine, powering generator. Extra fluid in tank can be vaporized again. (Double-flash).

Binary cycle:
Geothermal areas stored at moderate temperature- below 400 degrees F. Fluid is extracted. There is hot geothermal fluid and a secondary fluid at a much lower boiling point than water, passes through heat exchanger that heats the two fluids, heat from geothermal fluid quickly vaporizes the secondary fluid, and driving the turbine then powering the generator
(most used system due to virtually no emissions in atmosphere).

A few places these are used in:
-California- one of the biggest plants(the geysers)
-Hawaii
-Utah
-Nevada

Pros:

• No fluxation in price
• Long term prices cheaper
• Highest efficiency for heating and cooling due to government providing tax credit
• Homegrown(meaning no dependence on other countries).

CONS:

• Building cost high
• Earth's surface must be drilled
• Surface must be in specific condition prior to building
• A lot of maintenance and care needed

Cost per kilowatt= $0.01 to $0.03

Source acceptance
This technology is being used more and more around the world however is still growing. It is said that by 2020 the use of geothermal energy should be doubled around the world.